jimmya Loc: Phoenix

I'd ask $800 to start. Should your friend throw in any other, off the wall requests you can up the charge from there.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

This is so true. I saw a post in Craigslist for a photographer to shoot your wedding. It stated that he had a "pro type" camera and was willing to do everything the bride and groom wanted for $20.00.

I'm sure his phone was ringing of the hook.
--Bob

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

Mileage at the government reimbursable deductible limit.

Day rate of your choice --- this is not negotiable and where you make your money. It includes photography, travel, and post-processing time.

DVD at $10.00.

Prints at lab cost plus 50% if you handle orders.

The trend is to charge separately for prints and professional services. It establishes your WORTH.

I think $2500 is a cheap wedding job for a true pro. You have expensive cameras, lenses, flash units, wireless mics if you do video. You have computers, monitors, software, and other post-processing tools. You have plenty of other expenses --- and then you have to live!

Carl D Loc: Albemarle, NC.

This why I won't even go near wedding photography. Even some f the well known pros have gone to other venues.

sirlensalot Loc: Arizona

Depends on different factors. Geography, saturation of photographers in the area, competition, client expectation, budget, etc.
Overall, prices have dropped IMO as the market and competition increases with a few exceptions of photographers with established reputations that are able to command top dollar.

Best advice I can think of is find out what clients are looking for, and shop the competition if possible. Google is your friend.

ptcanon3ti Loc: NJ

These are laudable thoughts. But I'm finding people don't care what your gear costs, or that you have expenses, or that you have to live. They want something for nothing, or as close as possible to nothing.

Carl D Loc: Albemarle, NC.

Best and most honest reply yet on this subject.

Billy Bob

I do it for $150. hour from my house and back, $300. to lock in the date.

mas24 Loc: Southern CA

Pro photographers generally have packaged deals. General, Intermediate, and Deluxe. Each priced differently. In other words, small, medium and large.

horacehockey

One thing I learned is that geographic location plays a factor. Down in Boca Raton, Fl. , a few grand to shoot would be common even in the 80's. Here in Indiana, they would think you are snortin' meth to expect such a fee. Most local weddings are not extravagant in my area. The groomsmen would most likely sport tuxedos in Realtree Camoflage. lol

tusketwedge Loc: Nova Scotia Canada

As far as I can figure out it depends on where your living, what clients you attract and how many wedding photographers in your area,and how good you are. Had a friend that hired a group of 3 based out of N.Y. to shoot a wedding in Newport R.I. and that was 10,000.00 plus. Got a friend in N.S. that his starting point is 4000.00 and it goes up from their. Doing canvas stretching for a printer I get to see a lot of weddings shots from different photographers and you can basically figure who's worth the extra bucks.So if your work is up there don't be afraid to charge. Don't sell yourself short. JMO and good luck.

greg vescuso Loc: Ozark,Mo.

I can't tell you what you should charge since you are doing this for a friend, but since you used to shoot weddings on film you would have sold prints but now they want a DVD from you and if you are willing to deliver your images with no edit work done then you can give them a DVD for a couple hundered dollars but if you are going to be editing 300 or some crazy number like 800 images you have to figure out what it is worth to you to deliver that Many edited images. If it was me and I wasn't looking to get back into wedding photography I would shoot it for a couple hundred dollars and give them a DVD of unedited images and contact information for sources to have the images exited, there are a lot of people out there that edit wedding images only as a business.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

Before I stopped doing such work, my business plan suggested that my overhead was around $55K a year and it included the following:

Camera gear
maintenance
Computer
Software licensing
Phone
Internet
Website
Email marketing
Business cards and stationery
Professional organization memberships
Rent, Utitilies, Supplies
Motor vehicle leasing
Insurances
Accounting and legal
And other recurring expenses

Add to that my salary, and I would need to generate at least $135K/yr, or $2700/wk

So I'd rather have someone beat me in the head with the sharp edge of an ax before I'd do a wedding for less than $4000 plus extra for prints, albums, Bridezilla and Mother-of-Bridezilla premium fee, etc etc etc. My per-diem was $1500, plus extra for a second shooter/assistant. A typical wedding would require several pre-event meetings, venue scouting, a full day of event prep and shoot, at least 5-10 hrs to process proofs and load them on the website - this is what they would get for their $4000+.

While it seems high, my clients were extremely well treated, with every single matter or concern meaningfully addressed, preemptively - with the goal that the bride and groom walked away feeling that they couldn't want more from their photographer. After all, it was their special day, and they needed to be absolutely comfortable knowing that my focus was entirely on them, and at the same time staying mostly in the background, being invisible to the wedding party, the minister, the guests, etc throughout the event.

If you don't feel that you can deliver that level of service to your friend, then suggest they hire someone who can. No one ever complained about the fee when everything else was perfect. But I hear a lot of complaints about the photographer not getting all the shots, not doing enough, not spending enough time during the event or afterwards on post processing and retouching, etc etc etc. This is the cost of getting a cheap price on a wedding package. A pain that will be remembered for a long time. Don't be that guy and ruin someone's special day.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

Part of the reason for the $5000 is that I don't want to do it. If they agree, well, all the better for me.
--Bob

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

Well, pay for nothing, get nothing. If you are seriously professional, you state your rates and let the customer decide. Apple doesn't discount Macs or iPhones. Why should a true pro give photography services away? You can't compete with free or even ultra cheap. But you can educate your customers, and sell to those who understand and can afford your work.