Amateur asked "how much do you charge for services?"

[mmcaleer]

Here is my situation:

A friend of mine asked if I could take some pictures of his daughter and her date before her prom. I said I would since he was a good friend. It turned out that there were four couples that showed up at the location. The location turned out to be a large custom home built by the father of one of the girls.

I only took 200 photos, indoors and out, since they were running late. I didn't mind since it gave me an opportunity to learn with my new lights.

Afterwards I sent some of the samples to each of the parents. One of the parents emailed me back and asked me how much do I charge for the work I did.

What should I do? Give them the pictures and chaulk it up as a learning experience? I thought about telling them that I do not do this as a business but I would take donations to feed my habit. My friend told me to give them a price. I would never charge my friend for what I did. I told them that up front.

What do you think?

Mike

[JohnT]

Your "freebie" agreement was with your friend, not with the other parents. I would give her a price. :-)

[suzyjazz]

I'd give the everyone else a price. You said you would do your friend a favor, so he can get the pics for free as I guess you had previously established, but give everyone else a price. You definitely spent more time and resources on 4 couples than 1 would have required. If they're asking what you charge, step on up and give them a fair price.

Originally Posted by mmcaleer

Here is my situation:

A friend of mine asked if I could take some pictures of his daughter and her date before her prom. I said I would since he was a good friend. It turned out that there were four couples that showed up at the location. The location turned out to be a large custom home built by the father of one of the girls.

I only took 200 photos, indoors and out, since they were running late. I didn't mind since it gave me an opportunity to learn with my new lights.

Afterwards I sent some of the samples to each of the parents. One of the parents emailed me back and asked me how much do I charge for the work I did.

What should I do? Give them the pictures and chaulk it up as a learning experience? I thought about telling them that I do not do this as a business but I would take donations to feed my habit. My friend told me to give them a price. I would never charge my friend for what I did. I told them that up front.

What do you think?

Mike

[Jake]

Originally Posted by mmcaleer

....
I only took 200 photos, indoors and out, since they were running late....

"Only" 200? That sounds like a lot to me.


If they asked for a price then give them a price, whatever you feel comfortable with charging.
Just charge something.

[Dokk]

It sounds like you're not really comfortable with charging these people but you want something to recoup time and effort that you laid out. I wouldn't charge your friend but I would charge just enough to make up for what you put out in supplies such as CD/DVD and paper/ink for printed proofs or prints that you make. Check around for prices on professional printing and maybe price a nice, inexpensive folio or album and let them know that you can have "X" number of photos printed and put into an album for "X" number of dollars.

[thrumyeyes]

I would give the friend all of the hi res files for free of course. The rest I would charge. I would charge a set price per print, or one larger price per digital image if that is what they want. You have a lot of money invested in equipment and should not feel guilty for recieving payment for your services.

[AndrewCCM]

Originally Posted by thejakestir

"Only" 200? That sounds like a lot to me.


If they asked for a price then give them a price, whatever you feel comfortable with charging.
Just charge something.

LOL - Me 2!

[JohnT]

Originally Posted by mmcaleer

I only took 200 photos...

Yowza! It takes me all week on vacation to make that many exposures.

[txphotog]

charge around $50 for the sitting fee plus prints.

[Kathi]

Originally Posted by mmcaleer

Here is my situation:

A friend of mine asked if I could take some pictures of his daughter and her date before her prom. I said I would since he was a good friend. It turned out that there were four couples that showed up at the location. The location turned out to be a large custom home built by the father of one of the girls.

I only took 200 photos, indoors and out, since they were running late. I didn't mind since it gave me an opportunity to learn with my new lights.

Afterwards I sent some of the samples to each of the parents. One of the parents emailed me back and asked me how much do I charge for the work I did.

What should I do? Give them the pictures and chaulk it up as a learning experience? I thought about telling them that I do not do this as a business but I would take donations to feed my habit. My friend told me to give them a price. I would never charge my friend for what I did. I told them that up front.

What do you think?

Mike

Here is my 2 cents for what it is worth... Since you did not have a fee in mind when shooting, tell them that the session is "on you", but that if they would like to purchase either prints or a printable CD, you would be happy to work something out with them. I am guessing that you do not have a "pro" lab that you are using yet since you say you are not pro yet - find a pro lab that you feel comfy with and see what their rates are. Mark up those rates to a fee that you are comfy charging - some double, others mark it up 312%. Go with whatever you are comfy with though. If they want a printable CD, you have to decide what your work is worth - you are going to lose sales if they choose to print elsewhere so don't be shy in your rates. Also, if you give them the CD, make sure to include a copyright release so that they can use the CD to make prints at their lab.

By the way... since you are now receiving money for your creativity and work, welcome to the pros! We all had our first paid work at one point or another...

[mmcaleer]

Thanks for all the input.

Mike

[MikeyG1965]

I like Kathi's suggestion.