Am I Worth More Than $400?

mitzs wrote in post #12021681
You are under selling yourself. Friend or not I would not go lower. I was asked the other day if I could beat a $500 bid for a wedding & about passed out. Granted I only have a few under my belt but I will not touch one for under $1200 even in my area. There seems to be a couple of wedding photogs floating around here that does a wedding for $500. This includes 250 printed out images plus a DVD of all images taken that day. I know for a fact one of the photogs has the images printed out though Walgreen's. I just am not willing to do all that work for that cheap. I think I may just stick with portraits.

charging $500 on the regular and including prints and disk ... I wouldn't call them wedding photogs but rather people desperate for cash. (lots of them out there in today's economy)

In my opinion, I think you should be paid more than just $400.
But, I'm still pretty new as well...

we need a union

images by Paul wrote in post #12027081
we need a union

HE[[NO!!!!

jamiewexler wrote in post #12027215
HE[[NO!!!!

I second that!

What's odd is that you need a license to cut hair, but not for other trades .Ike photography.

photaz wrote in post #12021408
My friend has a wedding in August and asked if I'd take their wedding pictures. I asked if $400 sounded ok. It would include a couple of custom printed discs of the pictures in a custom printed case.
She asked if I could do any better. What do you guys think of that price? I didn't think it was a bad price. I shot one wedding myself. I'll be helping with one in Florida and will shoot another myself before her wedding.
Am I worth more than $400 or no?
Here's some from my first wedding.
http://67.23.243.56/~t​rav/index2.php#/fgalle​ry/2/

You need to decide where your bottom line is. That is what they are asking from you. I disagree with some in regards to your photos not being anything special. If they wanted their photos to look like what some other studio could produce they would have gone to them and paid of course a lot of money. Then they could look like movie stars in their wedding shots. Sounds like they just want some very nice photos taken to remember their wedding by...you will do fine. The one wedding you linked us is adorable...yes you are worth $400...but you probably should not have asked them if that was ok.

S.Horton wrote in post #12027620
What's odd is that you need a license to cut hair, but not for other trades .Ike photography.

Give it time. There are LOTS of self proclaimed professional photographers popping up. I have no problem getting a license.

I think you are worth more than $400. Unfortunately, you started off with that number and in today's environment everyone wants everything for less, so they asked you to go lower.

There are two things to think about and balance out:
1. How much do you believe your time and talent are worth?
2. How much do you value your friendship with the couple?

If I was in your shoes, there would be two options I would consider - either do the whole shoot as a gift (if they are very close friends) or just turn turn down the job and ask them to find another photographer. Neither are easy or good solutions, but seems to be the only way where you won't feel like you are being taken advantage of.

Looking on your portfolio you are worth more than the $400.

Tell your friend that you cannot do it for any less. Explain that taking the photos is only half the work as you will post process the photo so they look it's best.

A friend would not negotiate with you over such a small amount. Rethink your acceptance of the gig.

Yaamon wrote in post #12027890
Looking on your portfolio you are worth more than the $400.

Tell your friend that you cannot do it for any less. Explain that taking the photos is only half the work as you will post process the photo so they look it's best.

Overall, I think your 'friend' is insulting you asking to pay less money. Your skills are worth more than $400 but I get where you're coming from. They're your friend and you want to help them save a little money. That's what friends are for.

I had a similar situation last month. A friend of mine asked me to shoot her wedding in April and asked me what I'd charge. I hemmed & hawed over it and I finally told her I'd do it for nothing. Only because I know that she has no money. She's out of work, her future husband is on disability, and a handful of other financial situations with her. However, she is a truly good friend.

My only hope is that she will spread my name around to her friends and I can pick up some paying gigs that way. And I'm sure she will because she knows how much good wedding photographers go for these days.

cameraperson wrote in post #12023721
Where do you get your images printed? What's a good place?

I have a epson r1900, if I need anything bigger then what it can produce I like Mpix. For anything on canvas, Artistic Photo Canvas gets that.

jamiewexler wrote in post #12023898
You're worth what your customers are willing to pay. It has very little to do with the quality of the images you produce.

picturecrazy wrote in post #12024603
I'm sorry to say, but I just viewed your wedding gallery and I don't see anything that really stands out.

...

There is a different perception between one who charges $500 for a wedding, and someone who is "portfolio building" on the road to awesomeness. Take your time and have patience.

How "good" your photos are and how much you charge to do a wedding have very little correlation. There are loads of "high end" photographers whose works is just ok, but they consistently are booked years in advance; just like there are loads of awesome photographers who charge very little.

For doing only one wedding, your photos are good. Not great, not terrible. Worth $400? Depends on a lot. If you can get someone to pay $400, then they are worth it to them.

S.Horton wrote in post #12027620
What's odd is that you need a license to cut hair, but not for other trades .Ike photography.

I have a license... but it's not a tested thing. Just another excuse for local government to take my money.