First payed gig, help!

[modemanual]

So I was talked to one of my friends, and they wanted me to do their sweet 16 on the 4th of January, and they are willing to pay me.

Should I charge a per-hour basis, or a one time deal? (How much also)

I will be taking 2 bodies, a Canon (70-200 2.8L IS USM mounted) and a Nikon (18-70mm kit). I will also try to rent some other lenses and a flash.

Thanks in advance.

[sfgp]

Be careful my friend - family and friends tend to expect dirt-cheap/free pricing.
(Human nature being what it is)

What I do in a situation such as this, is shoot the pictures on a pro-bono
basis and let them order prints on-line from costco or some such outfit.

With the agreement (+ signed release) that you would use some of the pics
for your portfolio. (= Win-Win for everybody)

Reason is - I would rather do it this way that to have a "storm" rise up,
as in "How could you WANT to make a profit - after all we're family/friends"
(never mind the fact that they would want to charge you full price for their stuff"

This way you will build the good Karma.

[bigjon0107]

I don't know the situation, i have never agreed to work for family or close friends on big events, i have seen too many of them turn ugly. So the only thing that i am going to suggest is to get a contract, have it signed by both parties. That is usually the biggest mistake i see in these things, unequal expectations by both parties involved. (ie: the photog dropping the labor charge, but expecting full payment for prints; and the client expecting a CD to just go print them at a cheap "lab") It is something that has damaged friendships, so make sure you are clear with everything from the price list, what they are getting for what amount, if you can give them a CD, how long you will be working, etc...

P.S. Don't do it for free as suggested. It is costing YOU money in ware and tear on the camera/equip, YOUR time to take and edit all the pictures, YOUR money to rent the required items to do a good job, and after all, it is YOUR butt that will get in trouble if the pics do not turn out. I understand giving them a heavily discounted rate, but not to the point where you lose money.


-Jon

[MusicallySilent]

Yea I agree, possibly give them a small "friends and family" discount but don't do it as a favor, you have to make money and your time is worth something

OT: I envy you, I am a little older than you and still have a S3 and am trying to save for a PC and SLR to try and play secondary at events.

[pos]

People don't realize it cost money to buy the equipment plus PP and prints. The more do shoot for free it will be harder down the road to charge. When something is free word of moutn will spread like wild fire and everybody will want it for free. I lost a few freinds when they ask me to shoot some pic's for xmas cards after i told them what i charge. They said after all you have the equipment for it and it won't take long. They were right it didn't take long because i didn't do it. So beware when it comes shooting family and friends because it will cause problems. pos

[pakololo]

I always find it funny...."THEY ARE WILLING TO PAY ME" lol

OMG how nice of them...willing to go out on a limb to pay you for using the expensive equipment you have.....

On another note. Like others have said. Make sure you have an agreement and both parties know what their are getting/doing...

[liza]

You need to have rates set before you enter into an agreement with a client. Then you won't have to ask this question.