Photography for Friends - How much to charge?

[zebron]

Hi guys,

I am a professional commercial photographer. Some friends asked me to do a family photoshoot for them. I warned them that I have little experience in the area, and I don't own any portrait lenses, but I agreed. It took about 2 hours for the shoot, and about 1.5 for the RAW processing, and the pictures came out looking fantastic. They have asked me for a total of 38 4x6s of several shots that I will be printing on premium luster paper on my Epson 2200.

Now I usually charge a high hourly rate for my time, but that is to businesses that can afford my kind of work. Obviously it would be rediculous to charge that kind of cash to my friends.

Does anyone have any idea what I should charge them? Should I just give them my time as a favor, and charge for the 4x6s? It is one of those awkward situations in which you have done a lot of work, and feel you need to charge something, but you want to cut a break for your friends. Anyone else out there have experience with this kind of thing?

Thanks!

Z

[robertwgross]

The last time that I did a family portrait shoot, it took about an hour. I supplied all of the backdrop, lights, and cameras at the home of friends. Afterward, I supplied all of the digital files on CD-ROM and printed out a few of the best ones.

For that, I charged my friends the simple fee of $100, and I think both parties felt that was good.

---Bob Gross---

[cowman345]

If I was in your position:

Good friends? Charge for prints, plus 50 bucks for my time.

Pretty-good friends? Charge for prints, plus 75 bucks for my time.

-dave-

[GenEOS]

Just got through with a shoot for some friends.
SHot about an hour of my time.
Three poses. Previewed the images after the shoot on my laptop.
They picked the one they liked best for pose and smiles.
Packed up went home and tweaked that image in PS.
Printed at the local Walgreens, 5-8x10's.

They loved them, paid $100.

I don't feel I was too high nor so low that I was volunteering.

I am selling low-budget, high quality portrait sessions.
The Walgreens prints are not too bad at all, the new stores in my area, all have Fuji Frontier machines.

I think a nationwide photo chain would charge a bit more for 5 8x10's.

So far I have gotten a good response.

[Vegas Poboy]

I've been told to charge $75.00 to $125.00 per hour for normal work plus film or CD, so for my friends I go with $100.00 a hour and give them the edited CD and a couple of 8x10 prints. Everyone seems happy so far.
One of the best things to do is ask them how much they think the photos are worth and let them make an offer to you. Most of them know how much it really cost to set up studio shots thats one of the reasons why they go to thier friends.

[IndyJeff]

Zebron I would find out what 38 4x6 prints would cost from a portrait photo studio in your area. Tell them that price would be $XXX amount of dollars and discount them down to 75% or 50%, depending on how good of friends they are. Never undercharge, the reasoning behind that is, if you charge them say $125 and then they tell their neighbors about the great deal they got. Next thing you know, your doing family shots for about half of what you should be getting.
If you get $125 for the 38 4x6's and the next people only want 1 8x10 and maybe 3 5x7's in their mind it should only be about $25 or $30 becuse of the low volume compared to the first family.

I always make sure that a price has been quoted before and I make sure that if they send me another customer I don't take a beating doing their shots for the same price.

[morenoar]

This is GREAT INFORMATION TO HAVE. I just started taking pictures for some of our Club Soccer Teams. Parents see me out ther taking shots, and ask what am I going to do with the pictures. Since I don't have a GOOD LENS (saving for a Canon 100-400 L) I have not realy thought about selling them the PICS. Of course I would not know how much to sell them for. But doing the price comparison, now allows me to see how much to charge. Thanks. I am so glad that I stumbled into this form, Canon Digital Photograhpy Forum, because I have learned a lot about taking pictures. Not that I am good at it anyway, but have learned

[robertwgross]

Yes, when the soccer parents ask how much it is for the photos, you tell them. Then add "I'm saving up for a better lens so that I can take even better shots of your kids."

---Bob Gross---

[Malaxos1]

I have charged $50 for a similar amount of time and photos. The cool thing as that most of the gigs that I get come through word of mouth from my friends. Just make sure they know that this is a deal for them only...Dean

[SheriG]

Hi all great info. Does anyone out there have a "package" pricing quote. The information listed is great, but I have been out of the "pro" loop for awhile, starting again and would love some feedback on competitive moderate pricing. Is the hourly rate standard these days. It was not back when I was doing this professionally.

