DPChallenge: A Digital Photography Contest You are not logged in. (log in or register) 
 

DPChallenge Forums >> Business of Photography >> The Friends and Family Discount. . .*sigh*
Pages:  
Showing posts 1 - 4 of 4, (reverse)
AuthorThread
 03/21/2008 02:29:18 PM · #1
how do you typically handle these requests for your service? you know the ones. a friend or acquaintance says "hey, i'm having X event and I was wondering what you would charge for taking a few shots."

always with the caveat,"you wouldn't have to stay the whole time. . ."

since i have only been doing this for a couple of year, i don't want to turn down opportunities for experience or good word-of-mouth. but, i can't help but feel like every one of my friends who has asked really wants me to do it super cheap. . .or free.

i just can't do that anymore. i'll never be able to support myself financially.

then i feel bad. like i'm being a bad friend for charging them even a super cut-rate amount.

can anyone offer advice on this particular aspect of professional photography?

anecdotes? anything would be helpful.

:o)


03/21/2008 02:39:01 PM · #2
If you want to do it for free, tell them how much it would be, but you'll do it for free - but have a real price in mind, so they know what they are getting.

Then work from there - come up with an hourly rate or whatever, and quote it. As you get less interested for doing it for free, give them a smaller discount - maybe 20% off your normal rate, but charge them for it and let them know up front it's going to be $75 per hour instead of $150 or whatever you decide.

This, rather than just doing it for free, or cheap. Discount them heavily, make them realise they are getting that discount. Bump it up as needed.
 03/21/2008 02:59:10 PM · #3
Like Gordon said, let them know the value of your service if you're doing it for free.

If you're going to give them a discount, make sure they know what kind of deal they're getting and take a deposit/retainer up front, like you would from any other client.
 03/21/2008 03:20:30 PM · #4
good plan. thanks guys!

this may not be the case, but i always feel like 'serious' photographers never do it for less than what they are worth.

then i remind myself that not all photographers have to be serious. . .and the only thing serious about me is how much i love doing it.

:o)
Pages:  
Current Server Time: 04/19/2024 08:23:31 AM

Please log in or register to post to the forums.


Home - Challenges - Community - League - Photos - Cameras - Lenses - Learn - Prints! - Help - Terms of Use - Privacy - Top ^
DPChallenge, and website content and design, Copyright © 2001-2024 Challenging Technologies, LLC.
All digital photo copyrights belong to the photographers and may not be used without permission.
Current Server Time: 04/19/2024 08:23:31 AM EDT.