Urgent pricing query!

Hi all,
I've been pretty much hiding away in the background and looking at some of the phenomenal photos that people have been posting, but now I actually have a question! -

Basically I have been asked 48 hours in advance to be the main photographer at a wedding for someone that I don't know or never met before - they got my details off a friend.

They've asked if I can stay for 3 hours, before the ceremony, during and after with several trips involved to meet the bride and groom at different locations.

Now I've not told them that I'm a pro or anything, I'm just a back up as the original photographer has cancelled and I happened to take a few portrait shots for people now and again. However I have the kit and some knowledge of post processing etc and have done 1 wedding before in my life! (for free as it was my fathers)

So question is, how much should I be looking to charge for 3 hours of photos, post processing and then a CD with the images on?

Thanks, hope I've explained it well enough any tips would be a bonus!
Jay

I couldn't tell you an amount, but the short answer is a price that sufficiently rewards you for your time (including PP) but respects the fact that you're about to shoot only your second wedding.

If it were me, speaking in terms of USD, and it was only 3 hours of shooting, I'd probably charge ~$500 and be happy to have it.

Great, thanks for the response.
Will definitely use that figure for something to go on, and yes I wouldn't charge them pro prices for an amateur(ish) job

3 Hours of work at short notice over the weekend, I personally would charge £495 but only if I was not doing anything else.
The cheapest package I offer at a weekend is £795

You are basically providing emergency cover for a photographer who possibly was covering more hours and charging more, I bet they will still be saving money. At the end of the day it will be your call.

Good luck Jay and let us know how you get on.

My fee would be similar to Robert's.

Are you ready to shoot a wedding ?

Based on your experience of shooting on wedding, I would do it for free. You should have a solid contract in place.. yes even if it is for free. Liability insurance too.

People can turn ugly fast...

Without seeing more images to suggest otherwise, I agree with Ed.

Another route you can consider is to shoot for free but then charge for product. Which means do not include the disc for free, make them pay for that. Then if they absolutely hate all of the pictures, they are out nothing but you still get the experience.

Also, like pp said, a contract is a MUST!

Here is why you need a contract:

http://www.youtube.com​/watch?v=5dUplt-hP3g

I dont think there is any reason to do it for free. I dont think it will necessarily alter their expectations, and could potentially cause to to already further question your competence.
I think 500 USD is very reasonable. Makes sure you have back up equipment, a contract, and edit which images you give them. good luck.

^ You don't want the client to question his competence ? Why do you presume he's competent ? I'm not saying he isn't, but I just don't see how shooting 1 wedding plus some portrait photography puts him in the class of professional photographer. The OP actually agrees with this. You think he should charge what I charge after I've shot 50 weddings ? Do you think he should charge what Robert charges given what quality of image nevermind level of preparedness Robert (Peacefield) has ? Interesting perspective, but I don't quite get it.

Chris, you are a competent photgrapher, can charge 500 for a 3 hour wedding session, and a lot of traveling and editing? if I ever get married again, I will hire you.
500 is not the price, in my opinion for a competent photographer. it is certainly not close to what I paid for my wedding 8 years ago, even excluding the album cost and blah blah.
It is the going rate for your average Craigslist, I have a dslr and that makes me a wedding photographer (no offense to the OP). I calculated in my figure his shortage of experience.
But if he is truly not competent, then he should not shoot the wedding. if he shoots it, he will not only be spending time shooting, but a lot of time editing, and I dont think that should be free.
As I understand, the couple has seen some of his work. they are choosing to hire him.

Where do you get that the couple has seen his work? Sounds to me like it's last minute and a "friend of a friend" or whatever tossed his name out there and they just contacted him to see what number he throws back.

Thanks guys for all your comments, I had considered doing it for free and just charging them whatever prints they wanted afterwards however I did advise them that I'm far from being a professional photographer and happily showed them a little portfolio I had put together.
I ended up charging very little for the 4 hours, and I'm more than happy with how the shots have turned out, still loads to do on them but was a great and quick learning curve!

Just out of interest, what would you guys have done if you over heard one of the guests slagging you off? I had about an hour to go at the reception and I just over heard one of the guys say "shame about the official photographer blah blah blah" I didn't catch all of it but it really put a damper on my day! I'm not the sort of person to go confronted people about it but I would have loved to know what was said.

cookiejay wrote in post #15073513
Thanks guys for all your comments, I had considered doing it for free and just charging them whatever prints they wanted afterwards however I did advise them that I'm far from being a professional photographer and happily showed them a little portfolio I had put together.
I ended up charging very little for the 4 hours, and I'm more than happy with how the shots have turned out, still loads to do on them but was a great and quick learning curve!

Just out of interest, what would you guys have done if you over heard one of the guests slagging you off? I had about an hour to go at the reception and I just over heard one of the guys say "shame about the official photographer blah blah blah" I didn't catch all of it but it really put a damper on my day! I'm not the sort of person to go confronted people about it but I would have loved to know what was said.

I wouldn't dwell on the comment you overheard about the 'Official Photographer'. If anything, they should be slagging him off not you, which is probably what they were doing. I wouldn't rate any professional photographer that failed to arrive at an event and then failed to supply an alternative photographer.

The fact that your happy with your photo's is great, and I'm sure the happy couple will be pleased that you saved their special day. Weddings are hard, even for the experienced. Sounds like you did well.