Do You Guys Actually Charge Your Friends?

Smaller plate my butt - banished to the little kids table - - more fun there anyway and the conversation actually makes sense. No politics or religion!!!

I have "friend" prices and I have my normal rates. For one friend, I'll shoot his bands live shows IF they cover getting me and my gf/assistant in plus cover a few drinks. For their posed promo shots, they get a discounted rate. Also worked into these agreements is advertising for me. Same for a comedian I shoot. Anywhere these pictures go, my name goes with them.

I also shot my (at the time) sister in laws senior casuals, as a ( I thought) freebie. A few weeks later I had a check in my mailbox.

my buddy's getting married in about 3 months...it's always been understood that I'm shooting it for free. He's been a great friend and has helped me out countless times...I'd feel like an a-hole charging him a single penny...it's my wedding gift to them/saying thanks for all the things he's done throughout our friendship.

I shot my best friend's senior portraits for the cost of prints.

for other friends though, Ill charge 75% of what I would normally charge. Once the parents of my friends realized that this photography thing was actually a job for me, they offered to pay.

Work should be charged for.

You can give away your skills if you wish, to whom you wish. If you give, then it isn't really 'work'.

Friends and family do not mix with business; in my opinion if you do 'work' for this category of folk, you should not charge. If that's unacceptable to you, then don't do the work. To my mind it's no different than helping someone move home, decorate, fix their car, or whatever. I give my time and skills, professional or otherwise, freely to those I love, and I have no qualms about asking for any help I might need, in return.

What comes around, goes around.

I'm too lazy to go through all the posts in this thread so I'll just post my response to the OP and if I repeat someone else, I'm sorry.

Ok, so I do not charge my family. It's not that I do what I do at no charge, but I do what I do and give it as a gift. As for friends, I do charge them. I'll do it at a discount, but I'll include the invoice for the full amount so that they understand that what I do has value. But frankly, if a friend expected me to work for them for free, knowing that if I were not doing it, they would hire a stranger to do it at full price, would hurt my feelings. I know that if I have a friend in a specific industry that I'm in need of I will give them my business first because I'd rather patronize my friends first.

I'm not a professional photographer, but I am generous with those I care about. People helping each other and contributing their talents...seems simple enough to me.

forkball wrote in post #5601278
As for friends, I do charge them. I'll do it at a discount, but I'll include the invoice for the full amount so that they understand that what I do has value.

Agreed, I like how you worded it.

I have one friend that I don't charge. But in return she sits with me at job fairs and helps watch my children during shoots etc. I don't even bring my camera (as hard as it is to do) when i go to birthday parties. That is just my personal policy. But if I do, I am going in a friend copacity and not in a professional copacity. But I do bring my business card. It never hurts to try and drum up some new business!! mwaaahhhhhhhahahah! (wringing my hands with delight...)

Hmm well my thoughs are and the parctice that I hope to bring into effect.

In the very early days to get experience the odd free freebie for friends is cool as they are helping. When established and if asked, friends pay a discount rate.

Col_M wrote in post #5604506
Hmm well my thoughs are and the parctice that I hope to bring into effect.

In the very early days to get experience the odd free freebie for friends is cool as they are helping. When established and if asked, friends pay a discount rate.

I agree. I did that in the beginning. I sent out an email to all of my friends. Lots of takers and lots of really bad pictures. (I am better now, thank you...) But a year later, my time is valuable. I do volunteer my time to organizations with the understanding that I get a bi-line and so far all is great. (I did a "senior prom" for a retirement home this past weekend. TOO CUTE!). But my friends don't expect "free" I will give them a discount though. But my rates aren't that high as it is. I feel as if they are already getting one over the other local photogs.

steved110 wrote in post #5600320
If you give, then it isn't really 'work'.

It might be enjoyable because, after all, you chose it as a profession, but doing something as best as you can and therefore doing it right is always work, whether you're paid for it or not. I'm of the belief that if you're not going to do your best from start to finish, you might as well not even do it.

bildeb0rg wrote in post #5591952
No mention of extended families in the original post, and as I'm from a small family, I automatically regard "family" to mean the ones yiou give your organs to.
"Fiends" carry a similar status, as the few I have are worth a lot t o me.

I never charge family! Ever!!! I think that is just wrong!! Friends are different. It depends on what catagory of friendship they are in. Close almost family friends? Distant friends? Just met um? Long lost friends?

JMO

Well in contrary to what I said above, my friend ended up paying me $50 and gave me a book he thought I would like instead of the $15 for prints. Needless to say, I was sorta shocked and yeah

Well, I have a few friends that i charge cost only for. AS for family for weddings and such. If its a close family member Then I charge my cost, travel...and then there is usally a gift for my time. I just do it for their gift. No album or anything, just a CD.

I get all of my wedding business from my friend's florist, and there is no way I'm charging her other than cost. That wouldn't be fair.

Another friend does my website, and same there.

Not charing my mom, or my siblings either.