Photography is just a hobby (serious one), so I'm not a pro. However, I do various portrait sessions for friends, family, and a few others who are unable to afford a photographer but want nice photos. Call it charity work that I enjoy.
I've done two sets of shoots for a family from church, and now they want to do a larger group with extended family. The parents whose grown children I've done stuff for insist they will not allow me to do this for free and want me to quote a price. There's no way I'm going to charge them a full professional rate as this is not my profession, but I have no idea what would be fair.
Any thoughts? My gut reaction is somewhere between $100 and $150 to deliver up to 15 edited images. There are 9 people in total, and I think there will be separate images of couples in addition to the full family. I don't want to quote too low and still have it sound like a charity case, but I also don't want something like $150 to sound too high, even though that will be a small per hour amount for my editing time.
This may sound really sh*tty, Doug, but they aren't going to be compensating you for your time or talent. They're "needing" to pay you something so they feel like they've paid in full. If you wish to gift them with that feeling, your price doesn't matter. Tell them whatever you think will make them happy - it has nothing to do with your value or "reasonable".
My personal preference in those situations is to refuse compensation and allow it to be assumed a gift (which it is) pure and simple. If they squeeze a $100 into my hand that I can't politely refuse or give me a gift card, I truly appreciate it and call it a day.
But I would never quote a grossly substandard rate and turn it into a transaction - unless, again, they needed that peace of mind. Then it would be $28 for whatever they wanted.
Regards,
Chuck
Edit: I doubt this applies to your situation, but do keep in mind that once you turn it into a transaction, some "clients" feel entitled to whatever they feel they're entitled to. It can get messy in a hurry.
I'm not going to agree with Chuck on this one. I think when you first start out shooting photography for money, you have to start low. It keeps the expectations low, and usually is pretty appropriate for the experience and skill set and equipment you're bringing to the shoot.
But whether it's $100 or $150, to me it doesn't really matter. Cut it in half and ask for $125. As Chuck was getting at, they're not really paying for the experience one would expect from a seasoned professional photographer. They're just paying.
I'm glad (as always) Ron chimed in. His point is well taken (as often)
I really wasn't thinking of it from the standpoint of "entry" level pricing (and I mean that with all respect). More I was coming from it from the point of view that clients essentially have no idea all that we put into their images - and that avoiding the potential headaches of high expectations because some money exchanged hands can be priceless.
And, as noted, some of it is kind of a sh*tty perspective.
Good luck with it, Doug. And thanks Ron for rounding things out.
I just had a look over your site. You're not entry-level anything. Your work is at the very least, so strong... and in many cases, brilliant - stacked upon exceptional variety and experience.
All the above still applies, I suppose... but if you wanted to bill big, your work easily stands up to it.
I just looked at your site as well and I very much agree with Chuck, you're better than you think you are. I also very much agree with him as well regarding this:
" I doubt this applies to your situation, but do keep in mind that once you turn it into a transaction, some "clients" feel entitled to whatever they feel they're entitled to. It can get messy in a hurry."
Truer words were never spoken. Be very careful here.
From your description, this shoot sounds like a fair amount of work. Nine people group shots plus individual and couple shots. You've probably 2-3 hours work there. You say you can't charge them a full rate for something that's not your profession. Well, when does it become your profession? That is to say, maybe, at this point, you can't quit your real job and support yourself and your family with your camera, but where is the point where you start charging a full profession rate? Looking at your work, I would suggest that point is right now.
So, you can take this shoot and treat it like a real business proposition between a client and a professional photographer, which your work supports, or you can do it at no charge as a nice gesture for friends. But, at least I don't think, there is a middle ground. I think charging them a reduced rate could create a problem, and I refer back to Chuck's quote about expectations.
But keep in mind too charging a full rate greatly increases your responsibilities as well. I guess your decision depends too on how close of friends these people are. Close, life long friends, I would charge nothing; casual church acquaintances, I would lean toward a full price.
nolaguy wrote:
I really wasn't thinking of it from the standpoint of "entry" level pricing (and I mean that with all respect). More I was coming from it from the point of view that clients essentially have no idea all that we put into their images - and that avoiding the potential headaches of high expectations because some money exchanged hands can be priceless.
Totally makes sense. And to some degree, that's true of many clients for photographers at all levels.
Thanks for all the feedback guys... great things to consider. I also appreciate the compliments, although as I look at the work of many on FM, I'm often amazed at the talent and realize I still have MANY ways to improve.
These folks are more than casual acquaintances, and I would gladly do it for no charge, just because it's my way of giving back. I'm confident there won't be unreasonable expectations. It was just a matter of them insisting I not do it for free this time. The truth is I really enjoy it.
I have a "day job" that pays me well enough to keep photography as a hobby and still afford to buy the nice equipment I want. That alone is enough to be thankful for.
If I were in your shoes, I would offer to do the shoot for free as you had mentioned that they are more than just "casual acquitances". If they insist, I would just ask them to have a lunch / dinner party together with the family members during that day (whatever is convenient).
p.1 #10 · Reasonable Charge for Family Photo Shoot
This is the 3rd or 4th thread on this topic in the last month or so. The common notion to me is that some people have difficulty differentiating "friend" and "friendly" . If someone offers me money to do something for them that they can't do, I bloody well take it.
p.1 #11 · Reasonable Charge for Family Photo Shoot
No matter what you charge, it becomes a paid for service and not an act of kindness. So my suggestions are these:
1) Gift it to them if you feel you are able and they are deserving.
2) If you choose to charge, be careful and deliberate in how you prepare/price your invoice. Use pricing that is consistent with the quality of your work relative to pricing that other professionals in your market are using. Then apply a friends/family discount to bring it down to the $100 or so that you are targeting. This gets you to your comfort level with the client but also makes clear the true value of your work.
p.1 #12 · Reasonable Charge for Family Photo Shoot
Doug,
I am not a professional photographer. I too have a day job, where I often need to provide invoices. Sometime I do 'charity' for friends and family. If they insist to pay, I will prepare a regular invoice, and reflect a discount amount.
In photography, a lot of business is through words of mouth. You do not want your friends and family to spread words about your 'fee'.
I would make a professional looking invoice (whatever that means), which shows that your are a serious photographer (your website proves that). Your friends and family will know what to really expect, and what their friends should expect when they plan to hire you.
My 2 cents. As I said, I am not a professional photographer.
p.1 #14 · Reasonable Charge for Family Photo Shoot
A follow-up to this post. mcbroomf's advice was great (wish I'd thought of it), so I suggested it to the family, and we all agreed. They were thrilled with the photo shoot, even though I can see things I could have done better. The mom actually cried when she saw the photos because she had been wanting a set with all her kids and their spouses for so long. Makes an amateur feel good.
