Boop the Snoot Fundraiser

Have you ever wondered why photographers charge so much for their sessions? Here is a breakdown of some of the costs involved in starting and running a photography business. 

When it comes to gear most photographers, especially those of us on a tight budget, will make the most of what they have. A starter camera and a couple of cheap lenses can go a long way when the person behind the camera knows what they're doing -- but to offer the best of the best the price tag rises from a few hundred to several thousand very quickly. 

• A decent starter Camera Body will run you about $600.00 - $1,500.00
• A professional Camera Body can easily range between $3,000.00 and $10,000.00

The cost of lenses, and the amount of different lenses required, varies depending on the type of work the photographer does. Right now I'm working with a 50mm lens and a 75-300mm lens. These put me out about $200.00 each to purchase and while I know how to use them to give you remarkable photos, at the end of the day these lenses are not ideal for the type of photography we do here at Boop the Snoot. 

Currently there are 3 lenses that I would like to acquire to give you the best photos possible. 

• The Canon RF 135mm: $2,799.00
• The Sigma 85mm: $2,000.00
• The Sigma 150-600mm: $4,500.00

Next up is the cost of lighting.

Fortunately, because we do outdoor photography this is an investment that is a low priority. While it would be helpful to have a rig to set up on location, it is not a necessity for us at this time. But to give you an idea of the cost here is what we would need. 

• Lights (at least the one's we're looking into) run about $250.00 - $700.00. We would need two.
• The Soft Box is around $50.00 - $60.00. We would need two. 
• The light stand is about $50.00. We would need two. 
• The Flash trigger is about $150.00.

Up next is the cost of the computer for editing. In my (very experienced) opinion, Apple is the best in the field of photo editing, but Mac's will run you a pretty penny. Currently I'm working with a M1 Macbook Air that cost me about $1,200.00 a few years ago. Unfortunately it has suffered a crack in the screen and is threatening to end itself any day now (granted it's been trying to die for over a year at this point, but I don't trust it). Ideally I would like to upgrade to the newest iMac at some point in 2026. 

• Computer price: $2,000.00 - $3,000.00

Unfortunately we live in the age of subscription services. Rather than a single payout of $300.00 for an editing program, Adobe now charges a monthly fee to use its software.

Are there free options available out there
Yes.

Are they ideal?
No.

• Lightroom and Photoshop run us $25.99 a month, which is $312.00 a year. 

• Website costs run about $300.00 a year. 
• Promotional content such as ads, business cards, and flyers add up quick
• Personal living costs like rent, internet, power, food, bills, etc...
• Vehicle & Travel costs

Our goal for 2026 is to cover many of these costs and upgrade much of our equipment so that we can continue to offer our Pay What You Can sessions indefinitely, with the ultimate goal of leaving our day jobs behind and providing this service to you full time. 

Ideally we would like to reach around $25,000 to cover everything we need - but it's that 135mm lens that is our top priority for 2026. 

There are so many things you can do to help us reach our goal, many of which wont cost you a penny! 

• Spread the word to all your friends about our Pay What You Can Sessions! 
• Book a photo shoot for your pet! 
• Follow us on our Social Media Accounts!
• Share our fundraiser on Social Media! 
• Engage with our Social Media posts!
• Donate to our GoFundMe!