If you shoot professionally, do you charge friends?

[Phil Light]

This question is intended primarily for those who either make their living from photography and/or those who shoot semi-professionally.

If/when you have friends, relatives, coworkers who have some type of event (weddings, birthday parties, senior pictures, graduations, etc.) that they would like photographed, and they ask you to shoot it, first of all, do you do it at all? If you do, do you charge them? If you charge them, do you give them a break on price?

[cdifoto]

If you shoot professionally, do you charge friends?
Depends how sexy the friend is and how naked she'll get.

[Phil Light]

Depends how sexy the friend is and how naked she'll get.

I want to be your assistant.

[SamuraiJack]

Photography is not my primary job. I do make quite a bit with it however.

I have photographed almost all of my co-workers kids. I have photographed a 50th wedding anniversary party for a co-worker's parents. The only thing I have drawn the line at is weddings. I've been asked to do around 6-7 in the past few months from co-workers, but that just isn't my thing.

Yes, I charge my normal fees. I charge normal price for prints as well. Maybe I have been lucky. I know a lot of people here tell horror stories about people wanting price cuts, etc. All of my co-workers have been thrilled with their photos and have been happy to pay my price. I have done some more than once even and have gotten many word-of-mouth referrals from them. I am scheduled to photograph a co-workers grandchildren next week and really look forward to it.

Like I said, maybe I am just lucky. They all value photography very highly and love what I do.

[Cybnew]

I usually give them a break in the price. Although....I did find my self regretting giving away my service the last few weeks. I decided to help a friend out who couldn't afford to have nice senior photos taken. Usually I don't charge too much ($100), but this time I decided to be nice (and also appease my girlfriend, but that is a different story) anyway...she was the most nagging person, and since I was doing it for free...I ended up regretting every minute of it after the actual shoot. (she kept hounding me about when she would get her pictures) anyway...From now on....I know that I will at least charge SOMETHING

[kaitanium]

i would charge but charge depending on what they can afford as cybnew stated.

for me its "give what is due to people." i dont try to lowball people and so i dont expect people to lowball or expect free services from me too even if they are friends. if i work at a dealership selling cars, and if a friend wants to buy a car, i cant let it go for free nor can i let it go at employee pricing or at cost! basically...i need money to live too!

[MJPhotos24]

90% of my living is from photography. Tonight I picked up a payment from a friend for some photos - so the answer is yes I charge friends/family. I have friends who sell real estate, they don't give me a house for free...I have friends who are car dealers, still paid for my car...I have friends who are chefs, still pay for my food...I have friends who are correction officers, they won't let me out when I want to visit the chef for free food.

If you accept the job, the terms should be set. Sure you can give friends/family discounts or even a freebie...but it's pre-arranged and personally I always tell them not to share the "deal" with anyone. I turned down "jobs" because I didn't want to shoot for a family member that didn't understand what being a photographer is all about (i.e., the crazy aunt who says "I'll give you $20" for 32 hours of work and thinks she's spoiling you).

[bubbawillums]

I feel that whenever i do work for friends that they do try to take advantage a little and "expect" you to cut them a deal or do it for free.
I did a wedding for a friend a couple of years back and we fell out over it as after me stating the price,terms etc when it came to payment after the event they evected a CD of all the hi res photos as well as an album and tried saying i had agreed to do it 50% cheaper as they were friends.
This was rubbish but as i thought they were friends i never put anything in writing and done it all verbally(learnt my lesson there)..
When i work for friends now i charge my normal rate -10% and they are all happy with that.

[minatophase3]

I do charge my friends full picture prices, but usually waive the sitting fee. The majority of my friends while they love the pictures I take of their kids, generally end up going to Walmart or some place like it as they don't want to spend too much on pictures. Most think spending more that $40 on pictures is way too much, so they are not my targeted market.

-Tim

[Big WIll]

I tell my friends that they are working with my company and not me.

However i will normally give them discount on the per hour rate. But not on the images.

[liza]

I try to avoid shooting for friends, as they typically expect something for nothing. The only people I shoot for free are my immediate family. The rest pay my regular rates.

[rks221]

90% of my living is from photography. Tonight I picked up a payment from a friend for some photos - so the answer is yes I charge friends/family. I have friends who sell real estate, they don't give me a house for free...I have friends who are car dealers, still paid for my car...I have friends who are chefs, still pay for my food...I have friends who are correction officers, they won't let me out when I want to visit the chef for free food.

If you accept the job, the terms should be set. Sure you can give friends/family discounts or even a freebie...but it's pre-arranged and personally I always tell them not to share the "deal" with anyone. I turned down "jobs" because I didn't want to shoot for a family member that didn't understand what being a photographer is all about (i.e., the crazy aunt who says "I'll give you $20" for 32 hours of work and thinks she's spoiling you).


I would agree with this for the most part but it still depends. In the example of your friend who is a chef, if you go to his restaurant then of course you are expected to pay and you should. However if you are having a birthday party and he cooks something to bring to the party of his own accord without you asking him to do you pay him?

