First Wedding Soon: Cost?

Hello all,

A second (maybe she's a third) cousin of mine is getting married in September. They are planning the wedding on short notice and do not have a lot of money to spend on a photographer. Normally, for my first wedding shoot, I would not want to shoot for family - but we are distant, don't often talk, and she was going to try to get a photography student from the local community college - and I dare say - I think I can do a better job shooting it. Also, I should be able to shoot at least one if not two weddings as a backup shooter for a local photographer in my neighborhood before then.

The wedding will actually be rather small. It will be outside around 3:30 in the afternoon in the back yard. The ceremony will only last 15 - 20 minutes. There is no bridal party. The bride will be wearing a sun dress and the groom khakis and a white shirt. After the ceremony, the reception will also be held in the back yard. She has told me that their really just looking for maybe a few formals with the family and alot of pics of the fun going on at the reception.

My question is this: what do I charge? Here's the factors involved:
- It's my first shoot solo (and maybe first for a wedding period, we'll see).
- They have very little money to spend on a photographer.
- They are family.

I figured I'd only charge cost, which would include travel and any prints they want. I'd also require the ability for me to use the images in my portfolio.

Should I charge an hourly rate, a set rate, no rate, do it as a gift, mark up the prints, cost only? What are your thoughts? I need to get back in contact with her soon.

Thanks all for your help!

-Dave

Well my best recommendations would be that it is your wedding gift to 'shoot' and then charge them for prints/photo CDs or whatever they want.

Included with that is your free reign to use the images in your portfolio which could grab other clients.

I think that would work best.

dinanm3atl wrote in post #5915618
Well my best recommendations would be that it is your wedding gift to 'shoot' and then charge them for prints/photo CDs or whatever they want.

Included with that is your free reign to use the images in your portfolio which could grab other clients.

I think that would work best.

Absolutely great advice. Shoot it as a wedding gift. If you try and put a price to it then you are telling anyone who knows what you charged what you are worth as a photographer. It's far better to shoot it for free (or to cover expenses only) than to charge a cheap rate. Trust me, it matters, especially in the long run.

this is a well discussed topic on the forums. My best advice is to have only two prices... Full Price and FREE

I like the idea of just doing it as a gift, provided they are helping with costs. Alternatively, there is always the barter system i have seen done before, mostly by gear poor newer shooters...
"I'd like to shoot your wedding, but i need ____________ to be able to do it well. Buy me the _______ and ill do it for free!" insert 50mmf/1.4, 430ex,flash bracket, etc... here!

Good luck. Sounds easy and low-pressure

Wow that is a good idea!

I need to work that out somehow!

If you need to rent equipment, make sure they pay for it!

My opinion is covered in the wedding FAQ.

I shot my nieces wedding as a gift to her - I gave her a full res disk of pics ok ok 3 disks with minor editing ...
the best thing I did other then the pics...LOL was a letter contract as in I am doing this as a gift..and that I own the images...

It's your first wedding, they don't have a lot of money, it's a low-key affair - and they are family - even if distant.

I would do the shoot itself for free, and provide a CD of pictures with a recommendation of where to get them printed, as a wedding present. That's what I would do. I do not 'work' for family or friends. I give my time and talents ( not that photography is a particular talent in my case, alas) to the people I love, freely and with love. I work for strangers, hard, and to the best of my ability, but expect them to pay for it accordingly.

I would get a model release though, giving permission to use the pictures in a portfolio or any future advertising.

So I offered the shoot for free as a wedding gift with the request that they cover the cost of any prints, albums, etc. She replied that she was greatful for the offer, but they insist on paying me and hope that I'll accept. How do I respond to that?

On the one hand, shooting as a wedding present would have been a heck of a lot easier.

On the other, getting paid would be nice, but if I ask how much she wants to spend because she's on a budget, it might come off like I'm trying to get as much as possible.

On the other other hand, if I make a bid, then it might be higher than they want to pay - then they might feel obligated - or not as high, and I wouldn't make as much as I could.

I know. It all sounds so ridiculous. The fun of family!

Thoughts?

OK I had something about like this happen to me, I had someone call me on a monday to shoot a small wedding on saturday. The wedding was 30 miles away, just the bride groom and their kids (10 people total) and the reception (about 100 people) I was asked by a friend and it was her sister. She said she was going to pay for them as a gift to her. She asked how much I would charge. Well I didn't have a clue for something like this. I told her pay me what she thought was fair. Over and over I told her that but she wanted an amount. I just said what ever you want.

I shot around 300 pics, did a little photoshop work, gave them three CD's with HiRes Pics, I printed a pic on the CD and the covers. Wedding and reception was maybe 5 hours total and maybe 2 hours on the Photoshop and printing.

I was expecting to get maybe 150 bucks but I had made up my mind if she gave me 10 dollars ok, so my expectations were low. Well She paid me 300 so 42 dollars an hour. Not bad and I was happy with it.

dinanm3atl is right on, it's for family. Give them the shoot as a wedding
present let them pay for prints and whatever else they want.

Ralph Merlino wrote in post #5934852
dinanm3atl is right on, it's for family. Give them the shoot as a wedding
present let them pay for prints and whatever else they want.

That was the original idea, but she replied stating that they insist on paying and hope I accept.

So, decline to accept? OR go with KingoftheVilles idea and just ask her to pay me what she thinks is fair?

psykon99 wrote in post #5935374
That was the original idea, but she replied stating that they insist on paying and hope I accept.

So, decline to accept? OR go with KingoftheVilles idea and just ask her to pay me what she thinks is fair?

Since you're distant family, it's more "ok" to charge, but I'd stick with the game plan, and make them cover the cost of travel or something, and do the shoot free as a wedding gift. Get signed model releases, and they're already doing YOU a favor in the long run, especially if you get hooked, and need a portfolio.

Not making a few hundred bucks isn't going to kill anyone, and I think it's obvious that their budget is a little tight based on the venue. Just eat the cost of this one, and be happy that you did something good for another person, regardless of family ties or not.

If she insist on paying tell them $100.00 This should cover your travel and meals and leave you enough cash to give them a nice large print of their favorite image as a wedding gift.

Greg