Hi all,
So you're in the market for a smash and splash (cake smash) session and you have a vision in mind so you reach out to photographers in your area that may offer these sessions.
Sometimes, I am one of them. Most of the time once I respond to an inquiry with the details and pricing, I'm left on read and that's the end of that. Other times, I'm on the receiving end of harsh criticism for charging fairly for my work.
I just want to educate a little more on why these sessions are my most expensive, and why it is that I charge what I do. It's not just about what I want to earn for my work, but what I need to earn. I just want to share with you a breakdown of everything involved in a custom themed cake smash so you may have a bit more understanding as to why they cost what they do.
This is my latest smash set up and I adore everything about it, and so does baby's mama and daddy. Beauty and the Beast is mom's favorite Disney movie so it was the perfect theme for her first and only baby girl.
I don't normally share specific numbers of my costs, but I think sharing exactly what it takes to create a set up and deliver a session like this may help potential clients understand why I can not and will not charge $100-$150 for these sessions.
This is the complete set up mom and I spent hours brainstorming, planning, shopping for and driving from store to store for the supplies. Most items we had to order online as I find Lethbridge quite limited on places to find photography props, especially to match a theme. This is a set up created piece by piece rather than a pre-designed backdrop I also use for some themes.
- The backdrop and floor: White panels I already owned were $100. I would need to cover this cost if I have to purchase more or different ones for special themes but just looking at what was purchased for this session only:
- Sequin curtains - $75
- Red roses - $48
- One letters and gold spray paint: $37
- Character cut outs (prints and foam backing): $35
- Belle dress and hair clip: $40
- Cake materials: $15
- Claw foot tub: $70
- Hot foam cutter: $40
- Books, tea cart, Mrs.Potts, tea cups, rose in jar mom already owned.
- Twinkle lights I already owned but need to replace soon, they were $25 but I believe have gone up in price by $1 each.
Total in supplies purchased to create this set up - $360. It ads up quick doesn't it?
Then we get into the time investment which is where I earn my pay.
- Time spent planning and shopping: 3 hours
- Time spent gluing and cutting the characters on foam: 2.5 hours
- Time spent setting everything up: 2 hours
- Time spent making and decorating the cake: 3 hours - I did this myself for this session and am by no means a professional, if we went that route it would have been closer to $75+.
- Time spent shooting the session: 1 hour combined, BUT this session took multiple attempts on 4 different days due to baby's teething in order to complete a gallery. I don't always have the option to do this but it can take more than one try for these sessions.
- Time spent cleaning up and taking down: 30 minutes
- Time spent editing: 14 hours
- Time spent uploading and delivering online gallery: 1.5 hours
Total time spent on this session: 26.5 hours.
At only minimum wage, this adds to $397.50 before taxes and deductions. I'm not a minimum wage photographer, my time and art is worth more than that. It's also not only time, it's skill and experience and I will allow for additional days and time if the session does not go as planned the day of so the set up needs to either stay up or be re-done again.
I love creating these amazing set ups and can create just about anything you wish to give you exactly what you want but I want you to understand professional photographers cannot pay for all of this and invest this much time into a session for hundreds less than it costs to do it. I mean, when you go to work do you pay your boss to let you work there or do they pay you? You give your boss time in return for money, this works the same way but I also have to be compensated for the money I spend on the stuff to make it happen.
This session price is $850 and no it's not taking advantage, it's covering my costs and paying myself a livable wage for my time and you receive the session you want and the images you'll love which will last many lifetimes.
Now because this is the first time doing this theme where everything had to be purchased initially, the cost is higher but there is a discount to repeat sessions using previously done themes. New, customized themes chosen are subject to the cost of creating it and I will go the best route for the lowest cost to deliver on your vision by either creating the set piece by piece or by choosing a pre-designed backdrop. The more elaborate of a set up, the more costly it will likely be.
I know there are a lot of photographers in my area that charge between $100-$200 for a cake smash but I have yet to see a set up like mine so I fully understand there are much cheaper options out there, but you will not receive what I do for that price and if what I do is what you dream of, this is what it can cost. This isn't to try to take advantage of you, it's just the reality of the cost to put it all together. You get what you pay for in this industry.
I've seen some pretty minimal set ups and even some that don't really match the theme or just look cheap and the photographers charge around $125-$150 but if you're not getting what you want, is it really worth it?
My sessions include the cake and outfit and are also in 3 parts, a portrait portion before the cake, the smash and then the splash in a bubble bath so these galleries end up being pretty large. I know some photographers only do the smash portion but I believe in going all out for these sessions and giving your baby one of the best days of their life, and you one epic memory to talk about when they're older.
Everyone has a budget for photography and every photographer has their own cost of doing business and wage requirement for their work, it's just not ok to insult or bash anyone for charging what they deserve for their work or demand they bring their prices to your comfort level. There are too many options to meet your budget to permit such behavior, you just need to understand the type of set up you receive is reflective of the price you pay so either the expectation needs to change, or the budget needs to change.
I hope this enlightens you and you have a better understanding of what to expect to pay for a themed session like this and if your budget does not allow for it, that's okay, you will just need to look for someone more in your budget.
Now, take a look at some of the final images from this adorable session!
- Lethbridge newborn, child and family photographer.