Event Photography

[PowerPix]

I specialize in real estate photography. A client of mine liked my work and asked me to shoot a baby welcoming event.
How do you price something like this?

The event would be 2hrs long with 150-200 people. They want crowd, ceremony, and live band shots.

[hibou]

They are welcoming a baby with a live band? These people are rich. Charge them a lot.

[PowerPix]

Haha, thanks. This is not their baby, they are the pastors of some big church and have ceremonies like this frequently. Apparently it's like a big rock concert.

But yes, they are very wealthy business people.

[OsmosisStudios]

Oh the things people do...

If it's any help, I shoot nightclubs (okay, not really similar, but hey) at $50/hr of shooting and $25/hr for editing and processing. That includes a CD of low res (600x400, facebook sized) images and a limited rights usage copyright release. Prints and Higher res is extra. I often get a bar buying one or two specific shots at full res (though still limited rights) for advertising use. I also generally end up with a 1:1 shooting/processing ratio.

A word of advice: from the gear you have listed, you're going to have to invest in some lenses, either as rentals or purchase. Assuming that, you can choose to factor that into the cost to the customer (I itemize everything), or you can eat that cost yourself: your call. Generally speaking I pass part of the cost (75%) to the customer, depending on the circumstances, of course.

[candidrachel]

Baby welcoming event with live band??? Most folks here just go down the pub for a few drinks to wet the baby's head

More money than sense.

[PowerPix]

Originally Posted by OsmosisStudios

Oh the things people do...

If it's any help, I shoot nightclubs (okay, not really similar, but hey) at $50/hr of shooting and $25/hr for editing and processing. That includes a CD of low res (600x400, facebook sized) images and a limited rights usage copyright release. Prints and Higher res is extra. I often get a bar buying one or two specific shots at full res (though still limited rights) for advertising use. I also generally end up with a 1:1 shooting/processing ratio.

A word of advice: from the gear you have listed, you're going to have to invest in some lenses, either as rentals or purchase. Assuming that, you can choose to factor that into the cost to the customer (I itemize everything), or you can eat that cost yourself: your call. Generally speaking I pass part of the cost (75%) to the customer, depending on the circumstances, of course.

Thanks very much Adam. What you said is exactly what I had in mind and I will definitely be beefing up on gear by that time. Incidentally the client will be picking up about 75% of my gear cost. I appreciate the input everyone!

[jennie]

whoa! expanding the business! i dont have much to input here but know that i am rooting for you..just dont work too much and end up compromising your health..or else i am gonna choke you to death..lol..