What to charge for a Birthday Party shoot

[ModernPics]

I was wondering if you all could give me a idea of what you would charge for the following.

1 year old Birthday Party for a friends husbands, sister.

It is about 45 min away from my Home on a Sunday.

I would assume it will be a 2 to 3 hour tour onsite - but that depends on the events that take place.

Looking to compare notes to my own price points and services, for one reason is for my self to learn what others charge but also to qualify my rates to clients.

Some just do not have a clue if they have not shopped around, and some family members just compare a pro shoot with Oh Aunt Jane will bring in digital compact and she will get the shots.

Holly Monkey!

I had to mention about "post" processing and why pro gear really cannot be compared to a 200 buck digital compact, along with photography talent of course, lighting - composition - etc....

Your comments welcome on this one.

Thank you in advance!

Dave :confused:

[ssim]

I take it this is one of your first or early paid jobs if you are asking for pricing advice. Correct me if I am wrong.

Dealing with friends, or even friends of friends can be a touchy issue. Is this being touted to you as a full photo gig or is this someone asking you "Hey, you have nice gear, would you mind doing this for me". A big difference there.

A 2 to 3 hour birthday party for a one year old seems like a bit of a stretch. First of all, they hardly comprehend what is going on around them, let alone that they are having a birthday. Chances are it could be sleeping through part of the celebration. If this is an opportunity for them to have a family gathering and you are doing a bunch of group shots, then that is another story again.

If this was family, I would probably do it for free. If it was a friend and I didn't have anything better to do that day, I would charge a nominal fee plus any direct costs. If you are looking at this as a full gig, then charge an hourly rate plus expenses and mileage. I would think that something around 60-75.00 per hour would be fair. Include a set of proofs for this and then give them pricing for prints beyond that.

[ModernPics]

I take it this is one of your first or early paid jobs if you are asking for pricing advice. Correct me if I am wrong.

Dealing with friends, or even friends of friends can be a touchy issue. Is this being touted to you as a full photo gig or is this someone asking you "Hey, you have nice gear, would you mind doing this for me". A big difference there.

A 2 to 3 hour birthday party for a one year old seems like a bit of a stretch. First of all, they hardly comprehend what is going on around them, let alone that they are having a birthday. Chances are it could be sleeping through part of the celebration. If this is an opportunity for them to have a family gathering and you are doing a bunch of group shots, then that is another story again.

If this was family, I would probably do it for free. If it was a friend and I didn't have anything better to do that day, I would charge a nominal fee plus any direct costs. If you are looking at this as a full gig, then charge an hourly rate plus expenses and mileage. I would think that something around 60-75.00 per hour would be fair. Include a set of proofs for this and then give them pricing for prints beyond that.

Yes, you are correct - I am a newbee to paid shoots so I really respect all you pro's comments, tips etc.

Yes it is a friends hunsbands, sisters, daugher (who is the mother) and I do not really know her well to call her a friend of mine, other than seeing her at my friends parties etc.

It was proposed to me as a formal request to shoot the party, which would include not only the baby but group shots as well.

I quoted them 45.00 per hour and since they mentioned they were on a tight budget mentioned that I would charge them 2 hours for how ever long it would take. I would post the pics on my fullfillment site so they could buy pics from there.

Also I would include a DVD presentation with music.

All of that for a flat 90.00 is a steal I think , but I just recv. a email asking me if I can do it for 45.00 -

NO Way will I do it for 45 bucks. I quickly replied with detail of what is involved and the time it takes for Post Processing along with the time it takes me to create a custom DVD, not to mention the quaility of the shots as compared to a snap shot shooter with a consumer digital.

I low balled the job as this is my first paid job. As well as the fact that it is my friends sisters daugher.

I just cannot really see doing it for free in this case, as I really do not know them all that well.

Your mention of 60 to 75.00 helps me understand what the "street" price points are so thank you much for that info.

PS. I mention in my email to her, that I really cannot do the shoot for anything less than 90.00 bucks. ( I think that is a fair comments dont you all think? )

I agree doing shoots for friends can be a bit of a touchy subject, I always do my family for free and allow them to buy pics off my fullfillment site. But I give them a DVD etc...

Thanks for your comments!

Cheers,

Dave

[SonyaL]

Well you do know kids birthday parties can be 3 hrs or more?
I think 90.00 is a great price plus getting a dvd with music what a bargain.
I would not go down on the price.


Sonya

[Digitalwave]

$90 even seems like a rip of for 3 hours of work and 1.5 hours of traveling (think of gas prices!). $45 is a joke. The guy above said $60-75 an hour, not total.

Don't sell yourself short!

[ModernPics]

Thanks all for the great comments....

Turns out she is only willing to pay 45 bucks for the shoot w/ DVD...

I sent a reply to my friends husbands sisters daughter, with some facts about what a more professional photo shoot can offer her VS just Aunt Jane shooting with her digi cam... High Res images, post processing, the equip. that a pro shooter would use, lighting etc...

I even pointed out that for 45.00 more - this is what you get, ( as she replied the first time with I can only afford 45 bucks and this is AFTER a verbal aggreement to do the shoot for 90 bucks. ) :confused:

All of that info and she replies - OK I will keep you in mind for future events.

So I said to my self - should I walk away with feeling like, there sorta friends of mine should I have done it for what would turn out to be Gas Money or walk away feeling "Those cheap &^%$#&^* bums" let aunt jane take the pics and I will think twice if they ask me again.

Anyway, yes I agree even at 90 bucks that would be selling my self short. Even if it is a friend of a friend.

Oh well ....

On to my next quest to do my first "paid" shoot.

PS. Love the community here and I want to thank you all for the great advice, tips, tricks and more.... Gezzz I even bought a POTN Hat !

Dave

[Chrisedge]

You were very smart to decline after the lowball amount. I used to do wedding videos, and people would always try and lowball us. My answer was always "Have Uncle John do it then."

[dave_borg98]

I think you did the right thing. There should be no hard feelings on either part. It was a business deal and you could not come to an agreement. Mixing business and friends can be touchy but if you keep the business part out of the friendship then everything is OK.