Family portraits done for friends and they want to pay me, how much?

[finnadat]

I'm an advanced amateur, not a professional but i'm not a hack either and i have no idea on what to charge but would also like to get a 24-70 2.8L lens sometime soon.

With that said, family friends asked for portraits and I spent 2 hours shooting with an off camera flash, and have about 12 finals they want in different configurations. I've already told them they can have everything i've shot so i can't make anything on prints. I'm also not a professional at output as even with a calibrated monitor, a grey card and shooting raw i'm still not comfortable with the colors that I'm getting.

Anyways I'm thinking of charging them per hour of work i put in - 2 for the shoot, 1 for prep and 4 for processing and was thinking of charging about $500 or ~$70/hr.

They love what i've done and i'll probably get referrals from them so i don't want to be too low or high. Any thoughts??

[srwatters]

Before you take any money, understand what it means and what you need to do to start a business. Because that's what it is. If you're okay with the liability, risks, taxes, and licensing issues, then go for it. Otherwise just tell them, you're welcome.

YMMV.

[ito4u]

I say charge what you think is fair. You could always look at other Houston based photographers and see what they charge for their packages and base your price off of those. Don't give your work away but charge what you think is fair for all you know your friend may not agree with $500 and think it's way to you expensive. Talk to them and throw out a number, they may agree.

[mtyler24]

You've already done it?
I'm getting that you did it as a free session, no price was set, now they want to say thank-you? If I was that friend I'd proably be a little taken aback. Since you're having issues with the pictures also, I'd lower that amount a lot.
You should reconsider charging for 4 hours of processing 12 images, whereas a pro may be able to do it in say one hour.

You should think of this session as portfolio building experience. Maybe post them for cc, and then you'll get a better idea if you're at that professional level, but I wouldn't charge my friends that price if it was my first family session. Set up a pricing list for future sessions, so you'll still get the referals, good ones - (not I can't believe he's charging this much).

[texxter]

I think it's tricky to discuss and decide on a price after the shot has been completed, and between friends. If nothing about pricing was discussed before the shot, and you know say it's $500, based on some hourly rate, they may be either delighted or shocked, depending on their expectations. They may not understand or appreciate that they are paying more for postprocessing than the creative effort needed to create the images.

One way to go about it is to ask them to pay you what they think the images are worth to them. You'll end up as friends, will get paid something and will learn how much your friends really think your images are worth :-)

Paco

[Jake]

Originally Posted by texxter

.........
One Way To Go About It Is To Ask Them To Pay You What They Think The Images Are Worth To Them. You'll End Up As Friends, Will Get Paid Something And Will Learn How Much Your Friends Really Think Your Images Are Worth :-)

Paco

+1

[HeatherLou]

Originally Posted by srwatters

before You Take Any Money, Understand What It Means And What You Need To Do To Start A Business. Because That's What It Is. If You're Okay With The Liability, Risks, Taxes, And Licensing Issues, Then Go For It. Otherwise Just Tell Them, You're Welcome.

Ymmv.

+1

[finnadat]

srwatters - this is getting my toes wet, i'm handing over copyright/licensing to them and they are good friends. taxes are an issue and if this brings up more work then i'm gonna have to look at the business side of things.

mtyler24 - already done and it was under the angle of if you like the results treat it as a gift or pay me what you think they are worth. On time it took a while to get from 300 down to these 12 and they want color, b&w and touchups in 3 different aspect ratios so i think that the time isn't insane.

texxter - that was my pitch from the outset, if you like them, let me know what you think they are worth and pay me that amount. They wanted a number so I threw out: "an hourly rate between $50-70 and it is certainly up for discussion as I have no idea of a true value, what is fair and what the friend discount is.." They seem cool with it so we'll see how it goes.

thanks all for the comments and suggestions.

[w9ctm]

Put a few of the final shots on here and let other photographers let you know if they think your work is good or not. Often times, you'll find your worst critic is yourself. Worse case scenario, others agree with your low impression of the quality of your work. Others may offer suggestions to assist you in becoming a better photographer.... You are asking for opinions on price, but no one has seen the work you want to place a price on.

My .02

[finnadat]

Originally Posted by w9ctm

Put a few of the final shots on here and let other photographers let you know if they think your work is good or not. Often times, you'll find your worst critic is yourself. Worse case scenario, others agree with your low impression of the quality of your work. Others may offer suggestions to assist you in becoming a better photographer.... You are asking for opinions on price, but no one has seen the work you want to place a price on.

My .02

great idea.

[Nahtjay]

im sorry maybe its just me.but the white shirts look to blend alittle. i like the shots. just the white throws me off. but im far from professional.

[koppiwrite]

I know this isn't a full critique...and I am not going to sit here and critique. One thing I would say is to clone out the nike swoosh in the shots (especially the BW) because my eyes go straight to that.

Also when shooting watch that your aren't cutting limbs half off (meaning that in the group shots some of the feet are cut off, others aren't in the same shot, same with fingers).

Hope that helps a little.

[CaptainTom]

At the very least you need to register and get a tax number, and collect taxes on whatever you get from them. Then there's the local ordinances, etc.

[toverman]

First, overall, these are nice shots with pretty good poses. I know it's no easy task to pose five people (especially when kids are involved) and elicit pleasing expressions and open eyes on all five faces. You did a great job with that.

I agree that the cropped-off feet are not the best. And in the first shot, which is probably my favorite, the parents' hands are hidden. They are touching their children, but would be great if their hands could be visibly doing that. Just a nitpick!

Compositionally, there are a few issues. Particularly the backgrounds are a bit cluttered, even with some of the blurring you achieved. These comments are on the COLOR versions only, as they are most noticeable ... fourth shot: black poles on either side and light hanging down (just crop it out); fifth shot: blue trampoline visible and basketball net is above the dad's head; sixth shot: pole running through dad's head. These are all minor details, but something to watch for next time.

As for what to charge, I probably wouldn't give them a price but choose ones you consider the best of the bunch to use in your portfolio with their permission. It is much harder to come up with a price after the fact; the professional thing to do is price jobs up front, have them sign a contract and receive payment at the time of the session (and sometimes a portion for booking the date). Having a state sales tax ID number, charging and paying sales tax, biz plan, insurance, etc. etc. etc.

[Duane Hickman]

They appear too bunched up to me...but thats just me..I agree with the above also..I wuld personaly make it a complete gift or just throw out a very modest fee amount....sounds like the horses are already out of the barn.