How much to charge

Ok, One of the reasons I bought a new camera is because a lady that my brother knows wants be to take pics of there newborn.
1st off I havent done much with portrait style photography.
My brother showed her some of my B&W photos and she loved my work. So I dont think I can go wrong.

She said she will pay me what ever i charge.
I figure I would take around 25-40 pictures and put it on a disc and let her do what she wants.

Whats your thoughts on this.

My advice would be to research what they are charging in the area and discount it by at least 25% since you have no experience so to say.

I remember my first paid portrait session, I was so nervous even though I had done it a hundred times before, but with cash in mind it all seemed different.

Good luck.

My advice would be to research what they are charging in the area and discount it by at least 25% since you have no experience so to say.

I remember my first paid portrait session, I was so nervous even though I had done it a hundred times before, but with cash in mind it all seemed different.

Good luck.

Ahem... I must disagree.
There are seasoned pros in your area that are also being discounted 25% by your deal. You must either stand behind your work or do it for cost after letting the client know that you are not a professional photographer. If she insists that you accept more then cost consider it a gratuity.

Well she is pretty much doing it to help me out.
This person has no problem with money, And the cool thing is that if I do some cool stuff for her. She will tell a friend!!

So i might just say like 40 bucks or so. Just mainly for gas and time.

That's what I wanted to hear 8) Word of mouth testimonials will get you further than $5000 worth of advertising. Rock On Tripod!

Well, The story goes. My brother sells High End electronics and this guy came in and spend well over a new car. Well since my brother installs on the side he installed everything at this guys house. He got invited to his party that was saturdaynight. Well the people that were invited to this party, well they are at the same status too. And my brother now has 3 more jobs lined up.
And people that have money love art!!!! Mooha ha ha

A side job is the door that opportunity knocks on.

#1:
My advice would be to research what they are charging in the area and discount it by at least 25% since you have no experience so to say.


#2:
There are seasoned pros in your area that are also being discounted 25% by your deal. You must either stand behind your work or do it for cost after letting the client know that you are not a professional photographer.


With consultant hat on, I'd say to follow bit of advice #1. Even if you choose to become a pro competing with those folks on an even level in the future, they're pretty unlikely to cut you any slack because you refused to undercut them in the past.

A lot of people want to be photographers, and that means that in order to make money doing it you need to be competitive. If you think that you can secure a better reputation-- which is worth a lot more than a couple of bucks-- by following bit of advice #2, then do that by all means. Otherwise, I suggest aggressive pricing as a business strategy for begininng photographers.

Note that working professionals will NEVER suggest this. That might be because it's a bad idea. I think it more likely that the main problem professionals face is that it's fairly easy to start up and use low prices to take away customers who are paying extra for reputation and (hopeful) quality from established pros.

There are seasoned pros in your area that are also being discounted 25% by your deal. You must either stand behind your work or do it for cost after letting the client know that you are not a professional photographer. If she insists that you accept more then cost consider it a gratuity. - Lensdude


Since I do not know his/her skill AND the situation someone starting out in a business needs to be a) cheaper than the "seasoned" pros and b) have the quality & talent to compete with them. Unfortunately in this world, people put respect to the dollar value = surely if you pay more for something it is worth more.

If Tripod is serious about getting into business then he should charge a decent but fair price. Personally, I would do 50% or for cost but that is me and I know my situation.

I ASSUMED that Tripod would be standing behind his work, otherwise he should not be getting into the paid end of this field, whether he/she gets gas money, a dollar or even a "gratuity" of $1000.

Reputations are built on more then how little or how much you charge the first time out. They are built on service, quality & keeping your word.



Note that working professionals will NEVER suggest this. That might be because it's a bad idea. I think it more likely that the main problem professionals face is that it's fairly easy to start up and use low prices to take away customers who are paying extra for reputation and (hopeful) quality from established pros. - leptokurtotic


I do agree with you to a degree, but I want to say this -- I am a working profressional and I welcome the competion. I stand by my work and am confident in it. If someone can take a customer away then so be it. If it is just based on price, then possibly that person is better off with someone else. I had a very hard time setting my prices. And it wasn't until I got a lecture from some people I know that are professionals in the industry did I realize how valuable my time is and how the service that I provide is worthy of a dollar amount.

It is way too easy for anyone with a camera to start up a business and I feel very sorry for those that hire them expecting one thing and getting something different & disappointing. I have thankfully met some very help & interesting people that I am "in competion with". But I do not look at it that way. I consider myself very lucky to be able to do something that I love. Getting paid is truly just a perk. I do lots of charity work where I walk away with nothing but a great feeling of accomplishment.

