How much to charge for photographing a function (Page 2): I did that for a family friend. their mom's 85 birthday. I did not charge. I gave a CD to the 2 daughters so they could choose...

grandmadeb Loc: illinois, usa

I did that for a family friend. their mom's 85 birthday. I did not charge. I gave a CD to the 2 daughters so they could choose and print what they thought they would like and also the birthday girl. it takes off some of the stress when you just do it for a gift. they loved the pictures. I loved doing it for their mother. deb

GC-FineArt Loc: WDC

Dinah wrote:

Thanks everyone for your suggestions. As my friend still insists on giving me something I suggested she buys a new golf umbrella for me!

Seems like a "win/win" to me :)

Gitchigumi Loc: Wake Forest, NC

Dinah wrote:

I told my friend I didn't want any payment but she insisted. I will just be taking the photos,deleting any bad shots, post processing the rest and putting them on a memory stick or disc to give to the birthday person who is actually the sister of my friend. She will do the printing or whatever she wants with them. The photos are not for the guests but as a record of the event and all the family who attended.

My friend said she would feel bad if she did not give me something for my work.

In this case, I would do the work you describe, then graciously accept whatever gift or donation your friend may give you. :thumbup:

diensthunds

Tell them to cover the cost of a dinner for you and you will call it even. Do the best you can and tell them a bowl of chili at Wendys is $4. If your friend is going to insist on paying then tell them what ever they feel comfortable paying is fine, if you think it's to much go down from there.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Mogul wrote:

The quickest way to lose a friend is to enter into a business agreement with him/her!

:thumbup:

Gremlins666

My father used to tell me....."anything you HAVE to do...is a job...no matter how much fun it is". I've been offered money to photo events (and I'm not that good)....but I never wanted to blur the line between my hobby and work. Photography=no pressure.
And as for doing favors for friends.... in my daytime role as "the computer guy" everybody wanted me to come to their house to fix their PC's....they would offer to "pay me" with dinner. Dinner usually wound up being pizza...which meant I would spend 4 hours (including travel) for half a $9 cheese pizza.
Don't get me wrong....I like to help out people....and I certainly love pizza.....but when you work a 40 hour day job (and about 10-15 hours a week at night) and are eating pizza for dinner 5 days a week it starts to wear you down.
I think bartering for a golf umbrella was the perfect solution. Do a good job...have a good time.

Gremlins666

Charitable donation....that's a fantastic idea too

amehta Loc: Boston

Gremlins666 wrote:

Charitable donation....that's a fantastic idea too

+1

amehta Loc: Boston

Gremlins666 wrote:

My father used to tell me..... b "anything yo... (show quote)

Going back to your father's advice, if you are the "official photographer" for an event, do you think money changes the dynamic of the obligation?

avman Loc: Normal IL

Dinah wrote:

I told my friend I didn't want any payment but she insisted. I will just be taking the photos,deleting any bad shots, post processing the rest and putting them on a memory stick or disc to give to the birthday person who is actually the sister of my friend. She will do the printing or whatever she wants with them. The photos are not for the guests but as a record of the event and all the family who attended.

My friend said she would feel bad if she did not give me something for my work.

Perhaps a trade for services? You don't necessarily need to accept monetary payment...perhaps a session at a local spa, a hairstyle....what ever suits your fancy...a new tire for your car?

mikegreenwald Loc: Illinois

Jackdoor wrote:

In a similar situation I just tell them to send a cheque for whatever they feel is right to the local school for brain damaged kids. Most important, it's a friend's wedding, have fun.

i said precisely the same thing to a friend, and the check was sent to ME!!! :lol: :lol: :lol:

twillsol Loc: St. Louis, MO

Dinah wrote:

I told my friend I didn't want any payment but she insisted. I will just be taking the photos,deleting any bad shots, post processing the rest and putting them on a memory stick or disc to give to the birthday person who is actually the sister of my friend. She will do the printing or whatever she wants with them. The photos are not for the guests but as a record of the event and all the family who attended.

My friend said she would feel bad if she did not give me something for my work.

I have done similar events over the years. My wife and I really like wine. I tell them I will not accept any cash, and if they insist, I tell them a bottle of red wine will do. I have gotten a lot of really good wine this way. I always give them a CD with the photos and it is up to them to share the photos. If they ask for prints, I may charge for the paper and ink, depending on how many they want. I never charge for just one or two prints.

mikegreenwald Loc: Illinois

Dinah wrote:

Thanks everyone for your suggestions. As my friend still insists on giving me something I suggested she buys a new golf umbrella for me!

Good decision.

sirlensalot Loc: Arizona

Suggest doing it as a friend who will gratefully accept a small token donation if your friend so chooses. Guessing a golf umbrella would be just about right. Enjoy your day.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

Dinah wrote:

I have been asked to take the official photos at a friend's 80th birthday party. They want to pay me but I have no idea how much to ask. I am not a professional but a reasonable photographer and know how to use post processing to achieve good end results. Any suggestions?

I charge $100-$150 per hour, the rates drop for 4 and 8 hour blocks of time. I also charge for travel if it is over 10 miles from home. Also, the minimum is $100, regardless of the time spent. So, one photo is $100. What people are mostly paying for is the PP.

That being said, I've worked numerous hours for a friend doing photos that were to be sold as a calendar. I ate at his pub for 6 months at no charge to me in exchange for the work I did for the calendar. We'd done that for 3 years running with all of the proceeds going to no-kill animal shelters in the area. Every calendar we printed was sold within days.

I don't mind commercial type of work and won't turn down a chance to do some. However, I certainly don't like using my free time in that manner. In some cases, when I've been asked to do work for someone and tell them my rates, they decide against having the photography done, at least by me. That's fine. But, when questioned about how much I charge, I usually ask them about their business and how often they do their work for free. It's odd that people who would never think of giving away any of their products or services want photos for next to nothing.

For friends, I'd prefer to exchange the work for a good dinner, either home prepared, or a nice restaurant. Either way, I insist that their company during dinner is a requirement. I have fun doing the work and then have even more fun enjoying their company over dinner.
--Bob