I am going to do two photoshoots, one is 16th Birthday (2 hours) Party and Christmas Family Portrait (1-2 hours).
They are both people that I know. How much should I charge them for the service.
And the print (pls give me some information for the price of the print order)
It really depends on where you're located, how much experience you have, how good of friends they are, do you have a proper business, and what you think is fair. Answer that, and you might get some clues. Same thing with prints. Where are you going to get them? How are they going to be presented, etc.
Uh, what print order? Why not just Google some local photogs in your area and match the lowest on prints. As for sitting fee; since you've claimed you are not a pro, I'd say one payment of a VERY fair price... say, maybe $100-200? If you're not a pro, you definately shouldn't be charging like one.
Why do we need sitting fees? Print fees? All these fees? Do you know why you charge these? Why is it that photographers blindly follow "standards" that other business have set and don't understand why they do so? I'm not saying that if you do have the above listed items that you don't know what you're doing, just saying that if you don't know what to charge, or why, then you should really think about your business.
How much money do you need to make for every day of the year that you work? How many days a year do you shoot? How much do you need to make per shoot to be able to afford the lifestyle that you want/need?
This isn't necessarily directed at the OP, just questions in general everyone should contemplate regarding their own business. If you answered "I don't know" to some of these questions, these are business basics that you should know if you want to stay ahead of the game and enjoy doing this for a living.
sboerup wrote:
Why do we need sitting fees? Print fees? All these fees? Do you know why you charge these? Why is it that photographers blindly follow "standards" that other business have set and don't understand why they do so? I'm not saying that if you do have the above listed items that you don't know what you're doing, just saying that if you don't know what to charge, or why, then you should really think about your business.
We actually did away with all of that, and, as far as I can tell, we are the only ones in this area that operate that way. Our wedding prices are all-inclusive for this area. Our senior prices are the same Our family prices are the same. The only "fee" we have is our booking fee to hold a time slot, and it's only called that for legal reasons (the whole deposit/retainer debate).
tcamper wrote:
Charge them the same as anyone else at your level in the area. Give them a break on prints.
I have done free and discounted shoots for friends, and in the end, it's a lose-lose situation.
Charge them the full price for your time.
Your client would be cool with going into work tomorrow and having his boss tell him he wants to cut his income by 20/30/50/100%?
Your friends think you're worth it. Why wouldn't you?
Absolutely same has happened to me, once friends and their friends "get a deal" it becomes impossible to reel them back in later. I don't even do family gathering weddings or events anymore due to the fact I can not enjoy these events myself and I don't get compensated. In those cases it is not about the compensation but I want to be part of the festivities as well. Now is the best time to make the decision and set expectations before you get the guilt trip later
tukhang wrote:
Im in Georgia. I am not really professional, but kind of.
Quick question on this statement - are you not a professional, but would like to be one in the future? Or do you have a business license and are building your business, but don't really charge yet? Or do you second shoot, but not do solo shooting? "not really professional, but kind of" is vague and makes it difficult for us to determine where you are.
