Engagement Party for a friend/co worker..price?

[ADPStudios]

I have a friend/co worker I've known for quite some time ask me how much I would charge to photograph his engagement party. I have NO idea what to tell him..

Its looking like it will be 3 to 4 hours at a local bar/restaurant..

I don't want to do it for free but I want it in the friend zone price... suggestions?

I'll have to rent a external flash unless I get one for Christmas too, Lol!

Thanks!

[Tom]

My friends get the same price as anyone else, if I choose to work with them. It costs me the same amount of time and money that any other gig with the added cost of if I screw something up, it could cost me a friendship I value.

[Nikonfan]

Another photographer once told me this and I liked it. So now I do it too: I have a set percentage I discount to "friends and family." To determine if they qualify I ask myself this. Would I normally give this person a Christmas present? If the answer is yes then they are close enough to qualify. If the answer is no, they don't qualify and get the normal price.

[ADPStudios]

Originally Posted by Nikonfan

Another photographer once told me this and I liked it. So now I do it too: I have a set percentage I discount to "friends and family." To determine if they qualify I ask myself this. Would I normally give this person a Christmas present? If the answer is yes then they are close enough to qualify. If the answer is no, they don't qualify and get the normal price.

I like that..thanks!

[kayumangi]

A couple things to consider:
- Add the rental cost to what you charge
- On your invoice, outline how much you really charge
- then add a line on how much you're discounting, that way your friend knows how much value he/she is getting.

[pbyd]

If you do photography as a hobby, then shoot it for any price that works for you. I have a photography business, as such I charge for my labor and finished product, the same for all. In the many years that I have run this business, even my family members know what my prices are and what my discounts are. I have found over the years that when I have done jobs for "friends" it is when problems begin. Just because we are a small business does not mean we have to give our product away at a discounted rate.
Just saying,
Wayne
Photography by Design

[ronocnikral]

if it is a friend, we'll charge them triple anyone else. really good friends get charged more. family is out of the question. I've been bent over too many times doing this. If you do go forward, you'll eventually come to this question, "do I value my relationship more than working on _____ for another _____ hours?"

even a dog doesn't eat where it poops.

[rhoffart]

Kendra, you don't own an external flash yet :) ... and a friend wants you to shoot their once in a lifetime engagement party. I'm guessing evening, low light, unfamiliar location?

That's a hard shoot to pull off. Are you sure you want to take a shot at that? If yes, go for it ... and charge him what feels right. Have fun with it ...

[Howard Barlow]

Kendra,

Reread the last 3 posts. Reread them, again.

[RickD]

Treat this like every other business...cover your costs and set expectations. otherwise, give the business to someone else.

Have lots of friends who are successful business owners and we found generally speaking, friends aren't expecting a discount, they would rather they give the money to someone they know....but their expectations tend to be higher.

Maybe discount the session rates or apply the rates to prints or albums...it's a better alternative without lowering the value of your product.

[David Whatley]

Did you get the flash? If not, the offer to borrow mine still stands.
david

[TxTowman]

Every post on this thread is very good! I appreciate all of you taking the time to respond even though I am not the OP. I got a lot of insight from this thread!