SheriG

[fotog]

Remember that the price you charge them will be expected from your other friends who see your work. Pick a price you will be happy with if you have to do it again and again. When ever you work on the cheep you kinda get stuck there. I try to hold my prices and then give them more value for their money. Maybe an xtra 11x14 or something to sweeten the pot.
Bill

[arthurb]

Most folks in general hate to pay for "Time" but they easily understand materials cost.

I would charge a good price for the prints, and even quote them an individual price for the prints, so that if they come back in a month and want you to print more, there is no question.

This is especially true for the soccer guy. If you are already there for your kids and then your bill includes time, you may find less repeat business. But if you charge per print, without mentioning time, you are likely to get other parents wanting pictures.


This is not meant as pro advice, since making a full time living involves a lot of other factors.

[DaveG]

zebron wrote:
Hi guys,

I am a professional commercial photographer. Some friends asked me to do a family photoshoot for them. I warned them that I have little experience in the area, and I don't own any portrait lenses, but I agreed. It took about 2 hours for the shoot, and about 1.5 for the RAW processing, and the pictures came out looking fantastic. They have asked me for a total of 38 4x6s of several shots that I will be printing on premium luster paper on my Epson 2200.

Now I usually charge a high hourly rate for my time, but that is to businesses that can afford my kind of work. Obviously it would be rediculous to charge that kind of cash to my friends.

Does anyone have any idea what I should charge them? Should I just give them my time as a favor, and charge for the 4x6s? It is one of those awkward situations in which you have done a lot of work, and feel you need to charge something, but you want to cut a break for your friends. Anyone else out there have experience with this kind of thing?

Thanks!

Z

If you haven't printed those shots yet look into an online lab prices. You probably can get prints done commercially for a fraction of what it's cost you to do on your printer. And if you don't like them the lab gets to print them over again without any additional cost to you.

If they were my friends I'd say something like, "You owe me a box of paper." or something like that, just so that my costs are covered. Then I'd use their shots as samples and make some real money on the next family shot that I'd do.

[neil_r]

Hey guys, am I glad I dont have friends like you, I dont charge my "friends" for my time because they are "friends" hey and guess what..... they dont charge me for theirs either.

[Malaxos1]

What I do is give them a CD and tell them to go to Wal-Mart and have them print them. That way they get what they want and only pay for what the get.

[smurr]

It has been my experience when asked to do some "pictures" for friends and/or family because this or that is happening the following applies.

Family - 100 dollars with all the prints they want.

Friends of family - 100 dollars and 2.50 a print.

"Friends" - 100 dollars and a CD - they print.

All others - 250 dollars with CD.

I too am a professional photographer and of course that is a different story.

First time post glad to be among the thinking!

[Ferdinand]

I would go 50 dollars an hour.

And then 40% mark up on material which isn't much since most people mark up on paper but tend to forget about the ink and depreciation on the printer. So 40% on paper would nicely cover ink and depreciation assents used.

And trust me at this rate you will still come in low when compare to other Photo Studio where they do not know anyone there.

:D

[Ferdinand]

Neil :) but you don't want to make it a habit for your friends to come see you 3 days out of 7 in a week asking you to shoot for them for free :) And besides, if they are real friends they would volunteer to pay you without being ask hehehe

[IndyJeff]

Ferdinand wrote:
Neil :) but you don't want to make it a habit for your friends to come see you 3 days out of 7 in a week asking you to shoot for them for free :) And besides, if they are real friends they would volunteer to pay you without being ask hehehe

Exactly Ferdi. I would never ask a friend to do his job or paying hobby and not charge me. Maybe give me a discount if he wants to but, I like doing business with people I know. If there is a problem you stand a better chance of getting it resovled with a friend.
Now if it is something I want to do for free for them, then that is my perogative but not theirs to expect a freebie.

[arthurb]

neil_r wrote:
Hey guys, am I glad I dont have friends like you, I dont charge my "friends" for my time because they are "friends" hey and guess what..... they dont charge me for theirs either.

Well, Neil, the problem is that there are two types of "Friends", those who understand that what you do for a living, is necessary to pay the bills.

And those whose main reason for "Friendship" is do get as much as they can for as little as they can.

