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DPChallenge Forums >> Tips, Tricks, and Q&A >> How Much Should I Charge?
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03/13/2006 01:28:22 PM · #1
I've been asked to shoot an indoor wedding in a month, which would be my second wedding (first one on the beach). She's limited by funds and we connected through a digital bulletin board at work.
All she wants are the shots on disk (less than 100) and two hours of my time.
How much should I charge? Honestly, I would need to buy a flash (I think) because I'm concerned about shooting indoors without one.
PLEASE HELP!

(PS: Recommendations for reasonably priced flash would be great too...)
Thanks everyone!
03/13/2006 02:21:45 PM · #2
I will try and avoid ranting, or scaring you. Don't do it. for money anyway.

As soon as you take money you are a professional (in the eyes of the law) and i doubt she'll have another wedding if the pictures turn out less than she expects. Yeah, I know, she knows you're not a pro. Forget that - in her mind she is expecting to get pics like she sees in all the wedding magazines, for next to nothing.

100 photos in 2 hours is really a lot of good useable shots. I figure 25-30 per hous or so for my shooting. I did a 6 hour wedding and got 420 exposures sure, but many are dups of formals and such. the album has perhaps 130 in it, if that. To get 100 different shots that are good you'll have to shoot 300, in 120 minutes. That;s shooting.

ANY indoor venue for weddings is dark, and mixed light. Get a fast lens or don't even try it (a canon 50 1.8 works). Get one of these: Sigma 18-50 2.8 or the new 17-70 2.8-4.5, tamron 28-75 2.8 and get a flash - now you're camera can only do eTTL (as in not eTTL2) so you will have about 20% bad exposures.(sorry, a fact of eTTL(1) is it's inconsistency and unpredictability) If you are new to flash (i think you are) then figure 90% unless you practice alot, then it'll be 35% - or 1/3. Shoot in RAW only! This will save SOO many shots screwed by bad exposure and bad WB (mixed lighting).

Try finding a newer used Vivitar 283 or 285. Shoot it in auto mode, the camera in manual mode. What to set teh shutter at...i am still trying this out, but 1/focal length and f4 at ISO 400 is a starting point. let the flash worry about the proper exposure. after a few shots you can adjust the exposure a bit. A metz 54 MZ4 on auto with a lighsphere is a better choice, but more money. I think you can get a vivi 285 for under $100 on ebay ( i got one for $60 a year ago).
another flash option is a Sigma EF500DG super - i plan on one for a backup later this year.

Oh yeah, backup...first, have 2 or 3 camera batteries, lens, 4Gb or more of CF cards (cheap these days), 4 sets of flash batteries (minimum), and a backup camera (film even, or borrow one)

I am new to weddings and still learning. so the above info is hard earned info. For my next wedding I'll show up with about $5,000 in equipment, and still feel like i need more. And that is good but mid priced stuff. I know many many wedding photogs with $15-20 grand in equipment not including laptops - hard to compete at times on such an unlevel playing ground.

And that does NOT include anything about experience- each wedding is different -the people, the church, the lighting, the formals (and their coooperation), the reception - you learn from each one. My first wedding was in a bg BADLY lit church, i was limited by the preacher as to my position and flash usage, but a large wedding and they wanted pics. My last wedding was in a tiny church, very small wedding, they didn't care much about formals, i was alowed anywhere to do anything, and it was winter so outdoor shots were, umm, cold. Completely different experiences photographically.


03/13/2006 02:23:57 PM · #3
Oh, yeah, i forgot your orignial question...I am inexpensive (being new, you get what you pay for or get paid what you're worth).

$200 maybe...i figure my cost is $27/hour, so 2 hours shooting, travel time, PP time (guessing) and no material cost beyond the CD.
03/13/2006 03:56:32 PM · #4
Don't touch it for less than $350. Well, I wouldn't do it for less than $450. You know! I wouldn't do it for that low at all!!! (I'm so wishy washy!) :0P Where do you live? That of course factors in.

I mean I charged $1000 for my first wedding and I think you shouldn't ever low ball yourself. I looked at your challenge images and they look great! You'll do fine if you have the right equipment. Charge enough to buy whatever you need. :0)
03/13/2006 04:07:27 PM · #5
Originally posted by Prof_Fate:


As soon as you take money you are a professional (in the eyes of the law) and i doubt she'll have another wedding if the pictures turn out less than she expects. Yeah, I know, she knows you're not a pro. Forget that - in her mind she is expecting to get pics like she sees in all the wedding magazines, for next to nothing.


That is why you need a clearly defined contract, one that also indemnifies you in one manner or another.

If they know they aren't getting a tried and true professional photographer, they should hardly be expecting tried and true professional results. Make that clear and keep that clear.

Before setting everything in stone. Practice a bit.

AlLmost everyone knows someone that has gotten married. So, it isn't unreasonable to see if someone you know would be up for modeling a bit, for practice.

Get a female friend in a wedding dress and her husband in a nice suit or inexpensive tux and then go out and get some practice shots, if you have some time. Build yourself a bit of a portfolio around that and you will discover a little about what you might be able to get out of going at it for real.

Just a suggestion.
03/13/2006 04:21:22 PM · #6
along with the practicing see if you can practice in the actual building they are getting married in with maybe close to the same lighting...of course you'll almost never get the exact same lighting but may be well worth it to try. I've shot a few wedding (for friends) but only charged for one (offered $250 got $350 go figure) but it was middle of the day and I had lots of window light to help out.

Also if the wedding is in a church see if you are even going to be allowed to use a flash. My last one I was able to use a flash all the way up to the "Dearly Beloved" part, then it was a no go...that sucked.

Good luck it can be fun but also VERY frustrating.
03/13/2006 08:15:22 PM · #7
You guys are so awesome! I'm truly appreciative of all the detailed, well-thought advice you've given.
She knows she's not getting a professional and I will definitely have her sign a contract (anyone have a spare one laying around I can copy?)
I was thinking $200. She can have all the shots I take (I'll touch them all up, of course, but won't do anything extensive) so long as I retain the copyright (not that she'll try to make a buck off my pictures, but you know....) and am not held liable. I also found some lists online about which shots to get, so I can have her fill it out ahead of time so there is no miscommunication.
The reminder about the flash is FANTASTIC one! I completely forgot about how many churches don't allow flashes.
Again, I'm grateful for your advice--and for any words of wisdom yet to come!
:)
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