Obviously this is a vague question, but one worth exploring a little bit.  Pricing structures for photography are literally all over the place and vary by the photographer…that being said, there are some consistencies and things you as the consumer should be aware of.

Probably the biggest misconception and the largest source of confusion is who owns the photos.  Most people (consumers at least) don’t like to hear it, but typically the photographer retains all rights to the image….and that includes all associated fees and costs are paid.  Think of it like you would a Musician…when you buy a song on iTunes you don’t actually own the song, in effect you are paying simply for the right to listen to it (definitely not reproduce it or sell it)….even if they wrote it about you J.  The same holds true for a photograph…especially with everything going digital.  Unless you have specified in a contract that you are purchasing exclusive rights to the photo and, the odds are, that you have paid a pretty substantial fee…you don’t actually own the image.  Now if you understand this concept, you will save yourself (and the photographer) a great deal of aggravation.  Sure a photographer is offering a service and the photos are of you, but they hopefully (for your sake) do consider themselves artists and you are ultimately paying for a product of their vision and skill.

Now this is just referring to the actual photographs…what about sitting fees?

Sitting fees are usually separate from the image fees and are the associated cost of a variety of things (some tangible and some not).  You are paying for experience, artistic vision, time, and of course overhead (equipment, studio space, ect.).  Out of pocket expenses are typically assessed separately from the sitting fee.

As a consumer it is really important to read your contracts carefully and make sure that you are being granted the appropriate rights for what you want to do with the photos.  If they don’t have one, consider what it implies about their professionalism/experience.  The contract is there to protect you as well.  Clear communication is key and a basic understanding of what to expect  (as far as what you are getting for your money) when hiring a photographer makes everything easier for both of you.