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Photography Question 

Frederick R. Walker
 

How much to charge


I have recently been asked to take engagements pictures for a friends neice. I am clueless as to what I should charge? I do not want to over charge but I also want to make sure that I am going to be reasonable. It is not going to be a studio shoot but an on location shoot. Any help would be greatly appreciated.


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June 09, 2007

 

Mark Feldstein
  Let's see here Fred. I guess after you first pay for your business license, pay location permits for shooting, if any are required, post a bond if it's shot in a public park, set up a tax impound account, pay for liability insurance and property insurance, association membership dues, travel expenses, oh and back-up equipment and calculate equipment depreciation, lab fees, if any, for things like proof and final prints, then decide how much profit you may be entitled to per hour, how many hours you'll need to prepare for, shoot and post-process. THEN you'll be reasonably in the ballpark. Course, being "clueless" about this, you might just want to give it away for free and skip the reasonable payment aspect for you. Get the picture?
Take it light.
Mark
==============================
Wedding Photography: It's NOT just an adventure. It's a BUSINESS !!!! Accordingly, treat it like one. ;>)


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June 10, 2007

 

Mark Feldstein
  BTW Fred, the liability insurance, usually available through professional associations like Wedding Photographers or ASMP.org, cover reshoot fees for anything that needs to be reshot, if it's possible, if the event it doesn't work first time out.
M.


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June 10, 2007

 

Mike
  Fred, I get the impression that you're not a pro... and likely don't have any big aspirations for the immediate future. Right?

Mark is on the money if you're looking to make a go of this professionally. But, if that's not the case, I'd handle it differently.

Decide how much you want for the time and effort of going out there. Decide if you're going to charge for prints, or provide files. Check out what the area studios would charge... Then choose a number.

Good luck, and have a great time. Share some pics with us...


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June 10, 2007

 

Debby A. Tabb
  Fred,
I sent you a Email, regarding this oppertunity.
I do wish you the very best in this venture,
Debby Tabb


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June 10, 2007

 

Michael A. Bielat
  My first wedding job I did for only $300!
However, that got me the portfolio I needed to book even bigger weddings and am now making upwards over 750% more than that now...

Get the picture?

Making a name for yourself is most important! If you don't have any education in photography and you want to do this more and more then you need to start out cheap or free and fix the "natural glitches" of your inexperience and then learn from them and then start charging more (or start charging in general).


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June 25, 2007

 

Frederick R. Walker
  Thanks everyone for the advice. I really appreciate it very much. I don't really like to do pictures of people except for candids so I am trying to venture out and expand my horizons. For all that gave me advice thank you very, very much.


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June 25, 2007

 

Michael A. Bielat
  Saying that you are into only shooting candids of people is okay but it is more often than not usually something that amateur photographers say...

Instead of saying candid shots, say that they are controlled or coached candids.

This means, let the couple do their thing. Go on location and have them hang out. You coach them in maybe moving or turning their bodies towards better light, and so forth.

This way, it is candid as in you are getting them as how they are and you are capturing those "perfect moments" but you are coaching them to move a certain way or give tips to get those perfect moments happening more often to keep you busy...

In this digital age, visit Google, search and get poses and ideas for photos. Don't copy them, rather use them for inspiration and make it your own... I have a folder of digital files that I pulled from the internet and made a slideshow of them to watch every now and then of stuff that I admire and which gives me inspiration. This could be from movie stills, paintings and even photography.

It is great watching the night before an important job so you can sleep on it!


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June 27, 2007

 

Jerry Frazier
  As Michael is talking about inspiration, which is so important, think about what inspires you. Stop looking at photography, and start looking at art, movies, architecture, nature, wildlife, or anything else that turns you on. Most of the best photographers I know never turn to another photographer for inspiration because they want to be original. Look elsewhere to be inspired.


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June 27, 2007

 

Frederick R. Walker
  Mark,
If you get this, this is the discussion that made me mad. I guess what got me was I was all gung ho at the time about making money and you listed everything that I needed that I did not have.
Any way that was a year ago. I did not do the wedding thankfully I have done some growing as a photographer since then. I look back now and have to laugh.
If I have discovered anything, it's the fact that I am going to have to take critisism. A year ago I was not ready to hear that, today I am.
Thanks.
Frederick


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June 25, 2008

 

Mark Feldstein
  Hi Fred. Thanks for your heads-up on the reply. What you mentioned made me think of Mark Twain. Once he said something along the lines of:

"When I was 14 years old, I was amazed at how stupid my father was. When I reached 21, I was amazed to see how much he'd learned in 7 years." LOL !!! Sage words of wisdom, I guess.

Sorry if I was the bearer of bad news at the time, but I'm truly glad you waited, grew, learned. In retrospect, I'd probably give the same advice today that I did then. And btw, thank you very much for your appreciations.
Any time you think I can help you out, just lemme know. ;>)
M.


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June 25, 2008

 

Frederick R. Walker
  Mark,
I just appreciate the fact that you share your wisdom with all of us here at BetterPhoto. I also apreciate that you let me pick you brain. That means alot to alot of aspiring artist like myself.
Have a great day.
F


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June 26, 2008

 
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