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07/21/2008 11:01:36 AM · #1 |
Good morning (or evening, or night, depending on your timezone),
Someone asked me if I was interested in shooting her roomates wedding? She told me they are looking for an inexpensive photographer. I told her that I never done any wedding shoot, but they saw some of my portraits and liked them. They asked me to quote a price. I don't want to ask too much since that would be my first experience.
How much do you suggest I ask? |
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07/21/2008 11:07:42 AM · #2 |
Tough one to answer, dude. You'll likely get as many opinions as you get responses. Everyone sets their pricing differently, especially when they're inexperienced. Since you are doing it for the experience, I would be sure to cover all of my expenses, plus make a few bucks for my time. But my best suggestion would be to talk... really talk and talk lots with the bride & groom to be sure you are comfortable with their expectations and they are comfortable with your skill level. The last thing you want is a disappointed bride afterwards.
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07/21/2008 11:10:31 AM · #3 |
I have turned down several weddings because it is not my thing. The reasons are numerous but some include the concerns that this is someone else's big day and dropping the ball on wedding pictures is a big no-no and the stress is not something I like when shooting.
Before you decide to quote on the wedding, you need to ask yourself a lot of questions, including:
What equipment you will need to do the job correctly?
Do you have the right lenses and flash equipment, and if not, how much is rental going to cost? Do you have a backup camera body for your primary?
How are you going to get the images to the customer?
How much time are you going to put into processing the images?
How long are you planning on being at the wedding?
Sorry, it doesn't answer your question, but it is clearly a big job and you should be prepared before going into something like this.... |
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07/21/2008 11:11:37 AM · #4 |
| cindi is right. May I also suggest: going to the chapel and doing some test shots before hand, reading a good book on how a wedding progresses so you have a full understanding of what to expect, and attending the rehearsal. Also, take your P&S with you on the day "just in case" :) What you price is up to you. Just don't forget a contract. Not to protect just you, but the bride as well :) |
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07/21/2008 11:56:59 AM · #5 |
$800 with no prints. Seems to be the going price for newbie shoot and burns around here.
But remember - while they say they can't afford a photographer that is rarely the case - it's that they just don't value photography so aren't willing to pay much if anything for it. That isn't to say the bride won't still expect wedding pictures like she's been seeing in ads in Bride magazine, etc. She's wants it all but isn't willing to pay for it. Occassionally you find someone that really can't afford it but that's more rare than you know.
I've seen churches charge $400 to $1500 for their part of the wedding. Limos are not cheap. Flowers aren't either but this is one area where folks are really cheaping out - I'm glad I'm not a florist! I've seen $4000 florist bills and $1000 florist bills -I'm just glad when I get more than the florist or church!
Bride Magazine and the rest give budget advice to brides. What they say is the reception dinner should take about 50% of the wedding budget. Costs can be $35 to $150 per plate depending on the hall, plus 18% gratuity. If they're having 150 people at $60/plate that's $7500 plus a tip of 1350. So the total budget should be $17,500 or so. 10% of that is for photography/videography - about $1750.
If you're average in your skills then charge the average going rate in your area. If you don't feel your worth that then perhaps you shouldn't be charging at all.
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07/21/2008 12:17:03 PM · #6 |
Originally posted by Prof_Fate:
$800 with no prints. Seems to be the going price for newbie shoot and burns around here.
But remember - while they say they can't afford a photographer that is rarely the case - it's that they just don't value photography so aren't willing to pay much if anything for it.... |
I'm one of those rare people lol.... our ENTIRE wedding budget was like $300 tops... We knew our cakemaker, we got the park rented for 70 bucks (yay small town)got some decorations. ect ect... Our hawaiian honeymoon was a gift. It was wonderful we didn't have any stress of arranging stuff we kept it simple and loved it.
I would have loved a photographer but we really didn't have the money as we had to save all or spare money (which is not much lol) for hawaii cause it's reeeeeally expensive to even eat there. I have been studying lighting and techiniques for a few months and so when we got back I took Tiffany out in her dress and shot some shots of her in her dress.
Actually that was my latest challenge entry which was a personal best and got 8th which was cool!
I'm shooting my first wedding in september and I do highly advise scoping out the location at the time of day you will be shooting.
Message edited by author 2008-07-21 12:17:18. |
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07/21/2008 12:24:25 PM · #7 |
I agree with bassbone... you need to first check your equipment and then ask yourself if you are willing to take on the responsibility of a wedding. I really want to do a wedding and I have the gear to do it, but I'm going to go as a 2nd shooter first and see how it goes. I did a first communion once and I felt some pretty decent pressure doing that because you really only get one chance per kid. I can't imagine the pressure of getting some of the one time only shots at a wedding. You could take 100 great shots, but if you miss one of the big ones then I think it's a failure. Jumping right into a wedding is a big jump for anyone.