I have been where Tripod is at and I have done the work for cost or even free. Let me tell you that some of those people were a$$holes. Still, til this day, they expect me to discount them so low & even have the attitudes that it was them that got me to where I am. I don't regret doing what I did to make my book, I just regret that I wasn't pickier on who I chose to work with at that time.

I realize that not everyone is like this but unfortunately a lot of people are and once again unfortunately a price tag brings more respect then the quality of the work.

I'll shut up now & keep my opinion to myself.

Oh, BTW, the one thing I TRULY hate around here is when someone says "so & so wrote this and they are wrong". The thing people fail to see or respect is that no, they aren't wrong they have an opinon and however fortunate or unfortunate that is they are entitled to it. A bit more respect for people's opinions will get you further in life & in your career then turning blue trying to enforce your own. I have a tremendous amount of respect for those who rather agree or disagree with a statement, at least they are acknowledging that another person exists in the world.

Peace.

Thanks for the input! 8)

I do agree with you to a degree, but I want to say this -- I am a working profressional and I welcome the competion. I stand by my work and am confident in it. If someone can take a customer away then so be it. If it is just based on price, then possibly that person is better off with someone else.


Cleo: you rock. Your approach shows, in my opinion, the essence of the truly professional ethos in any service industry.


I TRULY hate around here is when someone says "so & so wrote this and they are wrong".


My apologies if I came off like that at all. I always try to make it clear that I'm giving opinions and advice that are my own, but sometimes the nature of internet communication might make my posts sound pushy. Whenever that happens, it's unintentional and due to my own error in phrasing the post.

My apologies if I came off like that at all. I always try to make it clear that I'm giving opinions and advice that are my own, but sometimes the nature of internet communication might make my posts sound pushy. Whenever that happens, it's unintentional and due to my own error in phrasing the post.


Sam, you NEVER came off that way and that comment was NOT aimed at you. You are one of the few that I have always respected since you have always shown regard for others. I think It was more of an "after thought" I figured I would throw out there.

It is people like you Sam that keep me believing ;)

I am a working profressional


I need to reread before I post. LOL

If your uncomfortable with your lack of ability, why not use this opportunity as a learning experience? Anything extra you get out of it is gravy.

Thats what im going to do, I will let her know what Im good at and what Im not. Thats why I dont think I will charge much.

Ahhhh.....the tragedies of pricing. Who's right, who's wrong.
The only problem that could result from pricing low is you'll never be able to convince this person you're worth more. They'll look at your work like $40 work, even a few years down the road. Yes, she knows people, and she will gladly tell them you do $40 work. You'll likely not to pick up many leads because there's not much of a demand to hire someone for this type of work. They want quality/ professional work and they think they must pay big bucks for it. Most consumers wouldn't know a good photograph if it slapped them in the face. A lot of people base their assumptions of quality on price alone and how long a photographer has been in business. Anyway...before I start on and on here about nothing....

I think the best advice here that I've seen is to do it for cost. Don't forget to add in your gas, etc. Even if that amount comes to the $40 as you mentioned, it's fine. I would emphasize to the client that you are doing this as a favor for her AT COST and these are NOT your normal prices. So what if you don't have prices set up! Perception is the key. After all, it's art. Pricing and negotiation are an art in itself.

Dont undercut yourself if your good at what you do then be prepared to stand up for your prices

Interesting thread that I'm just now reading. Being new to this myself, I have also been, and continue to be, faced with the "what to charge in relationship to my relative inexperience and the sometimes disappointing results as a result" dilemma. I recently did a photo shoot for a CD cover and promotional material, for which she wanted to pay me. I chose instead to use it as a learning experience and do it in exchange for a model release so I could use some shots for my portfolio. It was very rewarding for both of us, we both got what we wanted, and I learned a lot. I think that, especially when venturing into the photography for hire arena, this approach takes some of the pressure off the photographer when still learning. She was thrilled with the results, and the word-of-mouth advertising for me will be a good thing. I'm doing a pregnancy shoot as a result of this, for which I will charge, and I'm researching just what I should be charging for this type of shoot (keepinig my inexperience in mind). I want to purchase at least one Alien Bee for this shoot, and if I can come away with it paid for and a model release for my portfolio, I will be happy with the end result! Sometimes it's just not about the money! Because I can end up with shots that don't work as I had hoped for, I also take extra time and extra shots, and the people I work with know that I will do what it takes (even if it's at a "cost" for me) to ensure that they are happy with their pictures. It may take me longer sometimes than a professional, but for me, as a beginner, it's working.