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11/28/2007 11:00:45 PM · #1 |
I have been asked to be the photographer for a family reunion taking place August 1 2008. There are going to be like 500 family members (or more) there.
She wants me to do it and isnt looking at any other photogs, so I need to eventually come up with a quote for her.
Was thinking 1 of 2 ways. Charge by the hour, charge for a proof CD, then let her print her own photos.
Or charge by the hour, charge for the proof, but also build in a photo package for XX number of prints..etc...
Also, any tips on creating an actual family photo? I dont think I would be able to get all of them in, but could PS it....
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11/28/2007 11:09:10 PM · #2 |
The first thing that comes to mind for me on this assignment would be to shoot a simple headshot of EVERYONE who is part of this family and do a photo collage of all the faces on something like a 24x36 print design... that would be fun :)
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11/28/2007 11:10:50 PM · #3 |
I cant help you in pricing or any of that other jazz, but reaction shots would be fun (EX-long distance family members seeing each other after years, ect..)
Anyways, good luck! |
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11/28/2007 11:21:32 PM · #4 |
Originally posted by gwe21:
I have been asked to be the photographer for a family reunion taking place August 1 2008. There are going to be like 500 family members (or more) there.
She wants me to do it and isnt looking at any other photogs, so I need to eventually come up with a quote for her.
Was thinking 1 of 2 ways. Charge by the hour, charge for a proof CD, then let her print her own photos.
Or charge by the hour, charge for the proof, but also build in a photo package for XX number of prints..etc...
Also, any tips on creating an actual family photo? I dont think I would be able to get all of them in, but could PS it.... |
I'd most likely charge her for everything she wants. Ask her what she wants in the final package. Does she want a simple Photo CD, or does she want all the photos printed etc.
From that, gather the price for an approximate of the prints, and then drop her a quote.
Or you can give her a quote like by the hour; and then after the reunion, ask her what she wants to do with the photos. (I.e. have them printed, or put on CD's, or even if she wants to print them herself, which I don't really think she will do).
As for the photo's, I really think a nice large panoramic would look very very nice. If you could get everyone in order, from one end of the location to the other, in a balanced order. Tall in the back, short front, or kneeling on their knees etc. Then make sure that the angle is a straight horizontal angle, because stitching the final will be a lot easier.
As for the rest of the photo's, that's up to you at the event.
All the best,
-AC |
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11/28/2007 11:30:43 PM · #5 |
I don't think there is any way you can get a decent group shot of all 500+ people. I went to my family reunion in 2001 and had over 100 people and my mom hired the local photog and he had a helluva time trying to arrange all the people for a few group snaps and the faces are moderately recognizable in an 8x10. Setzler's suggestion about getting individual shots of all attendees and making a collage large print is a good one - that is one you could offer to sale to all the members and make some decent money from.
Also-- group shots of the individual families, each generation (smaller groups) works out very well also. For many of the family members, this may be the only family photo they have and will order some of their immediate family as well. I would charge by the hour and then offer prints for sale at reasonable, but well-margined prices.
My non-pro two cents. Good luck! |
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11/28/2007 11:48:02 PM · #6 |
Originally posted by Art Roflmao:
I don't think there is any way you can get a decent group shot of all 500+ people. |
rent a cherry picker and use a fisheye ;-)
i charge $30 per family unit and that gets each family one 8x10 and a 4x6 candid of each family member. whoever is putting the thing on gets a bunch of prints (usually an 11x14, 5-10 8x10s, 10-20 4x6s--depends on the size of the group and how many family units there are) and a copy-protected dvd slideshow, and a possibly a book. anything else is available at standard prices. typically allow 2-4 hours of shooting, again, depending on the size of the group. the main thing, though, is the book...
if you got 500 people, you'd better be well-equipped, both with people and equipment. this is a LOT different than shooting a wedding, where all that matters is getting good shots of the bride & groom. with these things, you have to get good shots of EVERYBODY. |
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11/28/2007 11:52:04 PM · #7 |
I just did this for my family reunion, this past summer. I suggest try to get everyone you can if possible..lol and especially the kids and the older people in the family. I had a blast shooting mine I got head shots of everyone and also plenty of kids photos. I also got pictures of all the individual family's. Then too I also got a huge photo of all my family members all together in one photo, I even got me in their using my wireless remote.
Also to if you have a website post them on their for people to order. Also another thing I did was I took my laptop with me and before the members left to go home I sat it up so that they could see a quick slide show. After words once I got home and begun the long process of fixing all the raw files I made playable DVD's for them to order and watch at home.
So I really really did a lot of work but I made out pretty good because I got alot of positive feedback, money and ordering of prints and DVD's.
Want to see any pics of what I shot let me know, I am supposed to shoot my family reunion again next year or this summer I should say
Message edited by author 2007-11-28 23:59:58.
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11/29/2007 01:19:12 AM · #8 |
I did something similar for my family reunion as well last year. They didn't request a large group photo but it was a last minute thing. I had only officially begun my photography business a month before the reunion and only had the basics for my own photos. My aunt who was organizing it asked me to do this the day of the reunion. I designated a pretty scenery area for family photos to be taken after lunch and also took several candids of everyone as they arrived. I happened to have a small spital notebook available to get their address and contact information to go into a book that would have the candids along with a directory section using the family photos.
If given the opportunity again I would charge by the hour and provide a book for the person hiring and offer copies to the family members.
You may want to offer a package purchase for the families there and just hand out your business cards to each family unit with a date the proofs will be online. If you have a laptop showing proofs on the spot could be an advantage if some of them don't have internet access at home.
Message edited by author 2007-11-29 01:30:00. |
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11/29/2007 01:29:58 AM · #9 |
Charge a shoot fee of perhaps $100/hour, 2 hour minimum You shoot candids and groups and any events they might have - very much like a wedding. Then put all the images on a website and they can order prints from. Offer them the option to come in and buy as well.
500 people is like 100 families, so that's potentially 200 to 400 print sales at $4 to 7 per 4x6 print. If you sell a CD you're gonna give up all that money. As soon as one person gets a CD they'll send the pics, for free, to anyone else that wants one, or copy the CD, etc.
So make the CD $500 for the first one, and $50 for each additional or something along those lines. Or don't sell a CD at all - offer it 3 or 5 months later as a christmas special or some such, if you must. If not, you may be able to sell christmas cards to some of these folks, or calendars for 2009.
Might not be a bad idea to offer a calendar for attendees. You could also do a yearbook type of thing (marathon press has affordable options for this).
I've done class reunions several different ways and this would be a similar type of event, although a bit bigger with 500 people - making a group shot hard to get and even harder to sell - it'd have to be a BIG print to be able to see anyone's face.
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