I ask because that is how I operate. If I am asked to photograph an event for a friend the I charge them. However, if I show up to a friends birthday party as a regular guest and just happen to bring my camera along I don't charge them for that.

Rama

[Chris]

I want to be your assistant.

Phil, that has got to be one of the best responses I have every read.

[ssim]

My friend charges me when I take my vehicle in to his service center though he cuts me a small deal. I normally extend the same to friends but generally they pay close to full price. You aren't much of a friend if you don't give them some sort of a break.

[Todd Lambert]

I just don't have any friends... that seems to solve this problem.

8-)

[Chris]

Ha, I just noticed this is a 3 1/2 year old thread.

[Karl Johnston]

It's the same no matter what, though when it is reduced I often work for trade. I have a lot of friends, if they all expected discounts or free...I probably would never get paid :D

[RDKirk]

It's the same no matter what, though when it is reduced I often work for trade. I have a lot of friends, if they all expected discounts or free...I probably would never get paid :D

I like to think that I become friends with most of my clients. So that means there are "friends" and there are "real friends." I gauge the possibility of a price break according to how expensive a gift I'd buy them if I weren't a photographer. If I would not buy them a $300 gift, then I would not give them a $300 discount.

[umphotography]

My Friends are my best salesmen. They tell all thier friends about me. I get a lot of business because of my friends. So, I discount the heck out of any photography I do for them. Usually its at my cost. I have a hard time charging regular prices for my friends and they in turn have a hard time charging me regular prices when i need things. So we help each other out when we can. Thats what firends are supposed to do.

[EvilKittenProductions]

I occassionally make money on the side from my photography. Currently I'm working more on building my portfolio so I tend to be the one asking others to be in my pics. So I have an outstanding agreement with many of my models. They have modeled for me on numerous occassions over many years, sunny or rainy, hot or cold, 2 or 12 hours, no complaints. So once I start charging as the summer season will begin and I upgrade my camera, they will retain the right to ask for free shoots. Others, including family and friends, who were not there to help me get there will get fair pricing given their relation to me be they will get charged.

My personal 2 cents.

-Sacha

[Csae]

I don't charge friends, they offer the money willingly, something about being friends and wanting me to succeed in my business...

[peterp]

My brother is in furnace/air repair, he charges everyone for his services family or not.
Same for other relatives who are accountants and lawyers, Their time is money and they expect to get paid for their services.
Took me a while to catch on, but taking a few small business night courses straightened me out.
I will give relatives reasonable discounts, but no more freebees.

Photography is becoming a very devalued commodity by people just giving it away or changing next to nothing for images (ie: microstock)

[TopHatMoments]

When I'm out and about with friends, we don't work. We relax and enjoy what ever event we are at, or even if it's a dinner party. They don't lawyer, doctor, mechanic, manage, curate, teach and I don't even carry a P&S, it's one of the few times I don't carry a camera.

Outside of our get togethers, be fishing, a play, opera or just a tailgate party for the heck of it.

We all charge as normal outside the play time. Play is play, work is work.
Family just wished I would charge. I work them schlepping gear like crazy when it's a family shot, then they order and pay for their own print, ah at my cost but, they buy.

[Agnu]

Depends how sexy the friend is and how naked she'll get.

Haha, greatest reply to any question posted here. Good man.

On to the subject - it depends. I consider myself as only having 2 good friends and a girlfriend - and these people are constantly in front of my lens when i'm buggering around/practising/rehersing a shoot etc., so obviously they get it all free. If they ever need a shoot done for real, I sortah owe them haha.

But with my 150+ 'aquaintences' (ie people that consider me a friend, but that I don't really have any stake in), then yes, generally I do. I'm shooting a mates wedding soon, and charging about 75% off what I usually would, but still getting enough to profit. I also shot a mate of my dads newborn child about a month ago and charged about 50% off.

I definitely give my aquaintences a discount, but I still definitely charge them. They would charge me if I needed their professional services, i'm sure.

[PeaceFire]

Friends I charge, family I don't. But my family always exchanges services for free. If I have a plumbing problem I call my plumber cousin and he fixes it for free. If I need anroom painted I call my painter cousin. If I need my piano tuned I call my sister. So when they come to me asking for pics of their kids of course I'm going to do it for them for free! That's what family does.

[Channel One]

If/when you have friends, relatives, coworkers who have some type of event (weddings, birthday parties, senior pictures, graduations, etc.) that they would like photographed, and they ask you to shoot it, first of all, do you do it at all? If you do, do you charge them? If you charge them, do you give them a break on price?

I try to avoid doing work for friends especially weddings as that usually involves an unknown second party who I have never worked with that being ether the bride or groom, however if requested I will do the work and will try to cut them a better price but never mention that I did so.

Now if they don’t ask and the work doesn’t conflict with my schedule then there is possibility I will offer to do the work for free as a gift.

It is not something one can set in stone each situation must be weighed on it’s own merits.

Wayne