Money, Money, Money, MONEYYY

[tirediron]

.. I charged $192 (they gave $200) which included 5 hours of editing, 30 minute session time and about 15 prints (plus 32 wallets). So, maybe charge these clients (xmas photos) $20 an hour for session and editing time, plus $50 for the digital files?

How much are you charging for your prints?????

 

[Heather Koch]

.. I charged $192 (they gave $200) which included 5 hours of editing, 30 minute session time and about 15 prints (plus 32 wallets). So, maybe charge these clients (xmas photos) $20 an hour for session and editing time, plus $50 for the digital files?

How much are you charging for your prints?????

From $5 4x6 to $20 16x20

 

[tirediron]

Quality was not discussed yet. We will have a meeting in person to get exact expectations. I'm assuming since they are asking me they don't "need" highly professional stuff.

*Alarm bells* What they need and what they want are two different things. Very often couples feel that photography is a way to save money, and rather than pay the $3-5000+ for an established pro, they assume that "it's just pressing a button" and a Craig's List cheapie or friend can do the same job. They may tell you that they're "fine with whatever you do", but the reality is, they likely expect top-quality work regardless of what they say. IMO, this has 'disaster' written all over it.

 

[tirediron]

.. I charged $192 (they gave $200) which included 5 hours of editing, 30 minute session time and about 15 prints (plus 32 wallets). So, maybe charge these clients (xmas photos) $20 an hour for session and editing time, plus $50 for the digital files?

How much are you charging for your prints?????

From $5 4x6 to $20 16x20

You really need to revisit that!

 

[Heather Koch]

.. I charged $192 (they gave $200) which included 5 hours of editing, 30 minute session time and about 15 prints (plus 32 wallets). So, maybe charge these clients (xmas photos) $20 an hour for session and editing time, plus $50 for the digital files?

How much are you charging for your prints?????

From $5 4x6 to $20 16x20

You really need to revisit that!

Explain?

 

[Emanuel M]

Now as a wedding photographer, I imagine its a very face paced event?

Im not sure I understand
Did you mean very fast paced event?
If so, yes I guess.
It really depends on the wedding...
Depends on the moments.

1 - photos at home (bride and groom) with close friends and family
2 - photos at arriving to the place where the cerimony will be done (church, garden, etc.)
3 - photos of the key moments at the ceremony - ring change, the kiss, some lectures (I'm not familiar with the traditional american wedding).
4 - photos of the moment when the grooms leave the church/place - the rice and flower toss and so on
5 - photos of the car/motorbike/carriage/whatever they use to go from the church to the place when the party will be
6 - photos of the grooms entering the place where the party will be
7 - photos of the guests, artists, catering, animation crew, etc.
8 - photos of the buffet and people enjoying it
8.1 - photos of the tables and it's contents - like the drinks and appetizers, grilled meats, etc.
9 - key moments like the entry to the dinning room, first plate, first dance, cutting the wedding cake, the bride's branch beeing tossed, and so on.
10 - the fireworks, the balloons, the illumination...
11 - between points number 7 to 10 - photos of the couple in the most beautiful places of the place (it really depends on the place)

I think it's something like this.
Have in mind that I'm no wedding photographer (not yet at least - I'm not prepared), but as an enthusiast, I always see what the photographing crew is doing at weddings, and I usually speak to them to exchange ideas
Also have in mind that I don't know how the wedding are at the United States - In Portugal they are very elaborate and there is always so many moments to cover.

Try to know what kind of wedding your friends want and do a list of the things you have to cover
Try to act naturally and be relaxed - no one likes a stressed photographer.
Try to get people on their natural poses - don't force too much.
At some point, get the tele lens and act as a ninja photographer and get those natural poses that are always the best.
Don't forget to eat and drink and have fun - You will be among friends. That is always a good thing.

Cheers and good luck

 

[tirediron]

.. I charged $192 (they gave $200) which included 5 hours of editing, 30 minute session time and about 15 prints (plus 32 wallets). So, maybe charge these clients (xmas photos) $20 an hour for session and editing time, plus $50 for the digital files?

How much are you charging for your prints?????

From $5 4x6 to $20 16x20

You really need to revisit that!

Explain?

A $20 16x20????? That's an almost $200 item on my price list, and if a 4x5 (20 in2 is $5) than 16x20 (320 in2) should be at LEAST $80!

 

[Heather Koch]

Thank you! Much appreciated ^^^

Not that this should matter, but the friends are 19 years of age right now, will be 20 at time of wedding. And I will for sure be as prepared as I can going into it and of course, I enjoy the natural photos! Thanks again Emanuel!

 

[Heather Koch]

.. I charged $192 (they gave $200) which included 5 hours of editing, 30 minute session time and about 15 prints (plus 32 wallets). So, maybe charge these clients (xmas photos) $20 an hour for session and editing time, plus $50 for the digital files?

How much are you charging for your prints?????

From $5 4x6 to $20 16x20

You really need to revisit that!

Explain?

