What to charge for a wedding???

[mak8ce]

I have only shot two weddings, which I charged nothing as it was a for very good friends. I now have two people requesting me to shoot their weddings. I am at a loss for what to charge. I am really just starting out. I use a Digital Rebel and I do have 3 lenses, tripod, and a 420ex speedlite flash. I have plenty of memory and batteries. I basically stay the entire wedding and take unlimited pitures. I do not provide an album, I just plan on providing the couple with a picture CD so they will be able to print their own pics. I do take time using photoshop to enhance some of the pics i take, which can be time consuming. Any recommendations on what to charge or advice in general? I am just a beginner with little wedding experience. :rolleyes:

[Kent2]

Figure out a dollar per hour amount that would make you happy!

Say between $1000 and $10?

Kent

[robertwgross]

Nobody knows if you are any good, so nobody can guess a good fee.

If you had some samples in an online portfolio, then somebody could begin to guess.

---Bob Gross---

[AjP]

it is always hard to find how much to charge, it is definately up to you. especially if you have no wedding experience. u can do good job with d rebel and what ever lenses (???) u have. but the price depends on your area, who much couple would like to spend, and what do they expect from you. if you can provide them with exactly what they want and even better, price can be apr.. 600-whatever, I know wedding photographers who charge no less then 3500, but their work is unbelivable, few days ago I saw their wedding album that alone cost 3000, and people pay for it. but there are also wedding photographers who charge 600, 1000, 1500, 2000..... everything is up to you

good luck in this tought business

[mannyglez]

before you even concider to charge and how much to charge you must get back up equipment, how much memory is plenty?
This is the minimum you'll need:
Two cameras (at the very least)
1 fast lense (2.8) 28 - 70 for example. very important for low light places.
2 more lenses lets say 70-200 and wide angle
two Flash units with min 16 AA batteries
8 gigs word of flash cards for about 1000 images (RAW)
Energy bars and a big smile! :-)

I know you didnt ask for all of this but I had to make you aware of the importance of back up gear!


regards

Manny

[NGrinerPhoto]

before you even concider to charge and how much to charge you must get back up equipment, how much memory is plenty?
This is the minimum you'll need:
Two cameras (at the very least)
1 fast lense (2.8) 28 - 70 for example. very important for low light places.
2 more lenses lets say 70-200 and wide angle
two Flash units with min 16 AA batteries
8 gigs word of flash cards for about 1000 images (RAW)
Energy bars and a big smile! :-)

I know you didnt ask for all of this but I had to make you aware of the importance of back up gear!


regards

Manny

and if you really want to get into it you'll need ...

mono-lights, stands, pocket wizards and q-flashes w/ quantum battery packs

[ksmattfish]

and if you really want to get into it you'll need ...

mono-lights, stands, pocket wizards and q-flashes w/ quantum battery packs

Of course with all that gear you'll also need an assistant or two. ;)

[ksmattfish]

I am at a loss for what to charge.

First of all sit down a figure out what it's going to cost you. Not just gear, batteries, and CD, but gas, lunch, parking, etc... Now double this figure because things will end up costing more than you thought. You have to make at least this much, or you are losing money. Decide how much you want to make per hour. Don't forget to consider the time it's going to take to process the images. For every hour I shoot digital at a wedding, there is going to be at least an hour spent working in Adobe PS at home.

[Rob612]

About expenses: my grandpa used to say something like "make your serious expense estimates, then double the figure you've got. You'll get close to reality"

[Ray Marrero]

To answer your question, charge them $1500.00 and be happy.

[robertwgross]

Lots of experienced wedding photographers charge from $1500 to $4500, and their results show it. More recently, lots of less-experienced photographers have grabbed a good digital camera and have been trying to do the same jobs for $1000 to $1500. The price varies all over the place based on location.

Unfortunately, if the word gets out that you shoot them for free, then everybody will want you to shoot them for free, and they get pissy if you tell them $1500.

---Bob Gross---

[GerryDavid]

Something you should look into is insurrance for your camera gear, and liability insurrance, incase something happens and they try to sue you.

I 2nd the advice on having a backup for all your gear.

I suggest you phone up the local photographers and find out thier pricing schemes. This way you wont be bringing the market value down by charging not enough.

The way I plan to do it when I start out next spring is to start off with the full price I want to charge, that is comparable to the local competition. This way I wont be bringing the market value down and I wont be ripping myself off. But I plan to offer a discount for the first say 5 customers or first 3 months or something, to help build my portfolio and experience, and to get my name out there. I would figure out all my expenses and figure out a nice profit margin for the first 5 that im offering a discount on, and figure out the discout rate from that. Like 25% off or something.