If you think you are ready you should go talk with the couple and see what they are expecting. I would have a price in mind before you talk with them so you can offer it up if you feel comfortable that you could provide what they want. I would also make sure that the price you quote will cover any equipment rentals you may need and the price of printing of proofs for them. It is your first time shooting a wedding, so making money really isn't the goal, but you shouldn't lose money doing it. I would also make sure that they don't take advantage of you because it is your first time. You need to know what you are and aren't willing to do for them. For example, have time limits set, know whether or not you are going to provide the digital file, have a limit on the number of files you will edit for the price you negotiate, and stuff like that. I once took free (I know, I'm a bastard for taking business from professionals) family portraits for a friend and told him to shoot me an e-mail with the ones he wanted edited and he sent me a list of like 50 pictures. He was a good friend, so I told him to get bent, but a paying customer may expect that unless you set your limits in the beginning.
If they are looking for inexpensive then I would guess that $800.00 is not what they are thinking. In the end, you'll have to decide what you feel is the right price, but be ready for some real pressure and a lot of time editing photographs... especially if they are really ugly... ;)
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07/21/2008 12:35:16 PM · #8 |
Originally posted by Prof_Fate:
$800 with no prints. Seems to be the going price for newbie shoot and burns around here.
But remember - while they say they can't afford a photographer that is rarely the case - it's that they just don't value photography so aren't willing to pay much if anything for it. That isn't to say the bride won't still expect wedding pictures like she's been seeing in ads in Bride magazine, etc. She's wants it all but isn't willing to pay for it. Occassionally you find someone that really can't afford it but that's more rare than you know.
I've seen churches charge $400 to $1500 for their part of the wedding. Limos are not cheap. Flowers aren't either but this is one area where folks are really cheaping out - I'm glad I'm not a florist! I've seen $4000 florist bills and $1000 florist bills -I'm just glad when I get more than the florist or church!
Bride Magazine and the rest give budget advice to brides. What they say is the reception dinner should take about 50% of the wedding budget. Costs can be $35 to $150 per plate depending on the hall, plus 18% gratuity. If they're having 150 people at $60/plate that's $7500 plus a tip of 1350. So the total budget should be $17,500 or so. 10% of that is for photography/videography - about $1750.
If you're average in your skills then charge the average going rate in your area. If you don't feel your worth that then perhaps you shouldn't be charging at all. |
I was waiting for you to gallop in on your high horse.
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07/21/2008 01:18:25 PM · #9 |
| Can you imagine being the photographer at this wedding? |
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07/21/2008 04:13:33 PM · #10 |
Things happen - Mr Murphy is a busy fellow. So you need to be prepared for all and any disasters - camera, batts, cards, lenses, flash - have backups for everything.
Assuming you cover it all, there is getting ready (and hiding the ugly room, bad light, cramped spaces, running behind, etc)
the ceremony - low light, no flash in many cases, limited movement, backlighting, lens flare
the church formals - posing groups, lighting them, staying on schedule and getting everything that's needed/wanted
fun formals - again, time is often an issue, lighting more of an issue on a sunny day, getting the bridal party to pay attention/cooperate can be a chore (they want the A/C and beer at the reception). Again, posing can be an issue - especially for shots of just the couple. Can you make a fat chick, um, I mean weight challenged bride's maid, look thin? You have a 5' groomsman and one that's 6' 4" - got a pose that makes them both look about the same height in a group shot?
Reception: detail shots are easy. The entrance shots can be tricky, cake cutting is pretty easy, toast shots you need to be close for the flash to do anything useful and often head tables are positioned in the worst places for photographers. The rest of the evening is pretty much flash shots in low light with people moving about. The garter/boquet shots are fun, they usually turn up the house lights some but not always enough. I find a second flash remotely triggered helps tremendously.
Now if things don't go as planned - rain, DJ doens't show, power goes out - whatever - the bride still expects all the pics and perfect ones too.
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07/21/2008 04:35:22 PM · #11 |
Jean-Dominic, I basically agree with what's been said before. Check if you have the right equipment. Talk to the couple to make sure you know what they expect (and also that they understand the risk of hiring a newbie). Think about how you're going to deliver files and/or prints. Check out the locations if you can. Get a "practice couple" to try a few things out in advance.
Considering the price, I recommend you just have them pay your expenses (so that you don't have less money in your pocket after the event). That's what I did here. I wouldn't have felt comfortable charging them for my time since I was doing it for the first time with zero experience. I saw it as an opportunity to learn and my time as some sort of wedding gift.
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07/21/2008 04:38:51 PM · #12 |
| yes, make sure you have more memory cards in your pocket....those pictures you took in HQ that would hold 700 in RAW is a lot less and it sucks to be out of card memory as the father starts to walk his daughter down the aisle...unless of course you are superman =0) Good luck, I did my first one cold turkey the end of May and loved it!!!! My second is August 9 and I can't wait! But the better prepared you are is just that.......... |
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07/23/2008 01:52:13 AM · #13 |
Originally posted by Spazmo99:
Can you imagine being the photographer at this wedding? |
Great experience as a crime scene photographer... |
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