How much do I charge...

[Rhino95]

For family photos?

I got an e-mail from someone who was at the cheer competition and would like me to take photos of her and her family. I just need to let her know what my rates are...but before that...I need to know what my rates are! I have no clue.

What say the masses?

TIA. :thumbsup:

Ryan

[thenimirra]

you already know I suck at charging! ;)

But I think $150 to $200 is a good start.

And congrats on the gig!

[ColoradoSkier]

Things are just going to take off from here. Good job.

[thenimirra]

Yep, that's how it begins!

[GrayT]

Personally, I wouldn't just charge a set amount. I would setup packages for your 'customers' and prospects to look at. It will help THEM decide, not YOU decide on a price.

Example:

Package 1: 10 prints, 100 pictures on DVD = $100
Package 2: 20 prints, 200 pictures on DVD = $200
Package 3: 30 prints, 300 pictures on DVD = $300

These are just rough estimates, and in no way reflect what you should be charging, or what you should be including.

Think of your services as a car wash. You can either get the "Super" for $5, the "Premium" for $7, or the "Ultimate" for $9. Get my point? They all include something, and your packages should aim to please everyone. You could include in Package 3 that you will post-process images (such as adjusting contrast, highlights, shadows, brightness, noise reduction, correcting blemishes, etc...)

This also makes you look extremely professional, and gives the customer a sense that you have outstanding credibility and are well organized and know what you're doing.

Sell yourself, and you will sell your work.

Have fun with it. :D

[thenimirra]

hmm, very good advice.

[OFRD_GRL]

Ya I agree, set up different packages they can choose from.
Whether it just be prints, or just a disk, or both, etc!

But a *sitting fee* at like walmart photos/sears photos/etc is like $15 with a minimum purchase required IIRC

[Rhino95]

Alright, thinking I might rent [again] a lens and a flash...would it be best to just bounce it off the ceiling?

[rockkrusher]

I charge 30 for 5 shots on disc 50 for up to 10 on disc with 2 5x7's and 1 8x10 with no travel charge up to 20 miles.This includes full editing and the rest goes up from there.How ever I travel with strobes umbrellas and a couple of different backgrounds.

[GrayT]

Alright, thinking I might rent [again] a lens and a flash...would it be best to just bounce it off the ceiling?

There isn't really a guide to shooting indoors, it just depends on what looks best after the shot. Try it without a diffuser and then with it, straight on. If it's still too bright, try all angles of bounce with or without the diffuser.

It takes pressure off the clients to know that you're just setting up and testing. It gives them a chance to relax I've found out...

[ColoradoSkier]

You can make some interesting diffusers and bounce cards too. Look through the threads here.

[Jocko]

My .02 (probably worth .01).

If you are going to charge pro rates, you better be able to produce professional quality pictures. Now is not the time to learn lighting and posing. Paying clients expect quality. If they were OK with wal-mart quality, they would go to wal-mart (or whatever box-store studio you would like to replace the wal-mart name with). You will never be able to compete with box-store studio prices and make money at the same time.

As for lighting, one speedlite and a reflector is a good start. I would suggest an outdoor shoot. Trying to light a family indoors, and get quality light with one speedlite, is tough. If they are urbanites, find some places downtown. If they are into the outdoors, find some "woodsy" locations. Try to shoot in open shade for softer light. An overcast day is best.

Now back to the original question. The sitting fee is up to you. Some people have them, some don't. Have a few packages available, then have a la carte prices for individual prints. You make your money from print sales. If you are offering a CD/DVD make sure you charge enough to make up for lost print sales. You can also look at pro sites in your area to get an average rate. Dexonline is a great place to look for their web-sites.

Since you are just getting into protrait photography, don't obligate them to purchase anything if they aren't 100% satisfied. You will gain a lot of experience from a shoot like this. If you don't get any sales, atleast you gained some knowledge.

[GrayT]

Great advice, Jocko. :thumbsup:

[OFRD_GRL]

very good advice. very very good.

everytime i have shot with a model... i have always been in a huge studio with a truck behind them.....

SOOOO my advice might not be worth much.
strobe with intensity turned down to 1/4 and a light box on it aimed directly at the person/s

[Rhino95]

My .02 (probably worth .01).

If you are going to charge pro rates, you better be able to produce professional quality pictures. Now is not the time to learn lighting and posing. Paying clients expect quality. If they were OK with wal-mart quality, they would go to wal-mart (or whatever box-store studio you would like to replace the wal-mart name with). You will never be able to compete with box-store studio prices and make money at the same time.

As for lighting, one speedlite and a reflector is a good start. I would suggest an outdoor shoot. Trying to light a family indoors, and get quality light with one speedlite, is tough. If they are urbanites, find some places downtown. If they are into the outdoors, find some "woodsy" locations. Try to shoot in open shade for softer light. An overcast day is best.

Now back to the original question. The sitting fee is up to you. Some people have them, some don't. Have a few packages available, then have a la carte prices for individual prints. You make your money from print sales. If you are offering a CD/DVD make sure you charge enough to make up for lost print sales. You can also look at pro sites in your area to get an average rate. Dexonline is a great place to look for their web-sites.

Since you are just getting into protrait photography, don't obligate them to purchase anything if they aren't 100% satisfied. You will gain a lot of experience from a shoot like this. If you don't get any sales, atleast you gained some knowledge.

You know that is exactly what I've been thinking. I have never done it before so I cannot guarantee even decent images. I think I may hold off and try some shooting of relatives or something.

[Jocko]

Ryan,

I think you should do the shoot. There is a lot you can learn from this type of shoot. Let them know that you want to do it outdoors, preferably in a park or something similar. Use evergreen trees for a backdrop. Again, shoot in open shade or on an overcast day. That way you won't need strobes and such.

As far as pricing, tell them you want to use these images in your portfolio and you are willing to give them the images at cost. You get free models and they get print cost images. This will also help you in dealing with people you don't know. It's a lot different than shooting friends/relatives.

Do the shoot and learn from it. In the mean time learn how to pose people in a pleasing manner. Look at family pictures online and make note of what you do and don't like. Look at individual posing techniques and make notes. The lighting forum at DP Review is a good place to start. Also, Paul C. Buff has a forum that has pretty good lighting threads. Click the link below. He has some good stuff for beginners. He is an engineer by trade and follows these rules exactly. I am not recommending that. Learn the rules of photography and then you can break/bend them.

http://super.nova.org/PhotoClass/

Jocko