A $20 16x20????? That's an almost $200 item on my price list, and if a 4x5 (20 in2 is $5) than 16x20 (320 in2) should be at LEAST $80!

As stated above I am slowly working my way up. Right out of the start I can't justify charging hundreds of dollars, as I am still learning. I am by no means a full studio professional, but I am more than an amateur.

 

[Emanuel M]

.. I charged $192 (they gave $200) which included 5 hours of editing, 30 minute session time and about 15 prints (plus 32 wallets). So, maybe charge these clients (xmas photos) $20 an hour for session and editing time, plus $50 for the digital files?

How much are you charging for your prints?????

From $5 4x6 to $20 16x20

You really need to revisit that!

Explain?

A $20 16x20????? That's an almost $200 item on my price list, and if a 4x5 (20 in2 is $5) than 16x20 (320 in2) should be at LEAST $80!

Jesus, I charge 4$ for each 4x6 and 20$ for a 8.3 x 11.7 (A4 format).
Each 4x6 print costs me around 1.3/1.5$ and a 8.3 x 11.7 it's about 3.5 to 4$...
I sell packages like 10 4x6 at 40$ + the service (25$) and 2$ for each digital file in full res.
I might consider bumping up the prices. It's just I'm at the very begining and I really don't know if I can charge too much...
Usually I profit around 100$ for session (with no limit of time) - I know, I can't live with this
But I do this as a hobby that sometimes gives me some extra cash.

Cheers

 

[Designer]

How much are you charging for your prints?????

From $5 4x6 to $20 16x20

This is ridiculously low. It is less than you will have to pay! You're losing money on this deal, so how can you do that?

(you make it up on volume!)

1. Tomorrow, write a business plan.
2. Run it past someone who understands business.
3. Call a lawyer to make an appointment to set up a business.
4. Call a tax attorney or your state Department of revenue to get a tax ID.
5. Do an informal survey of local photography businesses to survey their prices.
6. Put pencil to paper to figure your CODB.
7. Call your mother.

 

[Heather Koch]

This is a "hobby" of mine as well. Which I hope to bring in more money in the future. I profit about the same $100 to $150 each session. $2 each digital file sounds appealing I may steal that!

 

[tirediron]

...Right out of the start I can't justify charging hundreds of dollars, as I am still learning. I am by no means a full studio professional, but I am more than an amateur.

This is a "hobby" of mine as well. Which I hope to bring in more money in the future. I profit about the same $100 to $150 each session. $2 each digital file sounds appealing I may steal that!

I really doubt if you're profiting at all. Are you counting ALL of your expenses when you calculate that profit? Wear & tear on your gear, insurance, licenses, software, computer upgrades, vehicle insurance, fuel....

 

[astroNikon]

You need better equipment.
An FF body to deal with low light scenarios - Nikon D750, Nikon D610, Nikon D800/810 for example.
You need better lenses - a 24-70mm 2.8 + the 70-200mm 2.8 are imperative I guess (maybe the 70-200 f4 can also work). I would put something like a 85mm 1.4.
External flash if needed - lots and lots of SD cards - at least 3 16Gb (You never know when you will need more space).
Lots and lots of batteries fully charged (You dont have the time to recharge batteries at a wedding).
Also, a backup body (usually another FF camera - most wedding photographers have 2 of each camera).
My wedding photographers had 2 Canon 5D MKIII and 2 Canon 7D MKII (but they were 5 - 2 photographers, one man for video, an assistant and a drone pilot)...
The assistant also had a Nikon D5300 with a 35mm 1.8 (he was training).
You can try to rent these of course...
Let your friends know that you are not a professional, and that something can go wrong (or no so well).
Don't charge them 1800$ for god's sake

If you are going to use the D7100 and the sigma, you will need to use the flash on some occasions and you will probably need a tele - 70-300 VR from Nikon would not be so bad - but the best option is without a doubt one 70-200 2.8.

Cheers

Thank you! I appreciate your honesty. They definitely know my work and asked me because I would charge less (obviously). I can't afford to hire an assistant so my mother will be helping me...she has an art degree so she knows her way around creative situations. I could probably rent another lens for that day, probably the 70-200mm. And of course a bunch of batteries and sd cards are a must, I have those already. I do have a flash.
Now as a wedding photographer, I imagine its a very face paced event?

Despite all the alarm bells going off, we know you're going to do it LOL

I forgot where-abouts you are but I recall you might be around here.
If you need a 2nd shooter I've done a couple weddings and have ample equipment.
I mostly do it for fun .. which, sometimes weddings just aren't fun LOL
but being a 2nd, I can always have fun

With the pricing, be aware of the difference of printing photos at a higher quality printing place that will print it at your color calibration and not theirs (ie, walmart, costsco, meijers etc). Essentially, The cost differences of moving from a hobby to a profession, and higher expectations and quality.

It seems when people first get into this they price items based on the time of the photoshoot and nothing else. As long as you are aware of that and understand that.

 

[Emanuel M]

Eh eh, and 50 cents for each kilometer I do with my car