Pictures of other people's kids?

So my husband has now asked me twice if I'd be interested in taking pictures for his friend at work. He is trying hard to convince me that they don't expect anything more than what I do of my own kids. He says they'll pay me.

Although part of me would really like the opportunity to take pictures of other people's kids for more practice, I do NOT feel comfortable accepting money for it. I have tried to stay away from situations like this because I feel I have much more to learn before doing this for anyone else. Thus far, it has been for my own gratification. I put a lot of pressure on myself - but just for my own interest. I am no where near a flash expert and just got a new camera body that I'm still just coming to terms with.

I think if this were "my" friend, it would be different. I could just tell them to f off if they didn't like them. But now I feel torn. I'd like to do this for my own experience and for them to hopefully have at least one decent pic out of the batch. But there's always that grey area of what they expect and what I expect.

I'd hate to totally embarrass myself. But, on the other hand, if they have no means of getting some half-decent shots of their own kids, I would actually enjoy trying to help out. I would just ask that they get prints made themselves. I'm not one who likes being put in the spotlight, so I'd need to do some serious blocking out and probably take a couple of hundred pictures to feel comfortable with this. I always pp my images anyway, so that wouldn't really play into it. I'd just chalk it up to getting more experience.

Seems I've read so many threads like this and figured I'd never be in the same position. Not sure what to do. If I say no I feel like kind of an ass, but if I say yes, I don't want them assuming they are "hiring" a pro or something. They have seen my pics on smugmug and like them. But, of course, I don't put the crappy ones up! LOL.

What do you think? Good idea or bad idea?

Can I be picky and ask for paragraphs? I get three lines in and lose the sentence.
I think the gist of it is "should you charge for shooting kids?" I would say yes. It's fun, and as a mum, you know what works for junior portraits.

Sorry about that. I will edit it into paragraphs.

I'm in a similar position with my photography. I'd like to build my experience and, while money is nice, I don't feel I could charge while I was "practicing" on other people.

Before you go ahead with the shoot, why not agree up front that there is no fee for your time, and they get the prints done, but if they like what they see they could make a voluntary donation of whatever they feel they would like. It could be to your lens fund, or if you're too modest to take the money yourself, perhaps to a childrens' charity or something. If the shoot does not turn out as well as you, or they, would like then no harm done.

I suppose one thing to watch for is that you don't build a reputation for "giving away your work". You might end up with a few too many referrals to friends of friends that heard about the nice lady who does portraits for nothing. This concern comes up often with budding wedding photographers.

Looking at your Family 2008 pictures I would say yes. The ones that are done like a portrait (as opposed to just the kids running around) are very good. There's no reason someone shouldn't pay you for those.

You may have to take more pictures than you would like to make sure you get enough keepers but who cares. Thats why we shoot digital.

FYI, no one ever puts their crapping shots up

I just took a leaf out of eddar's book and had a quick look at your smugmug shots. I like some of the tight headshots and those with soft backgrounds, but not the ones with cluttered backgrounds and so-so DOF. I do agree you *could* charge if you wanted to, but again, don't paint yourself into a corner by establishing a reputation as a "cheap" photographer - unless you're happy making casual money on the side from this.

I think I'd be quite happy making casual money on the side. I don't think at this point in my life I could ever have my own business in photography. As nice as it sounds, I just have way too much to learn and too little time to invest. If I'd been smart, I would've studied it more in college. I wound up taking night courses after the fact, but wasn't wise enough to jump in head first back then. Anyway, thanks much for your thoughts. I will keep them in mind. Still undecided at this point.

Also want to add that I feel a lot of my "better" images were taken over the course of last year and are in my archives. Since then, I've been somewhat uninspired by my environment. Having that lake nearby was just incredibly inspiring for kid and nature photography alike.

If you're not comfortable charging them a sitting fee, then work off print sales.
Show them what you took, then then offer to have the ones they like printed and forwarded on. That way keep some control of the finished product, and can add a little on for yourself.
Just throw on your 135L, punt the kids out into the garden, and nail those li'l sukkas!
I'll guarantee you'll all be pleasantly surprised by the results.

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Would you please send me a 135L then, lol. Just kidding.

Mum2J&M wrote in post #5267378
Would you please send me a 135L then, lol. Just kidding.

You mean you HAVEN'T had one of those yet... Sorry i meant your 200L. I can't keep up with your gear list.

bildeb0rg wrote in post #5267399
You mean you HAVEN'T had one of those yet... Sorry i meant your 200L. I can't keep up with your gear list.

Nope - one of the very few I haven't owned. But never say never! :p

Maybe say you won't charge them for the shots, but you are practicing, but still charge for all your expenses. That is a good way to get started.

SuzyView wrote in post #5267866
Maybe say you won't charge them for the shots, but you are practicing, but still charge for all your expenses. That is a good way to get started.

yeah, and maybe one of your expenses is that 135L

I had a similar situation at Christmas time, except it was my friend that asked me to take their pictures. I told them I wouldn't take any money until after the shoot was over in case it was a total bust. And in the end I just left it up to them what they wanted to pay, because I felt the same way, weird about taking money when I am still really a beginner.

I'd say to go for it. Take a couple hundred shots and you'll get some good ones. They'll be thrilled.

I would combine a few of those ideas together. Since these aren't personal friends, you don't have to feel a particular personal obligation to them. Since they are (evidently) requesting your services and are willing to pay, you can take a semi-professional approach:

Do the shoot, bring a laptop, and show them the out-of-camera results. Have an understanding with them that if they like any of the shots (as far as composition, etc.) that you will PP them for a high-quality print, and it's at that point that you set a fee, because then you will go beyond your need for experience and will invest time and expertise to crop and prep the images for "professional" output.

If they don't like any shots enough to pay for your work, well, you got the experience! You could give them a shot or two gratis, but no obligation there.