How much do you charge?

[Gina9942]

I recently did maternity pics for my cousin, no cost to her at all. A friend of a friend saw the pics and she wants belly pics as well. In my area, NY, photographers are charging about
$175 +/- for sitting fees, not including the pics. I do not feel comfortable charging that at all, nor do I think I am on that level where I can charge that amount. I was going to say $45 sitting fee, for about two hours which prices me at about 22 an hour. That was not including prints and/or cd. I was going to promise her 10-15 images, processed and then we can go from there as far as a cd or prints. How much would you charge for a cd? I was going to make up some photo packages then have as an alternate a cd. Is the cd a bad thing?? Does this seem fair?

TIA Gina

[Jim Bryant]

It depends on your experience on how much to charge. Really, you should start charging the normal rate of what others charge in the area. I know if I was one of the other and caught word of you lowballing their businesses by over 3/4 of what they charge, I'd have a heart to heart talk to you.
Your sitting fee might be fine...but why not charge for download, editing and post processing images as well. Isn't that time spent behind the computer or are you going to give that away for free as well? A price for CD of high res images........depending on the amount and sizes go from $200-$500 or higher.

[Jim Poor]

I discourage CDs of my portraiture with high prices. If someone really wants to pay, then I'll let them, but at a price point that overcomes all my other concerns. I just sold 20 digital images from a portrait session for $1000 today and that was at a discount.

Why don't you feel you should charge the going rate? If it is because you are "new," I call BS, and say charge based on what your work is worth, not on how long you've been delivering it.

If it is because you can't deliver the quality, then that is a different story.

When you figure your hourly rate, don't forget travel, processing, delivery etc. That puts you far above 2 hours and far below $22 / hour.


I wouldn't touch it for under $100 for the session in my area (DC) and that would be for a limited session during a weekday. If I were to try to break into the maternity market for real, and the going rate is $175, I'd probably charge $200 and offer a $50 discount for [insert reason here] and/or include a print credit.

[Gina9942]

Thanks. I am going to put together some packages of pictures and go that route. I didn't take into account the post processing fees. I was low-balling it because I am a beginner and not that I lack the skills, I feel I lack the confidence, I get really nervous before a shoot, although I am getting much much better.

I am going to just do it though because you guys are right, it's what they are charging around here. My other big issue was that my friend, I did her portraits no charge, this time she said she was going to pay. I don't want to say $175, then have her feel like she can't afford it or that she has to give me that amount, because she's a friend I do not expect that at all.

[GadgetRick]

I agree here. Charge for what the going rate is. If you think you're not good enough then maybe you shouldn't be charging? Not a dig at you.

You have to figure int ALL of your time involved in the project. When you do this, it's easy to justify your fee if you're questioned about it.

[Jim Poor]

That's the trouble with starting out with friends and family for free.
So tell her your rate is $175, but she gets a one-time, friends-only, discount of $75.

Originally Posted by Gina9942

Thanks. I am going to put together some packages of pictures and go that route. I didn't take into account the post processing fees. I was low-balling it because I am a beginner and not that I lack the skills, I feel I lack the confidence, I get really nervous before a shoot, although I am getting much much better.

I am going to just do it though because you guys are right, it's what they are charging around here. My other big issue was that my friend, I did her portraits no charge, this time she said she was going to pay. I don't want to say $175, then have her feel like she can't afford it or that she has to give me that amount, because she's a friend I do not expect that at all.

[Orionpkmyz]

I read the responses above and while you pros all have excellent point about charging the going rate for her area for fair business reasons, I do wonder is it ever okay to charge less when you are a student of the craft? There are barber schools, for example, that will charge you half of the rate of a pro so that the students have a chance to practice cutting someone's hair. Or is this a free or charge full price situation only?

[NaturalWoman]

Originally Posted by Gina9942

I recently did maternity pics for my cousin, no cost to her at all. A friend of a friend saw the pics and she wants belly pics as well. In my area, NY, photographers are charging about
$175 +/- for sitting fees, not including the pics. I do not feel comfortable charging that at all, nor do I think I am on that level where I can charge that amount. I was going to say $45 sitting fee, for about two hours which prices me at about 22 an hour. That was not including prints and/or cd. I was going to promise her 10-15 images, processed and then we can go from there as far as a cd or prints. How much would you charge for a cd? I was going to make up some photo packages then have as an alternate a cd. Is the cd a bad thing?? Does this seem fair?

TIA Gina

maybe you could charge her $200 and then tell her you are giving her a $25 discount - maybe she will feel like she is getting a deal - plus the cost of printing the pics?

[tan2sie6]

Originally Posted by NaturalWoman

maybe you could charge her $200 and then tell her you are giving her a $25 discount - maybe she will feel like she is getting a deal - plus the cost of printing the pics?

This is the way of a business man, I know. But I don``t think is the best way from of a moral point of view....

Originally Posted by Orionpkmyz

I read the responses above and while you pros all have excellent point about charging the going rate for her area for fair business reasons, I do wonder is it ever okay to charge less when you are a student of the craft? There are barber schools, for example, that will charge you half of the rate of a pro so that the students have a chance to practice cutting someone's hair. Or is this a free or charge full price situation only?

We are all students, no one has mastered it all.

I never went to school for photography... should I never be able to charge? Is my time that less valuable because I don't have a fancy degree?

Or is what really is in question here quality? High quality work needs no degree or pedigree. A good product is the creation of the person, not the framed latin vellum.

You are asking the wrong questions.

~Eric