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Another "what should I charge" question.
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Oct 25, 2012 12:02:07   #
jtipps Loc: Dallas
 
There is a Mexican restaurant that we go a lot that has a large banquet room attached and she has birthday parties, family gatherings, etc and she has asked me if I was interested in coming and taking pictures of guests, their kids, groups and so on. She said she might could pay me some just to be there but I would charge the guests individually for what they want for themselves. Quite honestly it sounds fun to me because I love photographing people and it would be good experience. I was thinking of asking the owner to pay me $50 to show up and charge individuals or families $20 for about 10-15 shots and that will includes a disc with hi res jpegs and also internet ready pictures. If they want prints they can take them anywhere or I will print them for a fee. there are as many as 100 people at some of these so if I can make something, have fun, gain experience, and maybe gain a setting for better pictures and more money it would be a good idea. If I try it and don't like it I can always not go back. Any thoughts or ideas?

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Oct 25, 2012 12:28:45   #
sarge69 Loc: Ft Myers, FL
 
$50 a shot to show up ? Certain days or 7 days a week which would mean about $350 the owner has to pay out of profits for actually nothing.

Rethink that part.

Sarge69

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Oct 25, 2012 12:37:46   #
OddJobber Loc: Portland, OR
 
I have to agree with Sarge on this. The restaurant won't make any money on your shots. How about a free dinner, and charge slightly more for prints?

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Oct 25, 2012 12:38:31   #
jtipps Loc: Dallas
 
Not $50 a shot Sarge. She is a freind and her idea is that it would be something else to offer to make her package better which may increase her business. She is willing to pay me for just trying it to see if it works for everyone.
sarge69 wrote:
$50 a shot to show up ? Certain days or 7 days a week which would mean about $350 the owner has to pay out of profits for actually nothing.

Rethink that part.

Sarge69

Reply
Oct 25, 2012 14:03:23   #
jtipps Loc: Dallas
 
I am not so concerned about the owner right now, if I make much of anything I don't expect her to pay me to show up. My main question was about charging the guests.

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Oct 25, 2012 17:45:11   #
sarge69 Loc: Ft Myers, FL
 
Charging the guests $15 to $20 for a DVD with an assortment of either random or posed shots would be alright. Printed more of course $$

Sarge69

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Oct 25, 2012 18:03:03   #
jtipps Loc: Dallas
 
Thanks Sarge.

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Oct 26, 2012 06:44:02   #
joehel2 Loc: Cherry Hill, NJ
 
IMHO. I would flip the pricing structure and charge the restaurant $20 to show up and the party $50 for your basic package to start with a view to a possible future increase of the package price if you are in demand.

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Oct 26, 2012 06:58:57   #
waynzphotoz
 
I would offer the restaurant owner free PR shots in exchange for endorsing me as a photographer and providing the opportunity. I agree on the DVD price.

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Oct 26, 2012 07:38:28   #
jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY
 
jtipps wrote:
There is a Mexican restaurant that we go a lot that has a large banquet room attached and she has birthday parties, family gatherings, etc and she has asked me if I was interested in coming and taking pictures of guests, their kids, groups and so on. She said she might could pay me some just to be there but I would charge the guests individually for what they want for themselves. Quite honestly it sounds fun to me because I love photographing people and it would be good experience. I was thinking of asking the owner to pay me $50 to show up and charge individuals or families $20 for about 10-15 shots and that will includes a disc with hi res jpegs and also internet ready pictures. If they want prints they can take them anywhere or I will print them for a fee. there are as many as 100 people at some of these so if I can make something, have fun, gain experience, and maybe gain a setting for better pictures and more money it would be a good idea. If I try it and don't like it I can always not go back. Any thoughts or ideas?
There is a Mexican restaurant that we go a lot tha... (show quote)


This is why I don't make money with photography - till I sell a camera or lens. Showing up and spending the day taking pictures of people with no guarantee of income is risky. Since the owner is billing you as the "Restaurant Photographer," you should receive something just for being there. Selling disks with pictures sounds like the best idea, and I think $20 is a fair price. That could give you $200 for an afternoon's work. Depending on how long the event lasts and what it's all about, the disk could include a hundred or more shots. The guests could do their own printing, or you could arrange that separately. A big question is post processing. Will you want to spend hours processing images for a minimal income?

This sounds like a good opportunity, and you should discuss the details with the owner.