[Moments]

Something you should look into is insurrance for your camera gear, and liability insurrance, incase something happens and they try to sue you.

I 2nd the advice on having a backup for all your gear.

I suggest you phone up the local photographers and find out thier pricing schemes. This way you wont be bringing the market value down by charging not enough.

The way I plan to do it when I start out next spring is to start off with the full price I want to charge, that is comparable to the local competition. This way I wont be bringing the market value down and I wont be ripping myself off. But I plan to offer a discount for the first say 5 customers or first 3 months or something, to help build my portfolio and experience, and to get my name out there. I would figure out all my expenses and figure out a nice profit margin for the first 5 that im offering a discount on, and figure out the discout rate from that. Like 25% off or something.

Hey Dave,

I applaud you in your attitude about under cutting and the market value of wedding photography!!! It was exactly the same attitude I had when I started out.

Why don't you try to get work from a local established photographer or two that is in the need for another shooter? If you can find the right studio to work with, they might be willing to get you samples of your work you do for them.

I did do about a dozen weddings on my own about ten years before I decided to get serious about Wedding photography. (I had an idea of the pricing since I had paid for my own wedding photography.) While working as a commercial photographer, I was asked to shoot weddings, and I only did do the ones that I thought would be worthwhile. I did not really know what I was doing, but I did have an idea.

Once I did decide to get serious, I found 3 different studios to work with. The first Photographer (John) that I worked with was as his assistant. Over the course of approx 5-6 months, I studied everything that was happening and what to do. John knew my intentions from the start and did not have a problem with my quest to have my own wedding studio. I worked hard for him and he taught me alot. We are great friends still, and even before he left the buisness two years ago for health reasons, he has and still reffers clients to me. I never shot any work for him so I don't have samples from the dozen or so weddings that I work with him.

I did a lot of reserch into the correct equipment to purchase along with backup equipment, and purchased my hasselblads and Quantums Flashes 6 months before I started to make calls. I started with the phone book and cold called wedding studios in a 25 mile range of my location. Some did not have a need for me, or just simply did not want to give me a chance. I found two studios (1 located in The Bronx, NY, and the other located in Rocland County, NY. which are approx 25 miles apart from each other and I live between them) that gave me a chance to shoot for them right away upon only seeing my commercial portfolios of product work. Yes that did make it easyer to start shooting. They too knew of my intentions to have my own studio.

Each studio had me come along on 1 job and test shoot for them along side the owner. I was given time when it was available to do my own thing. They supplied the film and I did not get paid. When the proofs came back we sat down and reviewed my work. Each studio had some pointers and advise, and then put me in the schedual.

The owner of the studio which is located in the Bronx always sat with me over the course of the first few jobs to go over my jobs. He wanted me to always get his meat and potatoes as he called it and he let me do my own thing also. He is a ruff guy to work with, but he knows what his clients want and what he wants too. I respected him and he did respect me after a few jobs. I never sold myself while on his jobs, as I always took his studio's cards with me on his jobs and handed them out if I was asked for my card. He trusted me always on his jobs. In shooting for him I knew of his general pricing.
I never asked for any samples from him as I did not really want to have samples that were mostly traditional photography. But it did help in training me.

At the same time I was also shooting for the studio in Rockland County. The situation was exactly the same as at the other studio, but this studio was getting me more work. They did make samples for me when ever I asked. Over the course of 3 years, I started to develope a following and I was being asked for to shoot jobs.

I also did do my own jobs and my pricing from the start was the same as the other studios in my area. If I was asked why my pricing was not any cheaper, I would simply say that I was doing exactly the same job.

I started to shoot for these studios in 1999, and in 2002 I bought Memorable Moments Photography, the studio in Rockland. I just booked a job two nights ago from a refferal that I photographed in 2001 for Memorable Moments.


Any way, this is how I started out.

[Alexia]

Pete - That is actually a very interesting story and gives me a great idea on how to get started. ;)

[Saudidave]

It isn't how much it is worth to you that matters.

How much is it worth to the buyer? If the going is $1000 and you are as good as it gets, charge $999 and you are good value!

[jaypie77]

You also have to consider the clients... Some people are broke and if you are just starting out, you can quote them and then discount your price so that it can meet their financial needs. Poor people need nice photos too!