Why I’m Introducing a Travel Fee for Sessions in 2026
If you’ve been here for a while, you probably know I’m someone who absolutely DOES NOT enjoy adding extra fees or making things feel complicated (for me or you).
I’ve always tried to keep my pricing simple, transparent, and as inclusive as possible.
But real talk...
As we head into 2026, I need to make a small (but important) change to how I structure my sessions:
- a travel/fuel surcharge will now apply to ALL bookings going forward, until further notice
And I want to explain why, because this isn’t just a random business decision.
It’s very much tied to the reality of the world we’re all living in right now.
The Cost of… Everything
It’s no secret that the cost of living has gone up fast!
Fuel, groceries, insurance, equipment, software… it’s all increased and not just by a little.
For photographers especially, fuel is a huge part of the job. I’m constantly on the road driving to sessions, scouting locations, traveling to venues, meet ups, and driving all over the place on wedding days.
What used to feel like a manageable, built-in cost has quietly become one of the biggest ongoing expenses in my business.
The Behind-the-Scenes Costs You Don’t See
There are also parts of photography that clients don’t always see but they’re essential to what I do.
Every session I shoot needs to be safely stored, backed up, and protected. That means multiple memory cards on hand, and reliable hard drives to store your galleries long-term.
... But lately, those costs have skyrocketed.
In the past 6 months alone, the price of memory cards and hard drives has nearly triples (or more)... largely due to increased global demand driven by things like AI data storage needs. It’s one of those ripple effects you wouldn’t necessarily connect to photography, but it absolutely hits our industry really really hard.
For photographers, buying new memory cards frequently and new hard drives every single year is NOT optional. Your photos aren’t just files... they’re once-in-a-lifetime moments. I take a lot of care in making sure they’re stored safely and backed up properly, and that requires investing in equipment I can trust.
What This Means for My Business
Photography isn’t just showing up and pressing a button. Every session includes:
- Travel time (often very significant, especially here in Nova Scotia)
- Vehicle wear and tear (I'm on my second car in 3 years)
- Fuel costs that are increasing almost daily
- Food or snacks costs as I'm often out for entire days shooting multiple sessions
- Time away from editing, emails, and family obligations (time is money after all)
- Taxes and book-keeping
For a long time, I ate those costs because it felt easier, and honestly, it felt like the right thing to do. As someone who grew up mid to low income I truly believe in having a business and producing a product that is inclusive and accessible as possible to everyone.
But at a certain point, absorbing all of these costs has started to impact the sustainability of my business itself.
Why I’m Making This Change and What I'm Doing
It felt like the right time to shift things in a way that keeps my business healthy without raising session prices across the board.
Instead of increasing every session for everyone across the board, a travel fee allows things to stay fair:
If you’re nearby or willing to travel to me or a location of my choice → your cost stays lower
If your session requires more travel for me → it reflects the real cost of getting there
It’s a more balanced, transparent way of doing things.
What Stays the Same
What isn’t changing is just as important.
You’re still getting:
- A storytelling, candid approach and a relaxed session experience
- Images that feel like you... not stiff or overly posed
- The same care and attention to detail
This isn’t about doing less for more, it’s about making sure I can keep doing this work well.
Supporting Small, Sustainable Businesses
Behind every small business is a real person (hi, it’s me 👋), trying to balance creativity, client care, and the realities of running a business in a changing world (high taxes, high fuel costs, prices for necessities increasing at every moment)
This change helps me continue to:
- Show up fully for your sessions
- Maintain the quality and care you expect
- Keep doing this work long-term (which is the goal)
Thank You
If you’ve booked with me before, referred me, or even just followed along quietly... thank you.
Truly.
Your support is the reason I get to do this job, and I don’t take that lightly!
I’m always committed to being transparent with you, even when the conversations are a little less “fun” than photos I get to create.
