gr810r Loc: Richmond, VA

I also did a Muench workshop and nobody, either instructor or participant, mentioned anything about tips. This is the first I've heard of it for photo workshops. Not that I'm that experienced.

Judy795

I’ve done four Muench, sometimes the leaders were owners, sometimes staff. No one ever mentioned tips. We often ate in nice restaurants as a group and everything went on the Muench business credit card. Always very nice hotels.
My last trip was with two friends restarting photography trips since the pandemic. Price included all photo stuff, transportation, and nice hotels. Dinners not included, the group wanted to eat together, no Europe restaurants would give separate checks, some ordered alcohol and a lot of food, others ate rabbit food. It was an PITA. Anyway, tips were never expected or discussed.
Anyway,

Larryshuman

When a photo trip costs between $3000 and $6000 I don't feel a tip is necessary. The true costs of a trip is about 50% of the final cost per person. So with a profit between $1500 and $3000, why is it necessary for a tip?

Rokko Loc: Minneapolis

Agreed.

Cany143 Loc: SE Utah

When I was in the ripe and hale sector of guidesmanship, I was disallowed --by law and by agency policy-- from accepting tips, gratuities, or material gifts. Which galled me to no end because had they not been prohibited, I could've retired years and years before I had, and could probably have amassed coin enough that I could've bought myself a nice yacht or two.

Some years back, I took a tour --and I NEVER take paid-for tours!-- of Hurst Castle out in Californiaville. It was led by what THIS (then) professional tour-giver considered as good or better an 'interpreter' of a site as I'd ever encountered, and by then I'd known my share. Don't remember what I'd paid for my lady friend and I to take the tour, but at the end of it, I tipped our guide with a considered and heartfelt tip of 'YOU, sir, are a PRO', and pressed the remainder of what I had in my wallet into his hand. It wasn't much (credit card was doing the heavy lifting, don'tcha know), but it was all I had. Knowing that was not enough.

That one other time I took a paid tour --it was the only way access could be had-- I handed off a double sawbuck at the end of it, and left it at that with a "thanks".

Yes, I expect that Photo Workshops (I printed [b&w's] for a rather well known one, many, many years ago during the Dark[room] Ages) are an entirely different thing than tours, but something is only worth anything when it's genuinely deserved.

SuperflyTNT Loc: Manassas VA

Only if it’s an iPhone photography workshop.
😜🤪

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

Did they charge you for the workshop?
How much do they charge?
Are you tipping one, two, three or more?
If you had multiple presenters, did they all give the same amount of time?
Were they knowledgeable? Did you learn the same with all presenters?
Did you go to a location to shoot? And if so was there a admission fee?
Did they have refreshments, if so, was it a full lunch or just snacks.
Were their models? Should you also tip them?
How about the folks who set up? Servers? Equipment carriers?
You see, this could get complicated.

Gitchigumi Loc: Wake Forest, NC

Should you tip the teachers at your child’s school? Bus drivers? Janitors? Admin staff?

If you sign up for a photo workshop, the fee should be a one-time fee with no tipping expected. You will also have other expenses, such as airline tickets, rental car, etc.. You wouldn’t tip the pilot, stewardesses, baggage handler, rental car agent, etc.. would you?

Rant mode engaged: Too many people have their hands out expecting you to grease their palms with cash. Some of you may be flush with cash and can afford to give it away as tips. For me, being retired, money is tight. It would be a stretch to afford to go on one of these photo trips. It would be a great experience, no doubt. But, to add an expectation of a tip just doesn’t sit well with me. Rant over.

Cheetah34 Loc: Virginia Beach

Pay late, collect early.

goldstar46 Loc: Tampa, Fl

======

Izzy and others here...

The history of "Tipping" is below...

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gratuity#:~:text=The%20practice%20of%20tipping%20began,for%20having%20performed%20superbly%20well.


In the above... It says.. "The practice of tipping began in Tudor England.[14] In medieval times, tipping was a master-serf custom wherein a servant would receive extra money for having performed superbly well
....

Tipping historically is NOT part of a"Salary"

Tipping is something "Extra" ..
...... for "performance" beyond "normal duties"

Tipping is a "Voluntary Act" of the consumer

Tipping should. NOT.. be "Expected"
.... AND, should NOT be a "Mandatory" requirement

LASTLY-- there is no "Magical Formula"
..... and should be determined by the giver, not some arbitrary input formula

Tipping has translated in America to a mandatory act, in Europe. It is unexpected to receive a tip. I have traveled the world extensively, and what I have said is a fact.

In America, it has become a way of life for the business to supplement the salary and wages of an employee when the business owner is not willing to pay the employee the correct amount and include it in the cost of the product...

In addition to the above, in America, it has also become a "Manipulation principle".. by employees who want to increase their salary above what is expected from their employer...

In closing
... T.I.P.S. should mean " To Insure Prompt Service "
..... Tipping is "Purely Discretionary" ...

I.M.H.O. --- That is my 2¢ for what it is worth......

Cheers 🍻 👏 & Happy New Year
Goldstar46
George Veazey
###

Canisdirus

I tip at meals...and parking lots...that's all.

camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

Architect 1776 wrote: "If I pay for the workshop, absolutely NO tip period.
I don't tip except for sit-down restaurants where you are waited, valet, and a couple of other things.
Tired of this stupid tip for nothing."

In total agreement. Tipping is no longer a courtesy it has become an obligation.

Real Nikon Lover Loc: Simi Valley, CA

If you don't want to or believe in tipping, do not ever take a cruise. There is a strangle hold on your wallet now if you cruise. The drink packages use to be inclusive now they are stifling. Inflation has sent them skyrocketing. They are built into the price of the cruise and you can have them removed before you get under way if you opt out. But plan on drinking lemonade and water only.

Photolady2014 Loc: Southwest Colorado

BCJ says 10-20% most I have talked to say 10% is too much and the $50 a day is more appropriate. In the beginning BCJ was a fair amount cheaper than other tour companies and then maybe I would tip more, but now they are as much or more….. so on 10% tipping!

Photolady2014 Loc: Southwest Colorado

I travel with them some, but on my last BCJ trip, Alaska we all went with the $50 a day. That was $200. The 10% would have been $1400! I don’t think so!!