Photography is Expensive..........sometimes VERY Expensive.

Anyone who is a respectable photographer, or anyone who has ever done business with a respectable photographer, already knows that PHOTOGRAPHY IS EXPENSIVE.  Which should really be no surprise to anyone because photographers are essentially specialists.  Plain and simple.  We would expect someone who specializes in doing one particular thing to be more expensive because, presumably, they have better and more specialized equipment, knowledge, skills, talents, and ultimately produce superior results than someone who is more generally equipped.

Even within the world of photography there is a wide range of specialties, some much more expensive than others.   An average news photographer is not nearly as expensive (nor as specialized) as a wedding or portrait photographer which in turn is not normally as expensive (nor as specialized) as a commercial photographer.  If you look up the IRS pay schedules of average photographers they range from as low as $15k /yr to well over 6 figures (certain press photography and low end wedding photography being at the bottom and commercial/product photography being at the top).  However, I have found a photographic specialty that is definitely in contention for the top spot of expensive photography.

Medical photography.

After having to get an ultra sound imaging procedure done and calculating their hourly rate....I only WISH I could charge such rate.  Now mind you the fee is based more on the costs of the expensive machine and not so much on the actual labor.  I was charged $150 (a discounted rate from $250 because I paid up front) for this procedure.  $150 doesn't sound TOO bad considering how quickly a lot of medical bills can add up.  Also, keep in mind this was done completely digitally, there was NO FILM (yes that 4 letter word of photography).   The total time it took to do the procedure........5 minutes.  I'm even being generous here because the official exam started at 3pm I spent about a minute to walk to the exam room, a minute to walk back, and it took about 30 seconds to a minute of prep./clean up.  But, for the sake of argument the we will assume the procedure lasted from 3pm (when they let me in) to 3:05 (when I walked out).

So let's do the Math:
5 min = $150
1 hr = 60 min
60 min / 5 min =12
12 * $150= $1,800/hr
or at full price
12* $250= $3,00/hr
That's $480,000/mo. if you did that 40/hrs/wk and 4 wks/ mo.

I know I wouldn't mind making nearly half a million dollars a month.  Maybe I should start up my own ultrasound photography booth.  Could be interesting.  Although I might have to charge extra for that lubricating gel they use....ya know...to cover costs.

-Cheers