Pricing dilemma

[falafelicious]

I did a few free portfolio-building photo shoots last year, and several of the people have come back to me offering to pay for a second shoot. I don't even know where to begin in setting a price, especially for people I like who I've worked with before. $50? $100? $5 and a Snickers bar?

Some guidance would be appreciated...

[falafelicious]

So literally as I was writing this I got another email from someone I did a shoot for, wanting me to do pics of their daughter + potentially a wedding. Help!

[OsmosisStudios]

I would advise against jumping into a wedding just yet.

As for pricing, that depends greatly on how uch you want to make from these shoots, what other photographers are charging in your area and how you place yourself in relation to them in terms of quality.

[elkidogz]

Originally Posted by falafelicious

I did a few free portfolio-building photo shoots last year, and several of the people have come back to me offering to pay for a second shoot. I don't even know where to begin in setting a price, especially for people I like who I've worked with before. $50? $100? $5 and a Snickers bar?

Some guidance would be appreciated...

if you made sure they realized that the reason the shoot was free was because of the portfolion building, then you should be free and clear to figure out the average for professional shoots and then give them a "special discount" if you'd like to offer them one... but honestly it's how you presented your services to them initially. some will say yes, others will so no.

[falafelicious]

Originally Posted by OsmosisStudios

As for pricing, that depends greatly on how uch you want to make from these shoots, what other photographers are charging in your area and how you place yourself in relation to them in terms of quality.

Most of the professional portrait photographers in the area do department store type studio shoots, whereas I do natural light on-location (which is a large part of why several of these people are coming back to me, after being dissatisfied with professional studio stuff), so I don't know if I can really compare my work to theirs in terms of quality because it's just very... different. There are a couple who have a style similar to mine but they are so pricy I don't know if I'd be comfortable charging even half of what they do.

To be honest I really want to do the shoots. It would be nice to make some money (starving college student and whatnot) but I wouldn't want to charge enough to scare any of them away.

And I am not sure what to do about the wedding request. I don't think I have the equipment or experience to handle that. Maybe I should offer to do it as a second shooter?

[mr. Unknown]

Great pics man, about your 1.4 lens, is it canon or? How do you like it, what bothers you about it?
cheers, M

[falafelicious]

Originally Posted by mr. Unknown

Great pics man, about your 1.4 lens, is it canon or? How do you like it, what bothers you about it?
cheers, M

Thanks! Yes it's the Canon 50mm 1.4, just got it this Saturday. Been really pleased with it so far though I'm dying to try it out on a subject that is not a flower or a cat.

It focuses very fast and it seems that I can get closer to my subjects with it than I could with the 1.8. Wide open of course it is a little soft and it can be hard to figure out what exactly is in focus, but I'm guessing that's a skill I will acquire with practice. Oh, and the bokeh is amazing!

[ML Photography]

I think you should charge them how much you think you are worth. They have already seen you at work and the outcome as well, so if they came back it's because they liked you.
Don't be scared of making them fly away, if you start cheap you very likely will always be...

[aprillove20]

Pricing is depends on the quality of your work.

[Mr Prints]

"Natural light", and "different" are your sell points and is probably the reason they came back to you anyways. You can even use these terms to market yourself. I would give them a good deal and let it grow to more clients. Recommendation can be the most profitable payment in the long run. Just make sure they know you gave them a deal to pass the word.

Most wedding photographers won't like the 'second shooter' in fear that they might effect the limited time and therefore less shots and less of providing what they were hired to do. If you decide to go this approach you should defiantly ask the lead photographer for specific instructions to structure the time efficiently.