What's a sitting or session fee?

Well, our job is broken into 2 parts. Creating the files, and creating the prints. The session fee is to pay for the first part.

In order to create the files, I need expensive equipment, lots of training, and an able bodied, competent assistant (Doris and I take turns on that one!). We'll take time talking to you about where we should go, what you should wear, what type of portrait you need... that sort of thing. Then we'll spend time with you capturing the perfect pose. Later it's time for the behind the scenes action... hours of Photoshop getting things just right for your review. We'll invite you to come back at a later time and view your images, big on a screen, (more expensive equipment) and make your selection.

So Doris spent a half hour before the shoot, we both spent 2 hours on the shoot (not counting travel time), I spent 2 hours on the computer, and finally, Doris spent 2 more hours helping you to make your selection. That's a total of 8 1/2 hours before I even start perfecting your wall portrait to send to the lab for printing. $75 for a sitting fee? That's a pretty good deal!