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How much should a beginner photographer charge for family portraits?
I have been taking quite a few classes on photography and I have a nice camera and lenses, but this would only be my third group photo shoot. I plan on just giving them a CD with all the good pictures on it and they may do what they please with it.
** They are using them for Christmas card pictures, so that’s why I thought of the CD, and I did think of putting a small thing in the corner saying it’s my work in some way.
You shouldn’t charge. Since you are only a beginner without any real experience. I recommend just asking for a "donation."
They just give you whatever they want to give you, based on your service and the quality of your pictures.
Kind of like a tip, per say.
6 Responses to “How much should a beginner photographer charge for family portraits?”
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December 19th, 2009
Posted by admin in family portraits |
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You shouldn’t charge. Since you are only a beginner without any real experience. I recommend just asking for a "donation."
They just give you whatever they want to give you, based on your service and the quality of your pictures.
Kind of like a tip, per say.
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Ask the mentors who taught you your craft.
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The CD part kind of give me a turn off. Professional Photgraphers Copyright there work, and you cannot do "whatever you please" with it. If you are going to charge them, then don’t give them a CD. I personally think you should do it for free just to gain experience, and then they might give you a donation to your work. And you should make the purchase the copies of the photos….
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I have a 16 year old daughter, who is a photographer and she charges 125 dollars a session because she has been doing this for 3 years and her work is fantastic. At first, Hanna, didn’t charge because she wasn’t a professional but her work was so fantastic that people felt rude to not pay her so she merely said, "I will do my best, and whatever you feel i deserve i will take graciously, i’m still learning." She got about 50 bucks and a gift basket.
The CD thing, is a big NO NO!!! Don’t do it! STOP!
Us photographers, beginner or not, have contact sheets.
You put all the pictures you took on your computer, create a contact sheet(a piece of paper with small pictures on each page from the sessoin) Meet with the people that you took the pictures for, and have them circle the pictures they like and then you can edit those and put them on a CD for them or upload them to a website, however they please. But don’t just put the good ones YOU feel are good, that’s not fair to them. Let them choose, and then you aren’t having to guess what you think they will want. One picture to you might seem bad, but to them there maybe some special meaning to them(took a picture of a little girl making the weirdest face and didn’t put in the my selection because i thought it was just one of those pictures she wouldn’t want to see and she asked where that picture was and i told her i threw it out, she got very angry and told me that she thought that face her daughter made was hilarious and it was so funny seeing her do it and just a few days ago she had stopped! I dug through my recycle bin so fast to find that picture i couldn’t see straight)
Best of luck.
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Portrait photographer
I have done the CD with a "Permission to Print" to my clients and they love it. Why? It gives them OPTIONS. Could I make money doing prints? Sure. But my out of pocket cost for doing so is high and the ability to do as such is minimal right now. Depending on the cost of the package offered I do occasionally take partial payment but I typically just offer the CD with a specified number of edited images and permission to print.
I do send proofs of images to clients if they want me to but in conversations with clients they have told me to use my best judgment and make the call. I’ve been right in my judgment thus far with each client…and I’ve worked with moms who can be very picky.
Keep in mind I am not a pro either. I do occasional work based off referrals and people who see my work through my web site. They know I am still learning as well but like what I do and will still pay me accordingly.
If your work is good and you’re in demand charge $100 and offer the CD with an offer to allow them to view proofs of what would be on the CD. It’s up to you, your skills, and what the market will bear. Check out your competition and see what they’re offering. Look for photographers who may be limited in experience as well. This will help give you an idea of who is charging what and what is a reasonable price.
Use common sense, do your research, and make the call. I’m sure you will make the decision that is best for you. Good luck!
EDIT:
Those vehemently against a CD clearly aren’t doing their research. I browse web sites on a regular basis and it seems to be a COMMON PRACTICE for photographers ranging from amateurs to high end pros.
These photographers offer a CD of images following the shoot. Saying "no" or "bad idea" just indicates a lack of competence and research on a couple answerers’ part. A CD is NOT a bad idea whatsoever.
Research people. It’s a good thing.
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Photographer
If you don’t have a company yet, do it for free. Even though you are trained, I think you should work under a professional for awhile.
Just thank them and they will probably give a tip.
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