What do you charge family?

[photopam]

My family wants pictures of my kids and I can't afford to buy them all. (These are my professional pictures of them, not just snapshots.) They would like to buy some.

Do you charge them what you would charge a customer?
Or do you have a special family rate?
Or do you charge them at cost?

Thank you!

[kd322]

There is something to be said about being family. I would order them at cost. Think about it if it were the other way around and if another member of your family were a photographer, and you wanted a picture they took. I would be really offended if they charged me. Not sure how you would feel, but just my opinion!

[carrbowl]

My immediate family gets my prices...I have heard others have a friends and family discount. I think it just depends on you and your family. If your family uses you, then you have to be more careful...if your family respects you and your work..give it to them at your cost. The problem is, it becomes a slippery slope when Aunts and Uncles start wanting things...

[brad]

Immediate family? Free service and cost of goods.

Certain close friends? Same.

Other friends and family.. free sessions and regular pricing on prints with no minimums.

[frameworthy]

Depends on if I like them or not....

[Shelby Lane]

With me, immediate family and absolute best friends don't pay. Everyone else pays full price. I have tried the "friends and family" thing but it is hard to decide where to draw the line -- especially when my cousin's friend's sister-in-law is gushing about our "close friendship" and how generous it is for me to give them a discount (which I haven't offered) because they can't afford to pay my outrageous prices. So just for me personally, with photography as my only income and the fact that any "friends and family" sessions are taking time away from paying clients or my children, it's easier to have an all or nothing approach.

[Shelby Lane]

I just read this again -- if they want portraits of YOUR kids, I think I'd charge them cost. If they want a session of THEIR kids, it's harder to decide what to do.

[ldelacruz]

Absolutely free or at cost.

[Daniel Bates]

I try not to do business with family (or friends), but when I do, it's either free or at-cost if the materials are not inexpensive.

[HotHolly]

5x as much! Just kidding. Parents are free. I just give my siblings what ever extras I ordered b/t the lot of GPs and us.

[Cajungaltx]

If my family gave a flying leap, lol, I'd charge them full price plus an annoyance fee. ;-)

My in laws - they get it at cost if they order/want to order over what I 'give' them. They are 100% supportive, and are encouraging to my interests - so they get the 'family' price. ;-)

[photopam]

Thanks everyone.
I was thinking at cost to grandparents and my siblings.

I was kind of thinking, well, if I went to another photographer, they would charge them full price. It's just good fortune that I am a photographer.

And I have a potential cousin-in-law that lives 5+ hours away talk of doing her senior portraits, but they haven't said for sure. I might charge them only for wallets and 8x10 and larger.

[AndrewCCM]

Can't say I have ever charged my family for a photo. I may not pay to have them all done, but I'll gladly hand over the files for them to have printed.

My rule is this: I either charge you what my business charges or I decide to do it for free. There is no in between with me. That keeps me outta difficult situations with friends and neighbors.

[toverman]

I give images to my family. My sister and parents are like ambassadors and show all the people they know, tell them who took the photos and works to convince them that they need to hire me. Then my full rates would kick in, of course!

[photopam]

Originally Posted by toverman

I give images to my family. My sister and parents are like ambassadors and show all the people they know, tell them who took the photos and works to convince them that they need to hire me. Then my full rates would kick in, of course!

Wish I could do this, but all my family live in Houston, and I am in Fort Worth. My parents still talk me up though! I did have 2 of their neighbors hire me! :)