So I'm In a bind... need opinions..

Hey all.. I know it seems like I tend to have all the drama in my life but for some reason I actually never cause it. So heres the situation as I sit here. My aunt (Stepdads sister) wants to get senior portaits for her senior daughter... They cant afford a pro photographer (One that does portraits everyday) and so they looked towards me. They said they would pay me if I did this for them. So I was thinking about rates. I looked up and found what the senior portrait company was charging. BTW the company is prestige portraits if anyone is interested... but they charge quite a bit of money for their work. I have done this stuff before but not quite to this extent anyway. SO What it came down to was I wanted to charge 50 dollars an hour with a minimum of two hours, and they would pay for prints. Well when I had discussed that with my family (not the customers) they were blown away at how much it was. I gently told them that my time is worth more than free and I dont want to be taken advantage of, even by my own family. To me 50 dollars an hour was a cheap and fair price. I havent thrown that price at my aunt yet but do you guys think this is a fair price? I dont see why it should be any less.. I mean Im already way cheaper than the other photogs around town. Shoot me your opinons...Thanks all!

Depends...do you love money or photography.
You have already stated they can not afford a professional
What do you do for a living?
Do you love your job?
Do you make $50.00 an hour to do something you dont love?
Your not doing this favor for the Aunt, but for the daughter....
My suggestion is to get over yourself, Do an excellent shoot, make the daughter happy, do cool PP for her, provide them with a CD and release, and graciously and thankfully accept whatever the aunt offers you....Karma has a way of taking care of things....
Jim

It amazes me that one can assume a rate of $50+ because it's a fair price in comparison to a professional. Do you have the overhead of a pro? Do you have the same capital costs in equipment? Do you pay rent or own a space from which you work? Do you pay salary to employees? Do you/will you be giving the taxman his share for what you collect. Have you taken the risk in investing you personal money to create a business that you'll be using to put bread on your table? Don't just assume your time is worth any fraction of what a pro would charge because you don't carry any of those business costs.

What wage do you earn at your job per hour? Maybe $30.00/hr The tax man will take about 30% of that leaving you with about $20.00/hr. Isn't that what your tax-free income should be for any side work?

That said, I wouldn't recommend working for $20/hr unless you're doing someone a major favour.

As a hobby, I look at what I earn after tax from my job and then add a certain amount based on the value of my time. For example - I have a young family with two young kids and a lovely wife which I don't see a lot because I work 50-60 hrs a week. So my time outside of work is very valuable so my "hobby" rates are relatively high. However, if I worked less, I would reduce my rate because I have more time.

just my two cents.

Fifty dollars an hour for family? It is easier to just say you aren't interested in doing it.

If they can't afford the other portrait place (and I'm speaking as a 1-income, 2-parent family person here) then they're probably not going to be able to afford $50/ hour either...and its probably going to crush them when you name that price. I also wouldn't charge the full amount for prints, either. I'd still charge a wee bit above your cost, but make it fair, make it reasonable. This could be a great thing for both you and them.

Print up some rep cards for the daughter when you're done with the session and editing, too. My guess is that if you make this a lovely, fun experience for them, they'll talk you up to everyone they know. If she's got something personalized to hand out with your contact information....who knows what benefits you'll reap as a result. They know that "their" price isn't your normal pricing....and as a parent, I ALWAYS make a point to keep my mouth shut about the deal I receive when I'm singing someone's praises.

Ask them to treat you to a nice homemade dinner (if I remember right, you're in college) and pay a little bit more for prints. You won't feel badly about overcharging afterwards...your tummy will be happy and you'll be amazed how how good it feels to just "do right."

(sorry, that turned into a little bit longer explaination than I intended)

In business for 30 years - and I do not charge family - period. Now that does not include some boneheads that I see once in ten years, that is direct family that I am a blood relative too or and least by close marriage.

So you make the call, as to how far out the family tree you want to extend the pricing levels at. But really if this person has something to trade - for the gig consider that too.

I do stuff for my brother and he gets me low or no cost hotel rooms. For my cousin I did a wedding at cost and he got me a day of fishing on his bass boat -all expenses paid. For family I try not to charge so perhaps you have other options...

Les that is GREAT advice. I learned a long time ago (the hard way) not to charge family.

FWIW I never charge family. I gain the experience and do a favor and they do some free word of mouth advertising to others.

I agree with the others - I would never charge the family (even close friends) for a photo shoot. I even give them a small number of prints for free. Unless you are in a very difficult financial position (and God knows how easyily that happens these days) I would not ask for money. I am sure they will pay you back in some other way that is much more valuable than those greenbacks.

I don't charge family either, but Les had an idea with barter. Perhaps there is something else they or their daughter could help you with?

Given your stated "Occupation", what advice would you give to someone seeking your guidance?

I think you might suggest a more christian than monetary path.

Certainly, cover your expenses, but forget the per diem.

Thank you all for your responses... I appreciate your opinion and your honesty.. Thanks I have an idea on what Im going to do.

Glad to hear it Dave, now that does not mean that you do not get a signed models release and a signed contract spelling out EXACTLY what each party is to receive!!

You can comp the shoot and prints but ALWAYS maintain your professionailism. And make sure that they do not go blabbing around town about the DEAL they rec'd from you.

Family is free - all others (like her friends etc) pay cash on the barrell head!!

Have fun. Make sure that you show us these images when finished - call it a consulting fee.. lol.

LBaldwin wrote in post #6961420
Glad to hear it Dave, now that does not mean that you do not get a signed models release and a signed contract spelling out EXACTLY what each party is to receive!!

You can comp the shoot and prints but ALWAYS maintain your professionailism. And make sure that they do not go blabbing around town about the DEAL they rec'd from you.

Family is free - all others (like her friends etc) pay cash on the barrell head!!

Have fun. Make sure that you show us these images when finished - call it a consulting fee.. lol.

lol will do... What Im doing for them is that they are just gunna pay me a flat fee for the day. pp included.. they only had a certain amount of money they could spend and so they said it was like 250 or something. I said i tell you what, ill do it for 150 and call it a day. They get all the images but I also get to use the images on my website.

I will not forget to mention that if any of their friends want their photos taken they will have to pay full price.. but well see what happens.

And dont worry The images will come here... I always need to get better.

And seriously...include rep cards for them (your expense, its an advertising expense) and I'll bet you'll get at least a few bites. White House prints in quantities of 50 and they're VERY nice quality.