Quinceañera...Should I?

Ok, I've done some paid shoots before, but never a Quinceanera. I was given a lead of someone who needs a photographer in Sept. and my gut instinct is to pass since I dont have the experience, but I'm being told to accept it since I should have the experience before the event. My mom knows a photographer and I will be going to a few weddings with him as a second shooter or assistant for the experience.

What would you guys do? I will be using the deposit for either another lens or an ETTL flash.

Thank you!!!

I had an inquiry for one once. I gave them my wedding price list and told them to multiply all numbers by three for dealing with a spoiled 15 year old and their spoiled 15 year old friends

I wouldn't want to deal with it and you sound like you are pretty new and inexperienced. Don't rush into charging for gigs.

Why not shoot it for free? This will be your first time w/ no experience.

Besides you might get a tip/referrals if you put out a decent product.

Just my $.02

imbillkamal wrote in post #15564948
Why not shoot it for free? This will be your first time w/ no experience.

Besides you might get a tip/referrals if you put out a decent product.

Just my $.02

She is offering money and your idea is to shoot it for free? Seriously?

People wonder why the business side of photography has been in the ****ter the last half decade.

imbillkamal wrote in post #15564948
Why not shoot it for free? This will be your first time w/ no experience.

Besides you might get a tip/referrals if you put out a decent product.

Just my $.02

Really? Do you know how much money gets spent putting on a Quinceanera? Put any 10 of them together and there's a good chance the national debt would disappear overnight with change to spare

While I can understand someone being a little timid when stepping outside what they know when it comes to photography and the money aspect, there is absolutely no way in hell would I go shoot one of these things without getting paid because the probability of your equipment getting thrashed goes up.

If you are not very comfortable with a flash then you should pass on the gig. Ive photographed a few of these. I treat them like a wedding reception and usually your shooting inside and outside.. you need to know how to handle a flash.

On a side note. If you guys ever get a chance to photograph one of these.. dont pass up the opportunity.......We are talking authentic Mexican food.... there is nothing better. I love doing these things. They are a blast.

Ok you can come out swinging demanding a couple hundred bucks or thousands of dollars, you've never shot one before. So if I'm paying decent money for you, I expect a good product.

My suggestion was to keep clients expectations low, and deliver your best. Being that you've never done one before, this is what I would aim to do.

Sweet 16's and Quinceaneras are a blast, but take them seriously. They're high paced receptions filled with sugar high teens who expect a million shots of them looking like rock stars under DJ lights. The parents will expect great shots of the crowning & shoe ceremony as well as the candle lighting and cake cutting. Look into the the flow of the events and get comfortable with flash photography because it's going to be dark (most likely).

It's really important that you're comfortable working with the family and have open communication with them so that everyone is on the same page.

Yeah do not take the Gig lightly. I have heard of people spending up to $20,000. Use a contract.

scorpio_e wrote in post #15575277
Yeah do not take the Gig lightly. I have heard of people spending up to $20,000. Use a contract.

this

JohnThomas wrote in post #15575250
Sweet 16's and Quinceaneras are a blast, but take them seriously. They're high paced receptions filled with sugar high teens who expect a million shots of them looking like rock stars under DJ lights. The parents will expect great shots of the crowning & shoe ceremony as well as the candle lighting and cake cutting. Look into the the flow of the events and get comfortable with flash photography because it's going to be dark (most likely).

It's really important that you're comfortable working with the family and have open communication with them so that everyone is on the same page.

I agree. Sweet 16s are serious business. I have had a few that were just as expensive and just as stressful as working weddings. The family expects perfection. I have been to a couple where things have gone wrong and it is not pretty. Thankfully it was not the photographer (me) that had problems but the DJs and other plans that did not work out. The girls were stressed out and started crying. There is a lot of pressure on the young girls since all of their friends and family are there so at least if the photographer is good it is one less problem. A ton of money is being spent on the whole production so the pictures are expected to be great.

There are Sweet-16s and there are Quinceaneras, and while there are a lot of simularities, there are also some differences.

Primarily, when we're talking about Quinceaneras for ethnic Mexicans, we're not necessarily talking about the purely indulgent events that the Sweet 16 is and that the Quinceanera is for other Hispanic groups.

For Mexicans, yes, it's kind of an indulgence, but it's also a lot more of a "you gotta do it" event...like wedding receptions. Thus, you will see ethnic Mexican families of all economic levels scrimping and saving as necessary to make it happen...and they do take the photography seriously (more seriously than other groups take wedding photography). They may scimp on other areas to get good photography.

So it's necesssary to take it seriously even at the lesser income levels, because if they're doing it at all, they're taking the photography very seriously themselves.

To that extent, it can be very satisfying. It's good when people take what you do seriously.

I've done one of them, but the market in my area is still maturing (literally...I'm doing a good number of Confirmations right now). If I were based in Texas, I'd make them a priority of my business.

Thank you all for the comments!! Im going to go ahead and do it. Ill make sure that I practice a lot before the day.

Im not bad with a flash and I have 3 that I can use off camera.

Thanks again for your help!!! Now to call her with a price and see if she agrees.

A quinceanera is essentially a wedding. There is a lot to cover and if you don't meet their expectations, you may be in trouble. If you don't have the experience, be up front with the client about it. In the end, your ass and reputation as a photographer is on the line.

...without a visible groom.