If you shoot professionally, do you charge friends?

This question is intended primarily for those who either make their living from photography and/or those who shoot semi-professionally.

If/when you have friends, relatives, coworkers who have some type of event (weddings, birthday parties, senior pictures, graduations, etc.) that they would like photographed, and they ask you to shoot it, first of all, do you do it at all? If you do, do you charge them? If you charge them, do you give them a break on price?

Depends how sexy the friend is and how naked she'll get.

cdifoto wrote in post #4466170
Depends how sexy the friend is and how naked she'll get.

I want to be your assistant.

Photography is not my primary job. I do make quite a bit with it however.

I have photographed almost all of my co-workers kids. I have photographed a 50th wedding anniversary party for a co-worker's parents. The only thing I have drawn the line at is weddings. I've been asked to do around 6-7 in the past few months from co-workers, but that just isn't my thing.

Yes, I charge my normal fees. I charge normal price for prints as well. Maybe I have been lucky. I know a lot of people here tell horror stories about people wanting price cuts, etc. All of my co-workers have been thrilled with their photos and have been happy to pay my price. I have done some more than once even and have gotten many word-of-mouth referrals from them. I am scheduled to photograph a co-workers grandchildren next week and really look forward to it.

Like I said, maybe I am just lucky. They all value photography very highly and love what I do.

I usually give them a break in the price. Although....I did find my self regretting giving away my service the last few weeks. I decided to help a friend out who couldn't afford to have nice senior photos taken. Usually I don't charge too much ($100), but this time I decided to be nice (and also appease my girlfriend, but that is a different story) anyway...she was the most nagging person, and since I was doing it for free...I ended up regretting every minute of it after the actual shoot. (she kept hounding me about when she would get her pictures) anyway...From now on....I know that I will at least charge SOMETHING

i would charge but charge depending on what they can afford as cybnew stated.

for me its "give what is due to people." i dont try to lowball people and so i dont expect people to lowball or expect free services from me too even if they are friends. if i work at a dealership selling cars, and if a friend wants to buy a car, i cant let it go for free nor can i let it go at employee pricing or at cost! basically...i need money to live too!

90% of my living is from photography. Tonight I picked up a payment from a friend for some photos - so the answer is yes I charge friends/family. I have friends who sell real estate, they don't give me a house for free...I have friends who are car dealers, still paid for my car...I have friends who are chefs, still pay for my food...I have friends who are correction officers, they won't let me out when I want to visit the chef for free food.

If you accept the job, the terms should be set. Sure you can give friends/family discounts or even a freebie...but it's pre-arranged and personally I always tell them not to share the "deal" with anyone. I turned down "jobs" because I didn't want to shoot for a family member that didn't understand what being a photographer is all about (i.e., the crazy aunt who says "I'll give you $20" for 32 hours of work and thinks she's spoiling you).

I feel that whenever i do work for friends that they do try to take advantage a little and "expect" you to cut them a deal or do it for free.
I did a wedding for a friend a couple of years back and we fell out over it as after me stating the price,terms etc when it came to payment after the event they evected a CD of all the hi res photos as well as an album and tried saying i had agreed to do it 50% cheaper as they were friends.
This was rubbish but as i thought they were friends i never put anything in writing and done it all verbally(learnt my lesson there)..
When i work for friends now i charge my normal rate -10% and they are all happy with that.

I do charge my friends full picture prices, but usually waive the sitting fee. The majority of my friends while they love the pictures I take of their kids, generally end up going to Walmart or some place like it as they don't want to spend too much on pictures. Most think spending more that $40 on pictures is way too much, so they are not my targeted market.

-Tim

I tell my friends that they are working with my company and not me.

However i will normally give them discount on the per hour rate. But not on the images.

I try to avoid shooting for friends, as they typically expect something for nothing. The only people I shoot for free are my immediate family. The rest pay my regular rates.

MJPhotos24 wrote in post #4467762
90% of my living is from photography. Tonight I picked up a payment from a friend for some photos - so the answer is yes I charge friends/family. I have friends who sell real estate, they don't give me a house for free...I have friends who are car dealers, still paid for my car...I have friends who are chefs, still pay for my food...I have friends who are correction officers, they won't let me out when I want to visit the chef for free food.

If you accept the job, the terms should be set. Sure you can give friends/family discounts or even a freebie...but it's pre-arranged and personally I always tell them not to share the "deal" with anyone. I turned down "jobs" because I didn't want to shoot for a family member that didn't understand what being a photographer is all about (i.e., the crazy aunt who says "I'll give you $20" for 32 hours of work and thinks she's spoiling you).

I would agree with this for the most part but it still depends. In the example of your friend who is a chef, if you go to his restaurant then of course you are expected to pay and you should. However if you are having a birthday party and he cooks something to bring to the party of his own accord without you asking him to do you pay him?

I ask because that is how I operate. If I am asked to photograph an event for a friend the I charge them. However, if I show up to a friends birthday party as a regular guest and just happen to bring my camera along I don't charge them for that.

Rama

Phil Light wrote in post #4466181
I want to be your assistant.

Phil, that has got to be one of the best responses I have every read.

My friend charges me when I take my vehicle in to his service center though he cuts me a small deal. I normally extend the same to friends but generally they pay close to full price. You aren't much of a friend if you don't give them some sort of a break.

I just don't have any friends... that seems to solve this problem.