Family Photography Fee?
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THE POST:
I am just starting a photography business, and my husband’s aunt, after seeing pictures that I did for his parent’s anniversary, have asked me to take pictures of their family for their own anniversary. How much do I charge? His aunt said to make sure I include travel costs (I will be traveling about 45 minutes each way), which I will add to the price afterward. I am going to create a DVD with all of their edited photos (group shot, individual families, grandkids, etc.) on it. What should I charge for that? I will tell them that they are free to print those pictures if they want to, but if they would like them printed on professional grade paper (as was the case in the picture they saw from husband’s parents’ anniversary), I will print it for them and let them know the cost once I know what they are ordering.
What do you think?
4 Comments so far
Check around your area and see what other photographers are charging and price accordingly. Do not forget to consider the price of your camera, lenses, tripod, lights and all your other overhead items. You will have to replace them eventually and just because we like to use our cameras does not mean we get them free…. Also consider your time. How much will be spent in front of a computer editing? Travel cost should also include time as well as gas, and wear & tear on your vehicle. I know it is easy to think these are people within my family but if they have agreed to pay and you have agreed to charge them then do so. Be Fair but do so. Its ok to give family a break but you have a right to make a living as well….
For a shoot like that and considering it is for a family member, I would do it at my cost plus $100.00
Well one thing is that you’re family. In the tradition of family, I usually do it for free or at cost for material expense. To prevent any possible animosity. And since you’re starting out having prints to show is good enough for me to get out of the shoot.
As a business, you make your money from the prints. By giving them (customer) pictures on a DVD to print as they wish is counterproductive to your bottom line. Ideally you’d make some money from the sitting fee and prints sales. Sitting fee is minimal so you want to make the sale. Usually one pose. What you will be doing is a little more than the usual. So how do you plan on making the money with all those shots you intend to shot? It would be hard for anyone to answer for you since this is not normally how it’s done. We don’t know what kind of experience you have. What kind of camera you have. Where you plan on having it printed and what your material cost will be. What they plan to order. In all its complexity, I’d say do at cost. Starting a business in the first couple of years, isn’t going to make you rich. Doing it for family especially for their anniversary….well is a gift in and of itself.
Doing this for free, or cheap, is not a good idea as people have a tendency to take advantage of a good thing. You’ll end up shooting every family event for cut rate prices. Not a good way to keep your business going. Then, when you finally decide to you have to raise your family rates, you’ll cause family strife.
On the other hand, charging full rates may actually offend some family members and cause disharmony, which will all come out on holidays and family get togethers. Yay!
So, my advice would be to charge family members your going rate, minus a small family discount, say….5-10%. Your husband’s aunt will feel as if she’s getting a deal, and you’ll still be remunerated fairly. If the person is someone with whom you normally visit, you can also justify not charging travel costs as you may very well have made the trip, anyway.