Need some advice on first photography gig

[ylomnstr]

I have a friend of my wifes who is having a "red carpet event" style wedding party this Friday and she asked if I'd be willing to take pictures. I have never done a professional event. Below is what she asked me (be patient with the grammar as she sent it from her iphone) and I'm wondering what or how you guys think I should handle it if I do do it. What do I charge? How do I charge? The gig would be about an hour or so travel for me. Any suggestions would be much appreciated. FYI, I have a canon 60D with stock lense. I don't have an external flash, although I'd probably go buy one before I did this along with an extra battery and SD card.


Hi rob! Great! I am so happy ou are interested! To give
you some background, my husband and I got married in Mexico less than 2 months ago and we were so fortunate that about 30 guests came with us but we have so many friends and family who could not. We decided to do t his red carpet party at (removed for privacy issues), I'm asking the photographers to be there at 615 to meet me. It is going to be quite a party... Red carpet glamour... 165 guests most of who never have been on the red carpet. We designed an amazing backdrop and have red carpet, velvet ropes the whole thing.... This party is costing us about 150 a head so it's kinda a big deal, at least to my husband and I. I wanted a paparazzi to be snapping photos and making our guests feel like real VIPs. So yes there is a little acting going on too lol the big thing here is that I have no budget left... The venue is charging me for every person who is attending whether they are guests, dj, host, pastry chefs, etc..... So my husband and I, having been to several red carpet events though of how we could do this.... Invite the photographers to the party, pay for them to be a full guest enjoying all of the amazing food, open bar, everything, pay them a transportation stipend and then have each of them hand out their cards like at these types of events and guests will go to the site and be able to view all photos and download their images, I know my guests will want all their photos and more... So it is up to you on how you want to charge them, the others are going to do a one fee and they can download everything they want, others are charging per download, others are actually printing and shipping whatever the guests want... That is up to you, IF you are interested. Being that I have known Amy for like EVER I would love for her to join you and if you can't find a sitter, bring the kids, I would gladly pay for each of you to be my guests. There are other children ranging from like 7 to 15. I have some pretty incredible well known guests attending, many who have businesses who are always looking for photographers, my dear friend bill bolland of bill bolland haute couture does 4 to 5 shoots a week for his collections. This is really a job for a hungry professional breaking into the industry and trying to get new business.... I wish I could offer you more pay but 1-red carpet events are using non paying gigs and 2- there isn't any money left in our budget,we went over triple what we had for this party but it is going to be great and my guests are all so excited to get all dressed up and have their photo snapped all night. I hope you are interested and you can all join us!!!! Let me know as soon as possible. I was amazed at how many responses I got this morning but I won't contact anyone else until I hear from you.

[tonylong]

I haven't done red carpet stuff but there is a POTN memberm tonyniev, who lives in Las Vegas and does red carpet work and should have some good advice:

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/member.php?u=227215

Maybe PM him with a link to this thread?

[gonzogolf]

It seems to me that she is after the paparazzi impression as much as she would be interested in the quality of the final images. To that end, you are a prop, as much as you are a photographer. Its not like you are going to get any remarkable photos of people strolling into a venue while you and (how many other?) photographers blast away with direct flash. Not that its an excuse not to try, but I don't know that I would go to any extra expense to make this happen either.

[Numenorean]

They can afford a Mexico wedding, $25,000 party with an open bar, amazing food, DJ, etc. etc. but cannot afford to pay photographers?

I'd tell them to pound sand personally.