How much to charge for Engagement Photos?

I have been asked to do an engagement photo-shoot this weekend of my brother's friends. They saw some photos I took of my brother and his now wife and really liked the way the pictures turned out. Problem is, I have never charged for photos before so I have no idea what to charge them.

Can you guys help me figure out a fair price?

I know my work is not that great so obvious I can't charge what real photographers are charging these days.


Here are three example pictures I took last year (my first time working with people as my subject) of my brother and his now wife. These photos, to me, are pretty rough.

Why do you have to charge them?
If you know your work is not that great why not just take them for fun and to help somebody out, and for practice
Keep practicing and when/if eventually you can say your work is really good then you can start charging.

That's what I have been doing and was going to do for this couple, not charge.
Everyone just keeps telling me "You need to start charging."
So I guess the question I need honest answers to, from people that don't know me personally is, is my work worth charging for?

DB4L90 wrote in post #11261051
I know my work is not that great so obvious I can't charge what real photographers are charging these days.

Sorry I can't see your photos, but judging from the statement above, my guess is no.

Whatever happened to the days when taking pictures was a hobby and it was fun.
I don't understand why everybody with a camera thinks they need to charge money for taking pictures....end of rant (not directed at the OP).

Shockey wrote in post #11261394
Sorry I can't see your photos, but judging from the statement above, my guess is no.

Whatever happened to the days when taking pictures was a hobby and it was fun.
I don't understand why everybody with a camera thinks they need to charge money for taking pictures....end of rant (not directed at the OP).

Hmm, I remember the days when people would get chewed out for giving pictures away, because the cameras are not free, the time to take the pictures and process them, and now its being encouraged.

GerryDavid wrote in post #11262176
Hmm, I remember the days when people would get chewed out for giving pictures away, because the cameras are not free, the time to take the pictures and process them, and now its being encouraged.

X2
Also not to mention software( CS5 master + light room 3)

If it's a hobby then treat it as such, but if you are building up for a future business you have to start somewhere.......
We did our first weeding for 1k( album included with 8 hrs total for the day), with no previous wedding experience and now we have 3 more weddings booked.
If people are willing to pay your price then why say no?
We still shoot for fun but mostly landscape and cars for me.

As far as your original question, look to see what people charge around your area and price yourself accordingly with what you think your quality is worth.
You know they like your work already and that's all that matters.
I'm still learning a great deal so everything I said is personal experience
Good luck.
-Nez

How do they want them? Disc or prints? What are your costs for prints? Do you have the software mentioned above or more basic pp software? How much time are spending on them? Some pricing for these types of pictures are around $250. How much time will you spend taking the pictures and is there a specific location they requested? How much gas money will you spend to get there and back?

Calculate these things and adjust based on how you value your skill level for the final price between cost and $250.

nez wrote in post #11262827
X2
Also not to mention software( CS5 master + light room 3)

If it's a hobby then treat it as such, but if you are building up for a future business you have to start somewhere.......
We did our first weeding for 1k( album included with 8 hrs total for the day), with no previous wedding experience and now we have 3 more weddings booked.
If people are willing to pay your price then why say no?
We still shoot for fun but mostly landscape and cars for me.

As far as your original question, look to see what people charge around your area and price yourself accordingly with what you think your quality is worth.
You know they like your work already and that's all that matters.
I'm still learning a great deal so everything I said is personal experience
Good luck.
-Nez

Glad to see that not everyone thinks you should'nt be compensated a small amount for your time and effort even if you are still learning and building a portfolio.

Photography started off just a hobby but now I am hoping one day I can have my own business.

I have Photoshop CS5 and Lightroom 2. I was going to give them the high resolution photos on a disc. The photoshoot itself will probably be 2-4 hours, they have a few different locations in mind and also next weekend, they want photos taken downtown at the skating rink. I spend a lot of time going through my photos and editing, never timed how long though. It will usually take me a few days to get them done, depending how many photos are taken.

I'm thinking maybe $100-$150.

In case the photos are not showing up here are the links.

