Doing Sr photos for best friend

[musicmaster]

So my best friend asked me if I could do his senior photos (since I have pretty much the same equipment as the pros who do it here.

They would be all outdoors (so when spring comes)

He said he would be willing to pay, but I dont know what to charge. I know that the local pros here charge between a $40-100 session fee, depending on where and how long, plus (expensive) prints.

I mean he's my best friend, so I don't want to overcharge him, yet I did just spend almost $2k in equipment, so I don't know

[Tumeg]

My photography teacher charges $100/hour, so since your not as experienced (I think) maybe go for $50/hour
And for the prints, maybe charge him $10-$20 over the amount it costs you to get the prints
maybe less, maybe more depending on the IQ, PQ(print quality) ect.

[tim]

Classic, "I have a fancy camera so i'll be able to take pro level photos!" :D Have you heard the term "Uncle Bob"?

1. Friends and money don't mix. Do it free or don't do it.
2. The camera's irrelevant, what's important is knowledge, experience, and style. There's a reason people go to photographers and pay good money.

I suggest you do your friend a favor and send him to a pro. Or at least do a test session soon so he knows what he's going to get if you do it.

[jra]

Classic, "I have a fancy camera so i'll be able to take pro level photos!" :D Have you heard the term "Uncle Bob"?

1. Friends and money don't mix. Do it free or don't do it.
2. The camera's irrelevant, what's important is knowledge, experience, and style. There's a reason people go to photographers and pay good money.

I suggest you do your friend a favor and send him to a pro. Or at least do a test session soon so he knows what he's going to get if you do it.

I would agree with Tim. Equipment is important but not nearly as important as experience and know how.
My suggestion would be to do the photos at no cost (you'll gain experience) and let him pay for the prints if he's happy with the outcome.

[LBaldwin]

I agree with Tim and Jason. Don't charge your buddy. Do it for friendship and the experience. Make it a learning experience. Sit down with him and look at some other images that you both like and emulate them. Make a day of it.

Maybe get a few friends to hold reflector and diffusers as well. Have a friend shoot video to remember it with, Their will be time for paid gigs in your future, make this one fun and you will enjoy it a whole lot more.

[ofdphoto]

Ditto to Tim, Jason and Les.

Oh, and for the record, $2k in gear is nothin' ;)

Not that $20k will make you a good photographer anyway ...

[Adaptive]

Classic, "I have a fancy camera so i'll be able to take pro level photos!"

1. Friends and money don't mix. Do it free or don't do it.
2. The camera's irrelevant, what's important is knowledge, experience, and style. There's a reason people go to photographers and pay good money.




I agree, he's you're friend and you seem to be fairly new at photography. Give the guy a break. If you want to charge him tell him to take you out for lunch at BK sometimes and he has to buy all of his own prints. Mark up the price by like $5 for prints if you really want a few dollars.





Equipment is important but not nearly as important as experience and know how.
My suggestion would be to do the photos at no cost (you'll gain experience) and let him pay for the prints if he's happy with the outcome.




I agree..
Knowledge + Experience is more important than equipment any day. Yes, don't charge for the shoot but let him pay for prints. Tell him if he's happy with the outcome he can give you gratuity aka "a tip".







Do it for friendship and the experience. Make it a learning experience. Sit down with him and look at some other images that you both like and emulate them. Make a day of it.

make this one fun and you will enjoy it a whole lot more.






Couldn't agree more, make it fun and you will have great fun and memories. And also, when your career launches and you start needing assistants to carry equipment and setup lights you can always call on your best bud to help out!!







Ditto to Tim, Jason and Les.

Oh, and for the record, $2k in gear is nothin' ;)

Not that $20k will make you a good photographer anyway ...




this man speaks the truth!

[Gouba]

Do it free, best mates have paid themselves over many times. Build your portfolilo and build up potential business with that.

Friends are great to try stuff out on, because you can apply the learning curve at a much less rushed pace cuz you have the oppourtunity to stuff it up along the way.

If you really want payment, swap him some image files for dinner or a couple of drinks

[Sledhed]

I agree with Tim and the others, I never charge friends or family for anything.

[figmented]

i love this thread :)