wedding pricing - lowball offers

bostonphoto · Oct 10, 2013

hey all-

so i was contacted about photographing a wedding recently. i have shot a handful of weddings as a second shooter, and done some assisting, but i've never been the primary shooter (or the only shooter). so i figured i would hire someone to shoot with me, and give this guy a deal since it would be my first wedding on my own. it's not for a year but i figure i won't be shooting any between now and then.

the wedding is almost 2 hours from me, on a holiday weekend. so i calculated my costs - gas, food, usb purchase, hiring a 2nd shooter, editing, etc. i quoted him $1250 for 6 hours w/ USB + online gallery where guests can purchase images. i also asked for accommodations the night of the wedding. it's definitely a low rate compared to other photographers in my area with similar styles to mine. however, i REALLY want to work with this guy so i definitely stayed at the lower end, as he told me they were trying to keep costs low. i shoot a lot in the music industry, and this guy is in a band part time, and works in the industry full time, is covered in tattoos and is just generally a really awesome guy. i figured i could get myself in the wedding photography door with this job, and by doing his wedding i could kind of get myself into his (HUGE) network of people he knows, in the music industry and otherwise.

i've never really been interested in shooting traditional weddings but when he asked me if i wanted to shoot his i was very excited. i think i'd like to do this sort of non traditional edgy sort of wedding work.

here's my problem: he wrote back and told me my quote is definitely the most reasonable he's seen, but that they wanted to keep their photography costs around $600. yup. he agrees that he would like prep, ceremony, formals & partial reception covered, and asked if i would be willing to do 4-5 hours for $600, with the USB.

so do i counter offer him and try to meet him somewhere in the middle? what are your thoughts? obviously i'm new to this and i'd appreciate any help from you guys.

i do have a friend who is about 30 minutes from their wedding venue that offered to let me stay at her place and we could make a weekend of it for the holiday. i really don't want to lose this guy's business but i DO want to make sure it's worth my while. i definitely don't want to lose money but i don't want to be earning $0 either.

tirediron · Oct 10, 2013

Walk away. Politely, but walk away. Even at $1250 you're (IMO) wayyyyyyyyy low for this. I would guess more like $2500 for the wedding, plus costs (~$400) is more like where it should be, even on the low end.

cgipson1 · Oct 10, 2013

tirediron said:
Walk away. Politely, but walk away. Even at $1250 you're (IMO) wayyyyyyyyy low for this. I would guess more like $2500 for the wedding, plus costs (~$400) is more like where it should be, even on the low end.

^This! He may just be feeling you out... I wouldn't do it for that... but for a first timer, pretty decent.

tirediron · Oct 10, 2013

Oh, and just out of curiosity, how the Hades does prep, ceremony, formals & partial reception work out to six hours????? I'm thinking that's got to be twelve at a minimum. If you start with the prep, you're on the clock 'til you're done the reception; just because there's an hour break between the ceremony and the reception or ninety minutes between prep and ceremony, you pay doesn't turn off like a tap.

Majeed Badizadegan · Oct 10, 2013

Not even worth your time. Some people don't respect photographers and their costs, so they think they can get away with low-balling. I've walked from more than one low-ball offer just this past year.

People under-value expertise and time, and seem to think that photography gear grows on magical trees!

I'd walk.

bostonphoto · Oct 10, 2013

tirediron said:
Oh, and just out of curiosity, how the Hades does prep, ceremony, formals & partial reception work out to six hours????? I'm thinking that's got to be twelve at a minimum. If you start with the prep, you're on the clock 'til you're done the reception; just because there's an hour break between the ceremony and the reception or ninety minutes between prep and ceremony, you pay doesn't turn off like a tap.

hahah, i told you i was new at this! i should have said partial prep too (just the last hour or so) and i actually don't think they want too many formals. but yeah, i think i'm going to walk

thanks for all the replies!

Robin_Usagani · Oct 10, 2013

Nothing is wrong with going low on your first few gigs. My first wedding was $500. But I increased it real fast once i have 4 under my belt.

bostonphoto · Oct 11, 2013

Just wanted to update that I've since talked to him and explained why I absolutely cannot shoot for $600. He owns his own business and once I talked about how he must understand the cost of doing business he seemed to realize how low his offer was. He's now offering me my initial offer, just without the hotel room, which is fine as i can stay with my friend who is nearby. So looks like I will probably be shooting, yay! It is definitely still a very low figure but for my first, I'm thrilled. And hoping it will lead to some more non-traditional type wedding gigs

Thanks again for all your help!

Robin_Usagani · Oct 11, 2013

Congrats! May the light be with you.

EAMArt · Oct 18, 2013

Wow! Great job on negotiating.
My first (and solo) wedding was for $500. I told them I have never done this before and it was only 4 hours long. They were cool about it I was glad I got the experience.