Those of the first type insist on paying, and sometimes it is hard to come up with a price for those folks, and I often will do the work for the price of the materials. If they are truly close friends the entire job may be a present for the event.

Those of the second type are unhappy with whatever you charge since they think that since you are their "Friend" that you owe them.

One of the tough things about photography is that many people have little respect for quality and skill. To some folks a grainy Poloroid is as good as the best medium format.
Because of that, they often don't understand the work that goes into producing good photos.

[WestFalcon]

I am a professional(part time) . I would charge $50 for the pictures thus far and give them a flat rate of $3.00 for a 4x5, $6.00 for a 5x7 and $9.00 for an 8x10. Tell them this is a special rate for "you" and don't tell anyone else. If they want reprints, you will make out pretty well and if they do not, I'd find something else to do if they call again. These are very reasonable prices for professional work and no one should complain. My guideline is if they don't order at least $50 in reprints, they are either copying your work or they don't appreciate your favor and I'd be done doing this for them. Depends how close you are with these people too. If they are doing favors for you, you may be happy to do this as a favor. I've done work for my church and some really wonderful members for free. There are a lot of variables in this problem, so do what you feel is right. There is no magical formula for this situation.

[zebron]

Hi guys,

Thank you all once again for an overwhelming response. Once again proof that this forum is an extraordinary resource and support for us photographers out there! I am not %100 decided but have made up my mind to charge somewhere around $100 or so, maybe a touch more.

Thanks again all!

Z

[clos]

smurr wrote:
It has been my experience when asked to do some "pictures" for friends and/or family because this or that is happening the following applies.

Family - 100 dollars with all the prints they want.

Friends of family - 100 dollars and 2.50 a print.

"Friends" - 100 dollars and a CD - they print.

All others - 250 dollars with CD.

I too am a professional photographer and of course that is a different story.

First time post glad to be among the thinking!

Smurr,

Welcome to the forum, I hope you find it as helpful and entertaining as I have.

Do you supply any prints to the "all others", or do you just hand them a CD and tell them to print it themselves?

-Clos

[Erin]

Rule 1: If you are a commercial photographer is, 'You have no friends, only respected clients'.

If they are true friends they will pay the normal going rate.

If you do "mates rates" where does it stop. "Oh, but you gave Larry and Judy a very good deal."

If you feel uncomfortable charging your friends the going rate, recommend a good commercial photographer that you know does quality work, what goes round comes round.

Eventually you will wind up feeling that your "friends" have taken advantage of you, which they have!

You say you have plant and equipment, depreciation, replacement, wear and tear on equipment, plus experience that enables you charge other clients a high rate, if this does not apply to all work you do, you are doing other working photographers a disservice and devaluing the trade in general

[Canuck]

What I have done in the past is:
1) Never collect payment till they are satisfied with the work.
2) With close friends, I leave it up to them and I don't want to feel like I have overcharged them, but give them a good deal. This also allows them to not feel as if they have payed too much. I have yet to do anyone other than friends/close friends or their kids.
3) I e-mail the pics, or provide a CD for this, so they can e-mail them/print them at their leisure.
4) The end of the day, I'm not a pro, but I do it more for the enjoyment factor and I say (when asked) that any money paid, goes back into the "Camera Fund" as I call it. This is what allows me to get the lenses, and other camera related stuff. I have been asked many times how much I have invested in this system and I generally say a lot. They then ask me what I really have invested and well, you do the math...For the 10D/16-35L combintation is about $3500! I usually get a surprised look and I tell them that the pics will speak for themselves. They have so far and nothing need more be said! One person said that I'm really talented and thought the pics were unreal. Here's the sad part, I was only messing around and took them Small, Fine in JPEG mode. They were still impressed and I said that these pics were using only 1/3 of its ability. Looks like I am on the hook to do some family pics in the new year!
I also mention that it is a lot of work to get them looking stunning. I'm also hoping to get the Canon Canon 24-70 F2.8 L the beginning of next year. That will augment the stash I have already, see bottom. I'm also going to need a backpack of sort. That might be the time to order both.

[chris.bailey]

I charge close friends per sheet of A4 printed so 1 10x8 or 2 4x6 etc. I make sure I cover my costs but dont look to make on it. It is a hobby for me though which is very different.