What to charge...hmmm...

bmattock said:
Never had *this* problem before, hope you can advise me. Believe me, this is a 'good' problem to have!

Last weekend, I was out shooting and noticed that our recently-redone public library was being dedicated and there was an outdoor celebration. I stopped and shot a roll of Kodak Ultra 100, which I happened to have in the camera.

I was approached by a young mother who was carrying her toddler and asked me to take a few pictures of the child and 'Barney' the dinosaur. I did, and the mom gave me her address/email/etc. I scanned the negs and emailed the results to her, and I uploaded them to the local Walmart and had them mail the prints to her. Only cost was my time and a couple of bucks to Walmart, so I told her not to worry about it when she offered to pay me.

Only problem is, she loves the prints, and now she wants me to take photos of her daughter at her grandmother's house (down the street from my house, actually) this weekend (after I get done taking wedding photos for someone else yet). She says she'll pay my fee.
But I don't know what my fee is. Or should be. I mean, we're talking about something informal here - we never discussed fees or what was reasonable. And maybe 30 to 40 minutes of my time to take the photos, at a guess.

Well, I did it now. Hoist on my own petard.

Any ideas, friends? My thanks once again for all advice!

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

PS - A few examples of last weekend's output that hooked me this small gig...
Click to expand...

The photos are probably going to be for grandma. If the house is in your historic district you'll probably have some big windows for some nice window light portraits. Since it's on location, most pros would probably want a minimum of $250 to do it (guesstimate). Is she looking for a package price with several wallet prints, 8x10s etc or an album documenting the child's Day with Grandma?

It sounds like it could lead to more work. Let us know how it turns out.

R.J.
 
There is nothing wrong with charging for your work. I'm a painter/plasterer for the movie industry. I've worked on close friends and families houses free of charge (except for materials). Sometimes these jobs can last from 1 hr to 1 month. I’ve always receive some form of compensation for my work. They may not equal the dollar value of what I’ve done but that’s alright. As long as I can tell they’re sincere and truly appreciative of what I’ve done for them I’m good. I don’t mind doing favours or good deeds for certain people, but others I have no problem charging. 😀

Whatever you decide to do, it’s all good. I don’t think there’s a definite right or wrong here.
 
Bill will get a kick out of this....did anybody notice the DATE on his original post? 😀

Any advice is after the fact, gentlemen.....Bill is either now firmly on his way to being a "professional" photographer, or has already given up, thanks to the great artistic opinions of Walmart photo girls. (A little like the school cafeteria lunch-lady commenting on your prize-winning duck confit)
 
Bill,

A couple of thoughts:

1) You must get a fee. Don't do it for "free" or "cost of materials". People who value your work are willing to pay a fair price for it. If you tell people you will do it for free - you are essentially telling them you think your time and work is worthless.

2) Go to your local WalMart and see what they charge for a set of "kiddie pics". Charge at least as much - preferably more. Remember, you are a much better photographer than one of those WalMart "picture takers" - price yourself reasonably above them to show it!

3) I would suggest to the client that you do some "posed" shots with Mom, Granny and the family dog - and also spend time doing some "candids". Provide the posed ones for the set fee you negotiate. Give them an index of the candid ones and charge by the finished print on an a'la'carte basis.

Good luck and say, how did the gallery exhibition go?

George
 
bobofish said:
Bill will get a kick out of this....did anybody notice the DATE on his original post? 😀

Any advice is after the fact, gentlemen.....Bill is either now firmly on his way to being a "professional" photographer, or has already given up, thanks to the great artistic opinions of Walmart photo girls. (A little like the school cafeteria lunch-lady commenting on your prize-winning duck confit)
Click to expand...

LOL. Hey Bill, how did this job turn out?

smilielol.gif


Hey Ian, what are you trying to do? Embarass us?

lmao.gif


R.J.
 
Last edited:
bobofish said:
Bill will get a kick out of this....did anybody notice the DATE on his original post? 😀

Any advice is after the fact, gentlemen.....Bill is either now firmly on his way to being a "professional" photographer, or has already given up, thanks to the great artistic opinions of Walmart photo girls. (A little like the school cafeteria lunch-lady commenting on your prize-winning duck confit)
Click to expand...

Whoops! 😱

Hey, anyway, my advice is still good - anyone want to use it? 😀
 
RJBender said:
George,

Can we use it for free? 🙂


R.J.
Click to expand...

Absolutely not! 😛

My advice is "priceless" advice, not "worthless"! 😀

BTW: the other point I thought of was that Bill, or someone in that situation should bring his wife (or some other female "assistant") along.

Just imagine the situation being alone with the mother, the granny and the kid in granny's home. Could be a "set up" for some nasty charges! 😡
 
Hey guys, I just noticed this - thanks a lot - and yes, the 'problem' resolved itself.

