Now that's a lowball offer

A couple weeks ago, I spoke with the friend of a family member about doing some wedding photos for her. This would have been my first time shooting a wedding, and they had a "small" budget, so based off those factors, I had no problem doing it a bit on the cheap. She was going to talk to her fiancé, figure out exactly what they wanted, and get back to me. I went back and forth on it, and I decided I would be comfortable charging them around $700 for the day and the few hours the PP that I would be doing. When all was said and done, I felt that was a reasonable amount for both of us, and I would make enough so I didn't feel like I wasted my time. She emailed me this morning....

hi Jake,

this is Kristale i called u a couple of weeks ago about taking my wedding pics for me....
we want to stay below $200 if its possible to also make payment arrangements with u.
we have talked it over and we are gonna go to *name of beach* to have the pics taken by the water. we would really love to have pics of me coming down the aisle and his reaction when he sees me in the white dress, we would like pics of the ring exchange and our first kiss, and our first pic as husband and wife.....
we want the pic of us as husband and wife to be an 8x10... i will need about 3 of those.
all the other pictures can be 5x7s... we want pics by the water but i would like to pick the pics to have printed or if u could put them on a disc would be even better...
we also would like to have pics with everyone involved in the wedding too!!! plus our first dance and feeding each other the cake!!!!!
Just let me know a price and if ur still interested!!!! thanks so much

Needless to say, I'm gonna pass. I couldn't believe that...especially the payment arrangement part. In no way, is that even close to being worth my time. I'd even have to take the day off work, which I'd make at least $100 if I went in.
Just wanted to share with everyone. Maybe hear some other stories similar to mine lol.

I did a shoot for $200 once - when I was just starting out. It took me 1 1/2 hours of driving ($9 in gasoline), 4 hours of shooting, 1 1/2 hours of PP, 1/2 hour burning CDs, and about two bucks worth of CDs and cases. So, in total I had 7 1/2 hours of my time into it, as well as about $11.
$189 for 7 hours of work. That was actually pretty good - I have no idea how or where I could ever earn $27 an hour doing anything else.

Normal hourly wages for licensed tradesmen in my area are in the $12 - $16 range. That's for plumbing, masonry, etc - which is what I do when I'm not doing photography. $27 per hour is far, far more than I ever could have earned doing anything else. I'm glad I took that job. In fact, I wish I could get more jobs like that, for the same rate of pay.

Tom Reichner wrote in post #15903333
Normal hourly wages for licensed tradesmen in my area are in the $12 - $16 range. That's for plumbing, masonry, etc - which is what I do when I'm not doing photography.

So if I live near you, I can hire you as a licensed plumber for $12-$16 an hour?

Tom Reichner wrote in post #15903333
I did a shoot for $200 once - when I was just starting out. It took me 1 1/2 hours of driving ($9 in gasoline), 4 hours of shooting, 1 1/2 hours of PP, 1/2 hour burning CDs, and about two bucks worth of CDs and cases. So, in total I had 7 1/2 hours of my time into it, as well as about $11.
$189 for 7 hours of work. That was actually pretty good - I have no idea how or where I could ever earn $27 an hour doing anything else.

Normal hourly wages for licensed tradesmen in my area are in the $12 - $16 range. That's for plumbing, masonry, etc - which is what I do when I'm not doing photography. $27 per hour is far, far more than I ever could have earned doing anything else. I'm glad I took that job. In fact, I wish I could get more jobs like that, for the same rate of pay.

When you break it down like that, $27 per hour sounds good. Honestly, if that was the same situation I found myself in, I'd gladly work for $27 an hour. But its not that cut and dry. When I first spoke to her on the phone, she wanted me there all day. Show up at the church around 10am, shoot the wedding, drive to the beach, shoot some more, drive back to the reception which starts at 6, shoot that, and finally finish. I figure ill be there a good 10 hours. Then all the PP after. Plus, where they are getting married is about 2 and a half hours from me, then about another 45 minutes to the beach. So around 7 hours of driving in total. All that aside, the payment arrangement is what really gets me. It sounded like they wanted to just make monthly payments or something. I can always use the extra money, but I don't think it will be worth it in the end.

Pass, have them call other places and see how much a wedding really costs.

My first wedding was $300. But I didn't provide a ton of prints. Heck you'll drain the $200 just providing the deliverables she wants. Be thankful you weren't desperate.

More and more !!!!! in that mail.

So she is as well schooled as she is ready to pay for rendered services.

"Just let me know a price and if ur still interested!!!!" is my favorite bit. Given that they couldn't really afford $200.

I don't have any crazy stories, but am quite often confronted by people asking me donate time in lieu of paying. It's a little nuts. Glad you walked away!

Just be glad she didn't suggest you shoot it all for free and as payment she would allow you to use the images for your portfolio

It really depends on what your business intentions are. If you are trying to setup a photography business then you would be smart to pass on this "opportunity." If you are willing to help out a friend who is on a serious budget and you wouldn't mind the "beer" money then I say go for it.

Once you price your services at such a low price you have established a value. Referrals may come in and expect the same value.

In response to Tom's post about making $27 an hour. If you are running a legit business you will not be bringing home that $27 an hour. You could make more money at McDonald's with fewer headaches if you were to charge $27 an hour.

for $200 i'll throw eggs at your house and run away.

seriously though, even at $700 i would have not advised taking the job. the combination if it being your first wedding and having a family friend be the "client" is a bad recipe.

Jimconnerphoto wrote in post #15903678
It really depends on what your business intentions are. If you are trying to setup a photography business then you would be smart to pass on this "opportunity." If you are willing to help out a friend who is on a serious budget and you wouldn't mind the "beer" money then I say go for it.

Once you price your services at such a low price you have established a value. Referrals may come in and expect the same value.

In response to Tom's post about making $27 an hour. If you are running a legit business you will not be bringing home that $27 an hour. You could make more money at McDonald's with fewer headaches if you were to charge $27 an hour.

I'm definitely going to pass on it. I'm not exactly setting up a business persay, it's more of a hobby that I occasionally make money with. But at the same time, no, I definitely don't want to established such a low value for myself. Even if it is just an occasional money making hobby.

If was a close friend of mine, then yea, I might just do it to help them out. But it's just a work friend of my "brother-in-law". I'll find my beer money elsewhere lol.

He did make $27 before taxes. I see no problem there.

Honestly - If I wanted to build a portfolio, I'd take the job. I'd either negotiate up the price a bit to $300 or make it clear to her that $200 can only buy X amount of hours you will be at the wedding. If she and her groom were an attractive couple - I'd take that into consideration as I'm building a portfolio, too.

Nathan wrote in post #15903722
If she and her groom were an attractive couple

....add some dirty favors and you've got a deal

charro callado wrote in post #15903732
....add some dirty favors and you've got a deal

Ha! Intriguing...perhaps I'll suggest that