Do You Guys Actually Charge Your Friends?

JenniferLShort wrote in post #5605857
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

The distant/just met/long lost category I just dismiss as someone I used to know.
I've just been to Cork with a few friends and was asked how much I was charging for a cd of the pics?
Looked him square in the eye and told him it would cost him a punch in the mouth for thinking so little of our friendship.
Big guy too.

bildeb0rg wrote in post #5610966
The distant/just met/long lost category I just dismiss as someone I used to know.
I've just been to Cork with a few friends and was asked how much I was charging for a cd of the pics?
Looked him square in the eye and told him it would cost him a punch in the mouth for thinking so little of our friendship.
Big guy too.

Hehe. Hope he laughed at that one and didn't duck. I do the same. i have cousins in New Orleans who i don't charge. In return I get to travel there for the business that they get me and make it a fun trip to boot!

But I must take something back. My friends were not charged in the beginning. Now I charge them. But I give them my cards and tell them to write their name on the back of it. I tell them that if they recommend me and their friend bring me that card I will give them one free 8x10 of their choice at their next sitting. But they still have to pay the sitting fee. And chances are they will place a nice order as well.

I think some people take this "photography for free is wrong" idea a little to far. All professionals give advice or services to friends or family for free at some time or another. That is what family or friends do. I am a Paramedic and my wife is an RN. When friends call for medical advice or even if they want us to come and and evaluate them or thier children, I would never consider "putting them on the clock" and charging them. On the flip side, I have a friend who specializes in appliances who has looked/done work on several of my appliances for free. There is always the offer of compensation , but it is never accepted.

I think the decision to charge or not all depends on the time involved and what is expected. If it is a time intensive dedicated shoot (say a wedding or senior portrait shoot), then by all means charge, unless you are considering it a gift.

I charge my friends (portraits not events). I always feel a bit guilty but they get a decent discount, freebies, and I usually do some special edits for free. But, I always make sure that they know what the price WOULD be in case someone asked them.

Plus, I usually buy props and stuff special for some and it just evens out.

I do fully intend to give my pal a free newborn shoot and probably a huge discount on pics when her baby is born. I'm just hoping I'll be able to shoot as I'll be almost ready to pop when that happens myself.

Friends don't let friends lose money.

Having said that, I don't charge my true friends. Why would I do that?

sevillafox wrote in post #5614881
I do fully intend to give my pal a free newborn shoot and probably a huge discount on pics when her baby is born. I'm just hoping I'll be able to shoot as I'll be almost ready to pop when that happens myself.

Great baby shower present! And you don't have to wrap it!!

I do a lot of free shoots for friends and family, they in turn provide their expertise when I need it at no costs. It all works out for the best.

I have no family members living within 800 miles of me.

As far as friends go, I wouldn't think of charging them for my services. I help them and they help me. They give me recommendations and new business opportunities. They help me with my house and yard. Whenever friends are together it usually involves sharing a home cooked meal. Good friends, friends that really matter, are worth far more than what can be put down on an invoice.

Edit: Re-reading a lot of this stuff, apparently, some people in this thread have a very different definition of "friend"...

Wow some crazy stuff in here.

I'd never even *consider* charging my friends or family! Good lord.

Spend time with them - enjoy their company - use a talent I have - expand my experience - gain skills - have a good time.

I've got a friend that's a mechanic. He's spent countless hours working on my truck with me.. he's never asked nor expected a thing in return - because he's my friend. That's what "friends" do.

I do shoots for friends and family all the time, process the shots, burn them full size image CD's.. I enjoy doing it, they appreciate the hell out of it..

My friends ARE my family. What comes around goes around.

Zansho wrote in post #5598071
In addition, family expects more from you. If you mess it up, you can bet you're going to get a smaller plate at the next Thanksgiving table, lol.

I don't do family weddings, and my family knows that. I prefer to go as a family member and enjoy myself (I'll still bring a few bits of my kit with me in case the photog never shows up), especially if they have an open bar.

Cheers!

I usually charge my friends steaks, Scotch and Cigars. Considering my taste in steaks, Scotch and Cigars they would come out cheaper paying my day rate.

I actually shot a wedding for some friends a year or so ago and in lieu of a wedding gift I gave them 3 large, framed prints. One of the Bride, one of the Groom and one of the couple together.

Michael

I can't charge my close friends. If they want to give me a gift of appreciation that's their perogitive, but I never expect or require. I encourage them to get prints from my lab, and let them have my cost.

So I have like 3 price lists
--family, and friends like family
--other friends
--customers

tcphoto1 wrote in post #5592697
A friend would invite you to the party and enjoy seeing you. If they wanted pictures, they would call and book you for the party. If they ask you to bring a camera then they don't really see you as a friend but a convenient acquaintance.

Perfectly said.

I will add that if a friend did call to book me I would give of my time and ask they just cover cost.

When my friend asked me to do his parents 25th anniversary party, I said for you bro, anytime. Before the end of the night I was drunk and partying and he still gave me a 100 bucks! Then there was another friend, who writes me on facebook saying "since you said from that party you would do my engagement for free, I wanted to know if you are free on June 8th" ...I never said anything about doing her party for free, and I was turned off by the way she came on to it like that... like I owed her a favour.. I KNOW there will be trouble if I did this even for free, so I kindly rejected stating that I have an appointment that day .

Hopefully she doesnt read this message lol.

It depends on the type of work.... For close friends I often take photos of their kids etc and provide them with a disc for free.. its getting my name out there and if they refer people, then those referred obviously pay the fee.. but its a bit like advertising really I've not had any friends though that have 'expected' it...

Weddings are a bit different - I actually enjoy shooting friends weddings as I feel it give me a chance to relax a bit and try a few things I might not normally try I do still charge them, but the rate for close friends and family is our top package but at the rate of the next package down. It doesnt physically cost us anything more to do it, and this is only for people where we would normally be a guest anyway We still manage to enjoy ourselves as guests also. I have done two weddings for free - one for our brother in law and one for some very close friends of ours, and it was our wedding present to them... both were eternally grateful and couldnt have thanked us enough... good warm fuzzies!

Our last wedding we did for friends a month ago - we ended up with 2 bookings from it at the reception and one other enquiry but we were already booked for that date not such a bad thing really.....