pricing
Aug 24, 2013 06:05:58 #
I am an amateur at best who has been asked to shoot a wedding, a baptism, and a family portrait. The people who asked have been repeatedly reminded that I am NOT a professional but still want my services. My question is how to price for these shoots. Any advice is appreciated.
Also, I have wondered what others use as a preferred lens for this
Also, I have wondered what others use as a preferred lens for this
Aug 24, 2013 06:28:09 #
Try using the search field at the top of the pages in this website. Both "wedding" and "portrait" will generate a wealth of discussion, some of it focused on the question, some on the responses ...
Aug 24, 2013 06:32:38 #
Aug 24, 2013 20:29:24 #
I would charge what you think your time is worth. Or you may want to do it for the experiance. I would estaimate the cost of the Wedding and go with about 10%. They may chane their mind and get a pro it it is a $10,000 wedding. Are you going to be able to use flash. If not you will want a fast lens. This may be 50mm f/1.8 or f1.4. That would work for the Wedding & Baptisim. And for the faimly portrait. Most wedding photogs use F2.8 zooms. 28-70 for most shots and 70-210 when the shoot from the back of the Chruch for the ceremoney shots. Chimp a lot to see if you are getting good shots. - Dave
Aug 24, 2013 20:43:23 #
Aug 24, 2013 21:47:07 #
HEALS3113 wrote:
I am an amateur at best who has been asked to shoot a wedding, a baptism, and a family portrait. The people who asked have been repeatedly reminded that I am NOT a professional but still want my services. My question is how to price for these shoots. Any advice is appreciated.
Also, I have wondered what others use as a preferred lens for this
Also, I have wondered what others use as a preferred lens for this
That's very difficult because you are not a pro, and friends are involved. Consider it a learning experience, and charge something that you think is fair both to them and to you.
Be sure to find out exactly what they want and put it in writing. If you give them a price, and they keep asking for more, it could create an awkward situation. Each request/requirement should have a value and a price.
Aug 25, 2013 06:44:54 #
My time, experience and equipment is worth at least $150 per hour - and so is yours! Plus I charge for each 'hard copy' print (cost times 3). You will never get rich at those rates, but you will most likely at least pay for your expenses.
Good luck with your first 'paid for' job. How exciting. You'll learn a lot.
Good luck with your first 'paid for' job. How exciting. You'll learn a lot.
Aug 25, 2013 07:00:37 #
You can't just charge (if at all) what you think your time is worth cause your not as of yet a pro or do it for a living. It's a tough question (IMO)to answer. For example, years ago when I was teaching the art of hand lettering to a friend of mine (he an art student), as he would practice and was learning and taking on small jobs for friends and local shops, plus I was sending him some work I thought he could handle... he kept asking me what to charge, If I told him $40 for a small show card, he'd reply...but it took me hours to do...I told and would show him that it would take me about 15 minutes to do it, and $40 is all it's worth. In time he got better, faster and soon was able to do very nice work in a reasonable amount of time and started making money. I think you get the point.
Aug 25, 2013 07:22:22 #
OnDSnap wrote:
...and $40 is all it's worth.
That's it. It doesn't matter how much work you put into something, or how expensive your equipment is. What is the item actually worth?
Aug 25, 2013 07:33:02 #
jerryc41 wrote:
That's it. It doesn't matter how much work you put into something, or how expensive your equipment is. What is the item actually worth?
And Jerry it drove him nuts for about a year...once he got the hang of it (lettering) he understood why he couldn't charge $200 for a $40 item.
Aug 25, 2013 07:35:47 #
BTW, when I was learning...it took me a year to be able to letter a so called perfect letter "O" and an "S", however, when applying for work, that was all I had to do, is draw a perfect circle to land the job.
Aug 25, 2013 07:44:06 #
OnDSnap wrote:
And Jerry it drove him nuts for about a year...once he got the hang of it (lettering) he understood why he couldn't charge $200 for a $40 item.
Someone taught my sister in law how to do the gold lettering on fire trucks. She did a few jobs and then gave up on it. She didn't like to work and eventually married a guy with a lot of money.
Aug 25, 2013 08:12:06 #
I'd suggest you charge nothing for the shoot, with the clear understanding it's because you're strictly an amateur. Then if you get good shots, charge 1/2 to 2/3 the going rate for prints / CD or whatever. Thus if they don't like your work, at least they're not stuck with an expense for nothing. If they do like it, cross fingers, and knowing they're getting the prints at a deal too, hopefully they'll order enough to compensate you somewhat for your efforts. Plus you can ask them for favorable testimonials on social media sites and for your own website. Might be a win-win way to advance from amateur to semi-pro.
Aug 25, 2013 08:12:41 #
ole sarg
Loc: south florida
The advantage of shooting those three events is that the people will never bother you again because their expectations will not be met.
Thus, you kill three birds with one stone each!
Thus, you kill three birds with one stone each!
Aug 25, 2013 08:18:03 #
bgl
Loc: Brooklyn,New York
I don't want to put a wet blanket on this but there are some questions. In case of a malfunction do you have back up equipment? Do you have spare batteries, spare memory? Do you have a tripod that you might want to use for those posed shots especially the group ones? Are you familiar with the event locations - lighting requirements? Good commercial photographers come prepared!
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