Here's the deal - I shot the photos the lady wanted, and charged her $100. The processing & printing cost me $50, so I 'made' $50. But - the negs were seriously munged up by Walgreens, and I spent HOURS - no DAYS unmunging each and every one of them in The Gimp. Some of my best shots were totally trashed. And that was *with* the special 'process, cut, and sleeve only' service I get at Walgreens, which usually works fine for me - just not this time.

I delivered photos I was not proud of. The lady paid, me, complimented me, and has never called me again.

Since that time...

I got a DSLR. I will never again shoot a wedding, social event, etc, with film. I shoot RF's and B&W for me. I shoot DSLR for non-art money.

I decided to get serious about my part-time 'business' about that time. No longer is this a hobby for me - this is a serious attempt to make a go of it as a professional, albeit part-time, photographer. And it seems to be working. I have more work than I can do right at the moment.

I'm no longer shy about quoting prices. It is funny to read my original question now - it seems so long ago, and yet it was less than a year ago.

My wife is my real business partner. She is terrific at working the crowd, getting folks into position, barking orders (just kidding - ok, I'm not kidding), etc. I take the photos, she makes it all happen. We're a good team.

I've entered two contests. Did not place in the first - won second place in the second, and some recognition. Sold several prints of one of my shots (B&W with Bessaflex TM) from that effort. Had my first exhibition last night in Goldboro (not a solo effort, you guys saw the invitation) and sold one of my two entries within an hour - got a pile of great comments from people who came up to me unsolicited to tell me that they think I've 'got the eye' whatever that means. One of my shots you can see in my gallery - the Bonnie & Clyde care (G690 Fuji rangefinder, 120 film).

This morning, I had breakfast with an official from the city of Wilson, they hired me to cover their Equal Opportunity Awards Banquet in March. The deal is, I take their photos for free, and they provide me with a posing area and I take posed photos as desired, print on the spot, and charge what I like - I get to keep that money. And of course, the chance for follow-on business.

If this keeps up, I may have to contemplate a career change - and I'm 45 years old this year. I thought I was 46, but I lost track.

Not too bad for a color-blind fat man in a small town in the southeaster part of the USA. Dreams do come true.

And I owe a lot of that to the support I got here on RFF. You guys are the best.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks
 
bmattock said:
Hey guys, I just noticed this - thanks a lot - and yes, the 'problem' resolved itself.

Here's the deal - I shot the photos the lady wanted, and charged her $100. The processing & printing cost me $50, so I 'made' $50. But - the negs were seriously munged up by Walgreens, and I spent HOURS - no DAYS unmunging each and every one of them in The Gimp. Some of my best shots were totally trashed. And that was *with* the special 'process, cut, and sleeve only' service I get at Walgreens, which usually works fine for me - just not this time.

I delivered photos I was not proud of. The lady paid, me, complimented me, and has never called me again.

Since that time...

I got a DSLR. I will never again shoot a wedding, social event, etc, with film. I shoot RF's and B&W for me. I shoot DSLR for non-art money.

I decided to get serious about my part-time 'business' about that time. No longer is this a hobby for me - this is a serious attempt to make a go of it as a professional, albeit part-time, photographer. And it seems to be working. I have more work than I can do right at the moment.

I'm no longer shy about quoting prices. It is funny to read my original question now - it seems so long ago, and yet it was less than a year ago.

My wife is my real business partner. She is terrific at working the crowd, getting folks into position, barking orders (just kidding - ok, I'm not kidding), etc. I take the photos, she makes it all happen. We're a good team.

I've entered two contests. Did not place in the first - won second place in the second, and some recognition. Sold several prints of one of my shots (B&W with Bessaflex TM) from that effort. Had my first exhibition last night in Goldboro (not a solo effort, you guys saw the invitation) and sold one of my two entries within an hour - got a pile of great comments from people who came up to me unsolicited to tell me that they think I've 'got the eye' whatever that means. One of my shots you can see in my gallery - the Bonnie & Clyde care (G690 Fuji rangefinder, 120 film).

This morning, I had breakfast with an official from the city of Wilson, they hired me to cover their Equal Opportunity Awards Banquet in March. The deal is, I take their photos for free, and they provide me with a posing area and I take posed photos as desired, print on the spot, and charge what I like - I get to keep that money. And of course, the chance for follow-on business.

If this keeps up, I may have to contemplate a career change - and I'm 45 years old this year. I thought I was 46, but I lost track.

Not too bad for a color-blind fat man in a small town in the southeaster part of the USA. Dreams do come true.

And I owe a lot of that to the support I got here on RFF. You guys are the best.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks
Click to expand...

So, in other words, the WalMart critic was wrong about you? 😛
 
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