jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

Since you are not a pro and have not ever done this kind of work before, I'd charge something like you would if you were asked to baby sit while your friends went on a date, or what you might charge to help them paint the house or move. Most likely if they are good friends, you'd charge nothing but if they are acquaintances you'd probably charge $50 for the day or something like that.

Since they know you are an amateur and you don't especially want to go and purchase any special equipment like lenses just for one wedding or baptism, you can just use what you have. You don't say what that is so I'd assume you have the usual 18-55, 55-250 and or 18/135 or 28/135. If you don't have a fast lens, you might want to purchase at least a tripod so you don't have to hand hold in low light, slow shutter speed conditions.

I don't shoot any of the fore mentioned activities, but most people that I know use fast lenses in the 24-70 and 70-200 zoom ranges. Some also pack a wide angle lens while there are some purists that use nothing but prime lenses. I have one really good friend that was using a Canon 7D with both of those zooms but over the past year he's been slowly upgrading his equipment to a 5D III, 35mm prime and a 50mm prime. I bet he's saving for an 85mm prime as we speak (write).

Annie_Girl Loc: It's none of your business

Hate to burst your bubble the moment you take money for a service you are marketing yourself as a Pro. Just the wording of your post has key words that point out the fact you are playing at being a pro.

You have 3 sessions lined up (2 are once in a life-time events with most likely tricking church lighting). How does one land 3 sessions from 3 different people if they aren't at least pretending to be in business?

nitrophil Loc: Dayton, Ohio

Remember, free advice is worth every penny of it. Seriously, as an amateur who did a few weddings years ago, my advice is walk away! fast! Weddings took all the fun out of photography from me for a long, long time. Your "friends" are your worst clients.
Don't hate me for my opinion, you did ask. Good luck to you. I hope it works out for you.

gemlenz Loc: Gilbert Arizona

Personally, since you stated you are not a pro, I would consider doing this as a learning experience. If you charge and receive money, you are pro. However, what if you mess up or something happens to the pictures? Things like this could put a strain on your friendship. So you have to decide what's more important - money or friendship.

ohallboyz Loc: Boston, MA

Honestly, I would consider doing these for free since you are not a registered business or a pro. If they want to give you a gift card or whatnot for your time, then great, but don't expect it.

However, I would let them know if they want prints and order through you, that you will have to charge them whatever your lab charges plus shipping.

HEALS3113 Loc: PENNSYLVANIA

Yes, I have a good tripod, the extras and a back up camera. These people have seen my work and tell me they want me for what they have seen me do and don't expect pictures as perfect in quality as a professional, but know what I am capable of capturing. I am charging because they want to pay and like in other forums, It has been said if you don't charge your hurting the rest and aren't putting any value on your work.
As far as ole sarge's comment, the comment has underlying tones of meanness. If you never saw my work how would you know I would be "killing 3 birds with 1 stone"

Hando Rei Loc: Long Island New York

Advice is pretty much the same as from the members . So many variations on what to do . What equipment do you have ? Things happen ...are you prepared? Remember you are not a pro ...if they do not like your photos what are you going to do ? You cannot make a First Impression the second time if the photos are not satisfactory ...Professionals get the big bucks because they are experienced and they have gone through the school of hard knocks..What to charge ???? You have to work it out with them .

wilsondl2 Loc: Lincoln, Nebraska

Someone has to go to the school of Hard Knoks. They know your work. Go learn - take pictures- Have fun. You will get some great pictures and some that may not be so great. - Dave

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

These day's a $10,000 would be on the cheap side. Just checked a few sites and the average cost of just a moderate sized wedding in NJ exceeds $30,000 by quite a bit. That includes everything including the photographer.

GPoyner Loc: North Dakota

nitrophil has it right...your friends (or family) are your worse clients. I took a maternity shot of my sister in-law, the shot went good, no problems even had help from my family. But then came the pp nightmare....I want color with the ribbon blue, I want color with the ribbon pink, I want B&W with the ribbon blue, I want B&W with the ribbon pink...and so on and so on....not to mention the children's blocks and all the different pp she wanted done.

Charge or not charge what you feel is right...none of us can really tell you what your time is worth; especially if we haven't seen your work. But please put a limit (even for free or gifted events) to what you will and will not do, anything above what you will do is priced to what is appropriate my you....keep in mind that changing the color of letter blocks (so each block had it's own color to what she wanted even if when it wasn't the color of the actual block) takes time and a lot of time.

We will be all over the board here on what you charge and yet we don't know you or your work.....Go for it and do what you think is right.

Rongnongno Loc: FL

A single advice for the wedding: DO NOT DO IT, even for the experience.
Baptism is iffy as it is also a single event but I guess you can get away with it.
Family portrait is not a problem.
If you want to charge for anything, charge for the print, this is where the money is anyway plus at that moment you will know if the pictures are good enough...

But for the wedding, unless you have had experience with another photographer with the preparation and the shooting.... Don't unless you want to be at the other end of a shotgun wedding....

Reasons?

Are you able to control a herd of cats w/o going nuts?

Then....
Chapel:
Before
Where will you take some of the 'live' or 'candid' pictures?
(Space, light, environment)
Ceremony
What is permitted, can shoot with or not, can you shoot at all?
How long do you have, can you meet the allowed time?
Afterward
Do you know how to pose formals after the wedding, whom to select in what order to speed things up w/o upsetting everyone...

And this is JUST the beginning of the potential troubles you will have. If you get pay, you MUST deliver. If you do not get paid you STILL have to deliver. Not worth it.

Jakebrake Loc: Broomfield, Colorado

When I'm approached by relatives, friends or acquaintences to take photographs of an event, I stress I'm an amateur and don't charge for my services, as it is my hobby, and I'm still learning, but I do accept gratuities. That being said, I have been shocked at some of the high $$$ slipped into an envelope and presented to me.

Jakebrake Loc: Broomfield, Colorado

Just ignore ole sarg, everybody else on the forum does.

:-D

OnDSnap Loc: NE New Jersey

I used to do quite a bit of that, 23k! Did many fire trucks and a lot of Glass Guiding. very time consuming . Lucky her.

country Loc: back woods

I was waiting on annie to jump in and chew you out....lol...