what to charge for portraits??

[saravrose]

New experience for me, I had a gentelman I work with ask me what I would charge to take a family portrait for him and his three year old. I've done portraits for family and friends and I feel confident that I can do it.
Wondering what to charge? what's reasonable for my time, if I plan on spending two or three hours with them, and then for prints? He mentioned wanting a large print 16x20 and then the usual 8x10's and smaller ones for family. I would use the same place I use for everything. do you charge what the print would be?
Also, getting a release so that he can get his own prints. I know that the place that I use has some serious issues about making copies of any print that you have had to previously purchase. Even going so far as calling me when my cousin came in with a c.d. of stuff I had taken. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks, Sari.

[MTalley]

I typically charge approximately 4x what the developer charges me, which is still cheap compared to the better studios and individuals. For example, I can get 8x10's done for $1.99 (mpix.com), so I charge a flat $8.00.

Per the CD issue. I have an Epson printer that allows me to print direct to CD. I have a template I use, along with blank white CD's, that has a "disclaimer" indicating that the person whose name is on the CD (the customer) has full permission to have prints made from any file on the CD. I fully close the session on the CD so that additional files cannot be added. Printing the CD directly looks much more professional and believable than using a Sharpie marker to write on it.

[symes]

New experience for me, I had a gentelman I work with ask me what I would charge to take a family portrait for him and his three year old. I've done portraits for family and friends and I feel confident that I can do it.
Wondering what to charge? what's reasonable for my time, if I plan on spending two or three hours with them, and then for prints? He mentioned wanting a large print 16x20 and then the usual 8x10's and smaller ones for family. I would use the same place I use for everything. do you charge what the print would be?
Also, getting a release so that he can get his own prints. I know that the place that I use has some serious issues about making copies of any print that you have had to previously purchase. Even going so far as calling me when my cousin came in with a c.d. of stuff I had taken. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks, Sari.

There are many ways to do this...but I don't think MT charges near enough...

In my area, a session with a professional photographer is normally around $100.00 and that is between 30 mins and an hour. Then prints are additional and most times an 8X10 is at least 20.00 above the print charges...

Now for the first couple, I charged for the CD, cause I didn't want to be responsible for getting prints to the family who lives two hours away. So I charged them a flat rate of 75.00 for five family photos...of course we spent about 45minutes and then I spent about an hour post processing them.

This in my estimation was far too cheap...and I won't go for that rate again...

I would watch out on your time because I don't think a three year old is going to be able to take pictures for three hours...

Cheers,

[saravrose]

Yes, I definately agree that a three year old won't be able to take pictures for three hours. I'm planning on a lot of stop and go. Especially considering he's chosen the location of a very beautiful,but distracting park in Boise. He's also asked that I concentrate some extra attention on candid portrait style, which i'm good at. Mostly I want to get around the issue of what to charge for prints and my time, my favorite salesman at my camera store I use suggests upwards of eighty for a 16x20. It will cost me roughly thirty dollars... and that's with what he considers to be a 'buddy discount'. Does this sound reasonable? Also keeping in mind that I will more than likely be using this shoot for my own portfolio. Anyway, i'm probably overthinking things. any additional opinions would be very helpful. Sari.

[chtgrubbs]

For a half-day shoot, $500-600 and $100-150 for a 16x20 print. Price smaller prints accordingly.

[KennyG]

Material costs are way down the list of what to charge. Time and skill are what the customer should pay for. Does a garage only charge for the oil when it does a service? Of course not. Actually, mechanic's rates are not too far off what you should be charging as minimum, then think about adding the material costs. Get your customers used to realating your charges with something they can understand. Ask how much per hour they pay a skilled craftsman to fix the plumbing or repair an electrical fault and point out that they should pay you at least that.