Reply
Oct 26, 2012 08:29:07   #
rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona
 
jtipps wrote:
There is a Mexican restaurant that we go a lot that has a large banquet room attached and she has birthday parties, family gatherings, etc and she has asked me if I was interested in coming and taking pictures of guests, their kids, groups and so on. She said she might could pay me some just to be there but I would charge the guests individually for what they want for themselves. Quite honestly it sounds fun to me because I love photographing people and it would be good experience. I was thinking of asking the owner to pay me $50 to show up and charge individuals or families $20 for about 10-15 shots and that will includes a disc with hi res jpegs and also internet ready pictures. If they want prints they can take them anywhere or I will print them for a fee. there are as many as 100 people at some of these so if I can make something, have fun, gain experience, and maybe gain a setting for better pictures and more money it would be a good idea. If I try it and don't like it I can always not go back. Any thoughts or ideas?
There is a Mexican restaurant that we go a lot tha... (show quote)


I have a similar deal with a restaurant here. They have a banquet room. The coordinator for the banquet room asks if they'd like "the house" photographer to photograph their event. If so, they tack on the equivalent of $85/hr. The person booking the room gets a disc of both 4x6 prints and email size images, included in the price.

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Oct 26, 2012 10:13:28   #
UP-2-IT Loc: RED STICK, LA
 
jtipps wrote:
There is a Mexican restaurant that we go a lot that has a large banquet room attached and she has birthday parties, family gatherings, etc and she has asked me if I was interested in coming and taking pictures of guests, their kids, groups and so on. She said she might could pay me some just to be there but I would charge the guests individually for what they want for themselves. Quite honestly it sounds fun to me because I love photographing people and it would be good experience. I was thinking of asking the owner to pay me $50 to show up and charge individuals or families $20 for about 10-15 shots and that will includes a disc with hi res jpegs and also internet ready pictures. If they want prints they can take them anywhere or I will print them for a fee. there are as many as 100 people at some of these so if I can make something, have fun, gain experience, and maybe gain a setting for better pictures and more money it would be a good idea. If I try it and don't like it I can always not go back. Any thoughts or ideas?
There is a Mexican restaurant that we go a lot tha... (show quote)


Here is another approach, saw this in a clip couple months ago. Make yourself a flyer putting all your contact info on it along with something to the effect of (your pictures printed for whatever price you decide on. Have the wait staff give these to the customers as they are seated. Get yourself a decent printer, set it up on a
table and as you shoot you could go straight to the printer, print the shot or shots and pocket your money right away. Perhaps get a free dinner for yourself for your being there.
Thats just another approach to the situation.

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Oct 26, 2012 10:37:50   #
jtipps Loc: Dallas
 
That is a good thought. Thanks Wayne
waynzphotoz wrote:
I would offer the restaurant owner free PR shots in exchange for endorsing me as a photographer and providing the opportunity. I agree on the DVD price.

Reply
Oct 26, 2012 10:40:00   #
ace-mt Loc: Montana
 
I read a lot of threads on UHH, in which members urge other photographers not to charge for their services. Can anyone think of another profession who's members urge each other to work for free?
I give away way more photos than I sell. I am starting to question my reluctance to charge for what I do. None of my equipment was given to me. The classes I took were not free, and I do value my time. I expect to pay everyone who works for me. Why are we so quick to dismiss the value of what we do?

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Oct 26, 2012 10:45:03   #
jtipps Loc: Dallas
 
Thanks Jerry. They mostly are at night lasting around 4 hours but unless activity was good I doubt I would stay that long. I would price the prints enough to force them to go to Walmart or something. I am thinking no more than 15-25 shots per party but you got me thinking that it might be a good idea to make an event disc with photos that all could enjoy and offer it for 10-15 dollars.
jerryc41 wrote:
jtipps wrote:
There is a Mexican restaurant that we go a lot that has a large banquet room attached and she has birthday parties, family gatherings, etc and she has asked me if I was interested in coming and taking pictures of guests, their kids, groups and so on. She said she might could pay me some just to be there but I would charge the guests individually for what they want for themselves. Quite honestly it sounds fun to me because I love photographing people and it would be good experience. I was thinking of asking the owner to pay me $50 to show up and charge individuals or families $20 for about 10-15 shots and that will includes a disc with hi res jpegs and also internet ready pictures. If they want prints they can take them anywhere or I will print them for a fee. there are as many as 100 people at some of these so if I can make something, have fun, gain experience, and maybe gain a setting for better pictures and more money it would be a good idea. If I try it and don't like it I can always not go back. Any thoughts or ideas?
There is a Mexican restaurant that we go a lot tha... (show quote)


This is why I don't make money with photography - till I sell a camera or lens. Showing up and spending the day taking pictures of people with no guarantee of income is risky. Since the owner is billing you as the "Restaurant Photographer," you should receive something just for being there. Selling disks with pictures sounds like the best idea, and I think $20 is a fair price. That could give you $200 for an afternoon's work. Depending on how long the event lasts and what it's all about, the disk could include a hundred or more shots. The guests could do their own printing, or you could arrange that separately. A big question is post processing. Will you want to spend hours processing images for a minimal income?

This sounds like a good opportunity, and you should discuss the details with the owner.
quote=jtipps There is a Mexican restaurant that w... (show quote)

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