I never charge family...I generally put photos on Shutterfly and send everyone a link...they can buy what they want...the exception is for my 93 year old mother in law...she no longer goes on the computer. my wife and i give her some pictures...
Chuck
jwn
Loc: SOUTHEAST GEORGIA USA
tell them to make donation to your favorite charity....otherwise you will be remembered through the generations as "remember Aunt Lovlylyn she used to charge for family pictures what a scrooge"
dennis2146 wrote:
If these pictures are for family then why not put the photos on a disc and give them to family members? Sorry but from reading your post these people are family. IF you were in a studio and IF you were/are a professional photographer who does this type of photography for money, then I could see charging them your standard fee. But if these are just photos you took at your family get together then I don't understand why the charge. Perhaps I am missing something here.
Dennis
Me too I don’t understand why the change!
billnikon
Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont
lovelylyn wrote:
I took pictures at our family thanksgiving for those wanting family or individual Christmas pictures. (They turned out great). I didn’t charge a sitting fee just the price of any prints they order. Some have asked to purchase digital copies. I’ve never sold digital files before so not sure what to charge. What is the going rate?
When I shot professionally, I only charged family COST only (but usually free), never made money on family or friends (always cost for friends but on many, many occasions, free). Currently my framed show prints are triple keystone priced. Cost times 3. So, if my print and frame cost is say, $95.00, my price was 95 X3 or $285.00, then rounded to nearest $100.00 or $299.00.
I never sell my digital images, unless I am licensing it to a media publication, then its not cheap. When you loose control of your digital file, you loose control of the printing. They take it to Walgrens, Wal-mart etc, and bingo you have a off color image. Then Betty Jo tells Emily Ann, oh Billy Jim Bob took, that photo....Just saying.. I will always offer a print at reduced cost to family, or as one member days, they make nice gifts.
Fredrick
Loc: Former NYC, now San Francisco Bay Area
lovelylyn wrote:
I took pictures at our family thanksgiving for those wanting family or individual Christmas pictures. (They turned out great). I didn’t charge a sitting fee just the price of any prints they order. Some have asked to purchase digital copies. I’ve never sold digital files before so not sure what to charge. What is the going rate?
I don’t charge family or friends ... because they are really the only people in my life that really matter to me.
May I ask all of you a question? (I'm not asking this to indicate I'm either for or against the way this conversation is going.) If you ran a store and a member of your family came in to purchase an item. Would you give it to them for free?
Another question: How far does "family" go? Your brother? Your mother? Your kid? Your son's cousin's mother-in-law?
Another question: Does it make a difference if you're giving them something that costs you about $1.50 and a few hours of work (like a disc burned) versus 100 8x10's mounted and matted that would cost a LOT more?
If you use a web-based photo site such as Nikon Image Space, you can send links to your catalogs and opt to let your family and friends download the pictures. That way you can share your pictures at no cost to you and avoid any inconvenience or delays getting CDs and thumb drives to them.
lovelylyn wrote:
I took pictures at our family thanksgiving for those wanting family or individual Christmas pictures. (They turned out great). I didn’t charge a sitting fee just the price of any prints they order. Some have asked to purchase digital copies. I’ve never sold digital files before so not sure what to charge. What is the going rate?
Everyone handles these issues with their family differently. I don't charge anyone in my family for anything I do (they don't charge me for their work either). However, some do insist on compensating me. This is my fee schedule:
Informal shots and a few prints - 1 six pack of beer.
Multiple prints - 1 case of beer.
Formal posing with digital files - a fifth of tequila.
Formal posing and 11x14 prints - several fifths of tequila or one $100 bottle of very good tequila.
I know for some that may seem like a lot, but I value my work and my fee schedule reflects my level of skills and the quality of my images.
I like WE TRANSFER....easy to use and easier to send and receive. Each to his own....Free, Free and Free.
dsmeltz wrote:
For family photos, I upload to Dropbox and send out links. I do not charge family.
I do the same. Camera JPG quality. If someone wants something more, then we talk. For family, it's never $$$'s, but if they want to display it we'll talk about changes for the better of how it will be used.
It is family and you did it because you wanted to..Save yourself a lot of grief, tell them to pay whatever they feel is fair. Some will be generous and others won't, but at the end of the day, You will have what you wanted anyhow and that is photo's you cherish of your family. If when it is all said and done, you feel you were not justly compensated overall, then don't do it again.
scsdesphotography wrote:
Everyone handles these issues with their family differently. I don't charge anyone in my family for anything I do (they don't charge me for their work either). However, some do insist on compensating me. This is my fee schedule:
Informal shots and a few prints - 1 six pack of beer.
Multiple prints - 1 case of beer.
Formal posing with digital files - a fifth of tequila.
Formal posing and 11x14 prints - several fifths of tequila or one $100 bottle of very good tequila.
I know for some that may seem like a lot, but I value my work and my fee schedule reflects my level of skills and the quality of my images.
Everyone handles these issues with their family di... (
show quote)
A frame is additional. Perhaps tequila with a worm?
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