Got a call requesting I do a photo shoot - this is a first - uh what to do

[sharper]

A friend of a friend recommended me. Um, I don't do shoots for money, or for anyone for free. Hell, I've only had my camera for a month and it's been just pics for me really. I've had a promoter use one of my photos for a flier for a huge event coming up in October. That's as far as my photos have gone.

He is opening a gym and wants me to come take pics for his website. I told him I only have one speedlight flash, no lighting kit for shooting objects indoors. There are a few windows for natural light, which is reassuring. I went ahead and let him know I don't have a lighting kit and I am a beginner. He still said, "name your price."

I basically said I'll just take gas money to get there and back and I'd just gain experience from this. Because I really have no idea what to charge for this sort of thing. And while doing this for free, I'm still quite a bit nervous. I feel awful if the pics aren't going to be as good as he expects.
yikes.

[Truckman]

Having seen some of the photos you posted, I think he'll be pleased...If nothing else, you can see how much time is involved in this (including travel and processing) and have a better idea what to charge when you decide what your time is worth...Ben

[engstrom]

Originally Posted by sharper

I went ahead and let him know I don't have a lighting kit and I am a beginner. He still said, "name your price."

If anyone ever tells me that I'll say "100 million dollars"...that's it...one shoot...goodbye. :)

Seriously though. I don't think you should be doing it for free. Just because you're new doesn't mean you don't have talent that's valuable. Sure, you're learning so you might not be able to create the pictures that others could, but you certainly will create pictures that nobody else would - and that's a good thing. Don't undervalue yourself.

[Imagebuffet]

Congratulations on the job! Some of us (*sniff*) go for years without ever getting anything!

[SCone]

Originally Posted by engstrom

If anyone ever tells me that I'll say "100 million dollars"...that's it...one shoot...goodbye.

A good friend of mine had a customer giving him a real problem one day, kept interupting his sale pitch and not letting him finish. The guy finally says, "Just give me the bottom line!"

My friend pulled out the contract and told him, "I'll need your signature here, here and here, I'll fill-in the rest later."

The guy let him finish his pitch and then bought the service.


You'll do fine Stephanie, just take your time, plan your shots, and have fun.

[bondarnes]

My suggestion would be to charge enough to hire someone with lighting equipment and the experience to use it. You take the pictures, but he/she controls the lighting. Then learn all that you can from this shoot so you will know how to handle the next one.

[CaptainTom]

A difference between an amateur and a professional is that an amateur gets some nice photos once in a while and a professional gets great photos everytime he/she does a job.
It's a huge jump from taking photos for your own enjoyment and taking photos that the client wants and needs.

NOt saying you can't do a good job, but just want to make you aware that it is a whole new world.

[Jenny Z]

If you do take money, make sure you charge tax, and get yourself a state tax ID so you can file.

[AndrewCCM]

Originally Posted by bondarnes

My suggestion would be to charge enough to hire someone with lighting equipment and the experience to use it. You take the pictures, but he/she controls the lighting. Then learn all that you can from this shoot so you will know how to handle the next one.

I think this is solid advice.

[49884]

Stephanie, you are in a bit of a situation. Sounds like you want to do this but don't want to disappoint the client. You say you've had your camera for a month, surely you've been taking photographs for some time already. Much longer than a month i'm sure. I would suggest showing the client photos that you've taken in the past and tell him that he can expect similar results for what he is wanting. If he is happy with that, then all should go well. I also think Don has an excellent suggestion. It shouldn't be hard to find someone with lighting to help you on this site.
Go for it! It will be fun and you'll learn a lot!
BTW from what i've seen, you have a good eye

Let us know how it goes!

[srwatters]

Pick your favorite pro, pass the lead onto them, and ask if you can assist. What you learn will be money well spent IMHO.

[sharper]

Thanks for the advice everyone!!

Yeah, a big thing with asking for money, is I also wondered if I would have to charge tax. I kind of thought so. Nah, I really didn't want to get into this as a business, at least not right now anyway. So him just paying my gas to get over there is fine right now.

This was just kind of pushed into my hands. The friend that recommended me showed him my pictures and so I guess he knows what to expect. As far as my experience, it's been mostly P&S cameras. In highschool, i used a film SLR a lot for action/sports photography. I hadn't picked up an SLR in 10 years till now. Thanks for the compliments on having a good eye....Im sure my BA degree and my graphic design career I definitely owe that to. So I'm not concerned with that aspect....it's whether the pictures come out is the prob.

I was able to get ahold of him last night and told him that I can come take pics of the place during the day on labor day. Depending on how many windows light up the place and the amount of available light, I might can take the pics just fine. I did tell him that if I determine that I need a lighting kit, that I'll have to rent equipment or hire someone with the equipment that I will have to reschedule a new date and time and charge to him whatever cost it costs me. He said that was fine and he kept saying there were plenty of windows and he didn't seem worried about it.....so we'll see.

*praying for a ton of big spacious windows*

[Truckman]

Originally Posted by sharper

Yeah, a big thing with asking for money, is I also wondered if I would have to charge tax.

One minor point: You never charge tax, you collect it...That's to let them know it's not a negotiable point...Ben

[S-Man]

I'd say you could use long shutter speeds and pop the flash a few times in different areas to light the gym well.