DanH Loc: Erie, PA

A parent of a child that plays on my sons baseball team saw my work and asked if I would shoot her daughters wedding for her. I agreed and told her $25/hour plus the price of prints. While speaking to her now, she doesn't want to pay per print because that could turn out being more than she wants to pay. She wants a flat rate and I have no clue what to charge. Any help?

joehel2 Loc: Cherry Hill, NJ

A wedding photographer for $25 an hour and the cost of prints is too much??? What is her budget? If she says it is $ 250, then you can tell her for $250 I will do this...

amehta Loc: Boston

I wonder if you have a momzilla here? I would pass on this, since she would be getting an incredibly low cost and is still balking.

Do you have any sense of how large the wedding is, perhaps measured by the number of guests and the size of bridal party?

wilsondl2 Loc: Lincoln, Nebraska

The idea of having her set a price and then let her know what you will do is not bad. This may mean you doing the shooting and then giving her the jpg's unedited wich may not be the best way to show your work. If you are going to shot RAW and edit the prints the $25 is way to low. If you add in the time you edit it will be less than minumu wage. You will also want to determine weither she is trying to budget the wedding or wants to haggle over price. Those who want to beat you down on price you will want to run away as fast as you can. No matter how good your pictures are they will say something is wrong and want you to come down on price. - Dave

DebAnn Loc: Toronto

Check out a few photographers' websites in your area to see what they charge for specific packages. Some give prices for a day's shooting (or X number of hours) plus a CD with edited images. Some do packages that include time for shooting plus a certain number of images and perhaps an album. Quote in the neighborhood of what you find being offered elsewhere. Don't let this woman think she can get a low price for excellent work just because her son is your son's team. It's a business transaction and you should be compensated properly.

One Camera One Lens Loc: Traveling

DanH, hope you have on your running shoes, now take a long walk and see what else you would like to photograph. Heard this story years ago; how long does the flat rate cover, how many prints are you going to include, inside or outside, food, etc. this could also turn into a disaster unless you have everything in WRITING. NO HAND SHAKES.....THIS IS A BUSINESS.. NO WORD OF MOUTH.....THIS IS A BUSINESS...besides the kid will play on the baseball team either way and their will be no ill will if something comes up and it's not in a written agreement. By all means doe as you want, but remember there is no contract unless IN WRITING and that is when the fall out will really happen if they don't like something...............

ace-mt Loc: Montana

You offered her a very cheap price and she is trying to chisel you?! You need to get out of this right away. I have a hunch that before this is over, you will owe HER money. :shock:

jdubu Loc: San Jose, CA

What Dave says is true. We don't know what you are offering for the $25/hour and price of prints. Is it shooting jpeg and no editing? Are you processing photos? How much time do you normally spend PP your shots?

At some point in time, you will be better off paying her not to shoot the wedding... her balking with your proposal where you make a whopping $150 for a 6 hour wedding and reception shooting day, and who knows how long to get photos ready to present her... The only place you will make money is in the prints she orders. But based on your hourly pricing, I think you will probably lose money on what you charge for prints also.

If you charge her a truly compensatory package for your time and effort, she will probably find it outrageous. Remember how she found you in the first place... she isn't looking to spend money on a photographer. A flat rate is to her advantage and she will push past that in every way you let her.

What is your goal? Are you wanting to be a wedding photographer needing to build a portfolio? IF so, then you take loss leader jobs, second shoot behind a pro or hire models to shoot. Otherwise, you will regret getting involved with clients that want a pro job from an amateur for nothing.

CaptainC Loc: Colorado, south of Denver

Rule #1 for professional work: Cheap clients are a pain in the a$$. They are never satisfied and will always want more for NO MORE MONEY.

You should drop this immediately.

If you insist ongoing this, you need to set a fixed up-front price with defined deliverables. Of course she will continue to want more without paying more, so you have to stand firm.

When this is over, you two will not be on speaking terms.

Acountry330 Loc: Dothan,Ala USA

A written contract is a must. Your price is wy to low for what she is getting. I believe this will turn nasty. Bow out before it is to late and let her get a pro or some other sucker.

Rongnongno Loc: FL

Don't deal with this person all. SHE IS TROUBLE IN THE MAKING.

Politely recuse yourself.

G Brown Loc: Sunny Bognor Regis West Sussex UK

When the customer starts telling you what they will pay its time to Walk away!!!!!

If you want to know what to charge pick up the phone book and phone around your local area for quotes. Then tell your customer what the going rate is.....you could well be just as experienced as the person you phoned...who knows....But they asked you....

if your time and effort is cheap - stay with the day job.

RicknJude Loc: Quebec, Canada

Run Dan Run.

Michael66 Loc: Queens, New York

I've haven't done anything professionally in photography in over 30 years when I was in school. Your situation is screaming at me, RUN! Don't walk.

STVest Loc: LA - that's Lower Alabama

YIKES! What I hear is that she knows she will want more than she can afford and she wants YOU to cover the cost. Are YOU the father of the bride? Your answer to Mama should be the same as the answer to that question.