[GH85Carrera]

I did portraits for many years, and weddings and commercial photography long ago. I was never anything that expensive.

There has always been the "exclusive and high end" photographers that charge tons just because they can. In the days when I was shooting the big cost was the film, and the processing and making prints to show the client. All of those costs are gone. They just shoot digital, and let Photoshop correct any exposure issues. Show the client the pictures on a large monitor, and accept the orders. Most photographers of today don't even have a studio with 25K in Hassleblad equipment, and a 20 grand darkroom as overhead.

The pictures are worth whatever you are willing to pay.

At my first job back when I was a junior in high school the place I worked at had a studio with 50 grand in lighting, and tons of camera equipment. We were known as the go to place in the high society circles. The first week I was there I watched the boss take a "passport" photo of a lady and we shot it on black and white 4x5 film. The piece of film was bigger than the final passport photo. Without asking the boss proceeded to print a 20x24 print on B&W paper with the "G" surface, and it looked great. Then he handed it to one of the employees to have her hand oil and colorize it. When she was done it looked and felt like a master painter had painted her portrait. It was stunning. We framed it, and hung it up front. When she came in with her family to pick up a the $5 passport photo, they were floored with that 20x24.

They were almost tripping over themselves to pay several grand in 1970 money. Some real effort and talent went into that print. In 2020 our print shop charges us $50 for a 20x30 so his profit margin is off the charts.