Family photos? Charge?

Would your mother ask your uncle, whose a plumber (work with me here), to come over to her house, make sure he buys all the parts to fix her sink out of his own pocket and spend 5 hours out of his day fixing the sink without any compensation?

I do a huge discount with family, but still, I do want to at least break even on my time unless it's a gift to someone.

spiralspirit wrote in post #9335595
I don't think its right for your family to require you to do the work you do for a living for free unless they do the same thing. If your uncle was a mechanic, would he work on your car for free? If your aunt was an interior designer, would she do your house for free? If the answer is no, then you aren't in that sort of close relationship with them.

Personally I have family members who I wouldn't hesitate to help any way I can, anything and for no money, but I also know that in general unless they couldn't afford otherwise they wouldn't put me in that spot.

Personally I would go, DONT shoot 1000 images, shoot 300, minimal batch post processing, and give them a DVD with the images on it. Say clearly that this is a one time thing, and that you aren't willing to do it for anyone all of the time, since you aren't. Make sure they understand what the going rate for professional photography is - YOUR going rate. You charge X amount for a 5 hour party, and people hire you for that money, but this one time you're being nice enough to give it for free because they didn't understand and you didn't want to disappoint them.

Lol, I pulled out the if your uncle was a.... example, too.

Ok, so now that I'm roped into this, how am I shooting the sweet 16? From the photo research I just did briefly, it looks like a wedding without a groom? Is there a series of speeches, dances, etc, similar to weddings?

Tell them that you had someone call you for a wedding and you are looking to expand your portfolio with a well paying job. That's what I would do. "They are family, they would understand".

gregpphoto wrote in post #9339401
Ok, so now that I'm roped into this, how am I shooting the sweet 16? From the photo research I just did briefly, it looks like a wedding without a groom? Is there a series of speeches, dances, etc, similar to weddings?

That's pretty much it. I did one last year. The girl arrived in a limo with friends. Shots of her and her friends getting out of the limo. Entering the event. Group shots... There were no speeches at the one I attended. There was a DJ so there were dancing images too.

Good luck with event. Watermark you images... You may get some senior portrait jobs out of the event..