At church formals only pricing question

Ok, I swore I would never ask a pricing question, and I am breaking that self imposed rule. I have recently been referred to shoot some formal shots at the church only. The situation is complicated but the couple are from out of town, wanted to be married in a particular church they fell in love with - only the family will be there for the ceremony. They aren't even really wanting images of the ceremony - but want formals in front of the church done. The reception will be back up where they are from and that is where all the guest will be. I live about 35 minutes from the location, and it would be about an hour of shooting time. So were really talking about 3 hours of time. These are relatives of a friend - so that gets thrown into the mix too. Anyway - ideas... comments.... run away as fast as I can?

really - no one has done at church only work? I am going to let this run through one more time but I am surprised no one has had to do this. I am from the west coast - my wife from the east - we were married here, had a small reception here for family then had our big party out on the west coast where we actually lived. We had two different photographers at ours. I am surprised this really that unique no one has experience with this. last try at this to get feedback. Cheers.

Philosophy (the hard part): Keep it business. If you mix friends with business when you try to put together your pricing, all I can see is problems.

Business: Figure your time, mileage, other costs, and profit, return on on print sales, that sort of thing. Crunch the numbers. If the B&G go for it, fine. If not, nothing lost because you could not profit from going lower on the price.

Only you can say what your time and your profit margin must be. Only you can judge your profit on print sales and how many such you expect to sell.

I'm certain this didn't help much, but ...

Thanks Scott. At my normal rate - this would be a $300 to $500 gig to start for the 3 hours - and I know they don't want to pay that. I am sure they are expecting a friend of a friend deal here. I can see this just turning out ugly. I think I will try to figure out a PC way that it doesn't work out and they can go find someone else who will match their budgetary needs. I only know one way to work, and I don't want any comprised work out there with my name associated with it. Thanks.

If it were friends of yours, I'd move my price. We give close friends a whopping 20% discount (aren't we generous?). Friends of a relative, normal price.

If you are out of their budget - well, that's a pity for them, but I am sure they will find someone.

Mates rates (ok maybe that's an australian term) to me isn't about a discount - it's about being secure in the knowledge that you are going to get a job well done.

Naomi

Friends are one thing. Friend of a friend - normal rates. Do you remember the theory that each of us are removed from anyone else by at most 6 degrees of association. Taken to the extreme, we would be giving discounts to anyone who approached us and then where would we be?

Personally I don't bother, I can't make enough profit from 3 hours of coverage to be worth my while. Maybe if they ordered an album in advance, but it'd be a pretty boring album. If you're hungry do it, otherwise give them your happy price (ie the price that makes you smile when you think how much work you did). 3 hours coverage, plus travel time, plus gear prep time, plus post proc time... when you add it up 3 hours coverage is similar to 6 hours coverage.