A Real Job and What to Charge

I've done some small product work for a fortune 500 company recently and they've asked me to do what I would consider a more substantial job. I got an in only because I knew someone at the company and the last guy they used quoted a price too high on the small gig.

Here's the details:

• Promotional/advertisin​g portrait shots for print to be displayed at multiple locations for an indefinite amount of time, likely at least 1 year. Print size approximately 2x3 feet.
  
• On site work, travel about 250 miles one way
  
• Likely multi day mid week, that involves hotel and taking time off my regular job
  
• They requested natural light
  
• Props to be determined based on nature of portrait and items being advertised
  
• At least a dozen separate subjects to be shot
  

I'm guessing that you didn't ask the question "What's your budget?" Then you would have an indication whether you wanted the job in the first place.
Talking budget with your clients

Photography Rates

Why? Is there something else in the image that will require that? Maybe you can use lighting that will be repeatable & still look like "natural light", whatever that is in their mind.

I did not ask them what their budget is unfortunately. For this shoot I don't think there is really going to be an issue with them being able to pay. They've indicated that it will be a multi-day event and each of the previous jobs I've quoted prices and they accepted immediately leaving me to believe I left money on the table. I have less experience than some other pros so anything I charge will be less than probably what a market rate is. My assumption (based on experience) is that there budget is higher than what I will charge.

The image would be used similar to this one at a Starbucks store (the company is not Starbucks)(the "bold" poster in the window). So a printed poster to promote something. Sometimes the images are used on internal promotions as well, printed floor to ceiling. I think I'm trying to get a ballpark for what others would charge for that type of work to see if I'm in the range - my suspicion is that I'm way under.

I think they requested natural light to keep it consistent with other work they have. Often they reuse older images in different promotional campaigns and like the images to be consistent. I am thinking the aid of some reflectors and possibly a little fill would work fine.

Yes, "What's your budget?" doesn't have to mean that you raise your prices for that job. But you do have the option to upgrade what you deliver to use more of the budgeted money.