My brother and his wife taken last year:
http://i314.photobucke​t.com …5_5804864_15329​46_n-1.jpg

http://i314.photobucke​t.com …5_5804906_45096​15_n-1.jpg

http://i314.photobucke​t.com …0615_5804924_82​7908_n.jpg

My cousin, taken 2 months ago:
http://i314.photobucke​t.com …0615_7011063_89​2316_n.jpg

http://i314.photobucke​t.com …615_7010923_542​3856_n.jpg

http://i314.photobucke​t.com …615_7011082_639​6530_n.jpg

http://i314.photobucke​t.com …615_7011086_113​5723_n.jpg

http://i314.photobucke​t.com …615_7011087_361​2052_n.jpg

nez wrote in post #11262827
X2
Also not to mention software( CS5 master + light room 3)

If it's a hobby then treat it as such, but if you are building up for a future business you have to start somewhere.......
We did our first weeding for 1k( album included with 8 hrs total for the day), with no previous wedding experience and now we have 3 more weddings booked.
If people are willing to pay your price then why say no?
We still shoot for fun but mostly landscape and cars for me.

As far as your original question, look to see what people charge around your area and price yourself accordingly with what you think your quality is worth.
You know they like your work already and that's all that matters.
I'm still learning a great deal so everything I said is personal experience
Good luck.
-Nez

Instead of basing your prices on the competition, which will probably vary greatly from very cheap to very expensive, you should calculate your cost of doing business, figure out how much you need to make per hour and base prices that way. someone with an expensive studio needs to charge more than someone that only does portraits on location. If you upgrade your camera's and software as soon as new stuff comes out, then youll need to charge more than someone that keeps their Canon XT and Photoshop CS1 for years until it stops working. For example.

Ive also been told that the kind of client you get when you charge $$$$ is much better than when you charge $$. Just got to find a way to market to them.

First, don't let people's comments about how great your pictures are and how you should be charging for them cloud your judgment. Often, they're just blowing sunshine.

I do weddings, but I also do nature for my own pleasure. My wife looks at my pictures of birds and says I should submit them to National Geographic. Well, umm . . . The reality is, she's my wife; of course she's going to say something supportive. But she also doesn't really know photography nor understands what it is that separates guys like me from those who really DO shoot for Nat Geo.

So enjoy those compliments, but don't make career decisions based on them; trust your own judgment which seems to suggest you're good but not professional quality. And looking at your images, I think that's about right.

If you enjoy doing it, I'd continue to work for free while you develop your skills. Or if they're friends, have them take you out to dinner or something so that they value your work a bit more highly than free.

Beyond that, it's hard to tell you a number as every market in every city is different. Take a look at the professionals in the area and understand what they charge. Look at their quality and all the other resources they're able to bring to market. Also look at CraigsList and understand where the bottom of the market is. Assess your own skills and quality fairly and I think you'll find your own answer.

go with something simple like $30-40/hour. Include post processing time

Your work look pretty good .Charge what you can get
Don't forget about travel time too

Honestly, your work is better than a lot of what's posted in here and I am not "blowing sunshine" when I say that. Sunshine is expensive these days, so I don't go giving it out to just anybody. I would tell you if I felt otherwise. Are they standout photos? IMO, no. But they are certainly "good enough" for you to think about charging for your time and services.

Some things to think about:

• Are your "brother's friends" your friends also? If not, treat them like strangers. In other words, charge them. If you feel compelled to do so, offer them a token discount.
  
• Figure out how much an hour you would want to make it worth your while. This will make things a lot easier in pricing things out. Include post processing in your calculation too.
  
• I think it's good to keep in tune with your local market, but don't obsess over it.

nicksan wrote in post #11266465
I think it's good to keep in tune with your local market, but don't obsess over it.

Someone recently had a good point, if you base your prices on the competition, and they base theirs on their competition, and so forth, and no one bases it on the cost of doing business, this could lead to everyone loosing money or just not making enough to keep the business afloat.

I forget who said that though, but it gave me something to think about.

Im still trying to figure out my cost of doing business, what to charge, etc. Problem is not everyone spends the same amount of money, and I dont always have a week booked up.