Session fee for family member

[Daryl Everett]

I asked this in another question and it got no attention so I am moving this question here. I'm trying to start out and set up some prices and haven't had anyone pay me for a portrait shoot yet. My cousin wants me to do a shoot of her daughter and I don't know what to charge. I will be selling prints. So I thought $65 and give her a print credit was reasonable but I was told this is entirely too low. you can see some of my work on facebook under dame photography under the albums with Daryl Everett on th or one session at Daryleverett.blogspot.com. I just don't want to be one of those people with the camera who thinks they know what they are doing and charges too much.

[bhursey]

65$ and they get a 65$ coupon? My family I do not charge sitting fees. They normally treat me fair in ordering prints. My external clients I charge a 50$ fee. 25$ of it goes towards a coupon if ordered 30 days after posting.

65$ is kind of high to start with I shot for 3 years without sitting fees people just ordered prints to build mo portfolio.

[Daryl Everett]

Originally Posted by bhursey

65$ and they get a 65$ coupon? My family I do not charge sitting fees. They normally treat me fair in ordering prints. My external clients I charge a 50$ fee. 25$ of it goes towards a coupon if ordered 30 days after posting.

65$ is kind of high to start with I shot for 3 years without sitting fees people just ordered prints to build mo portfolio.

I was thinking of doing $65 and a $15 print coupon. The problem I am having with shooting for free is that no one will take me up on it. I sent an e-mail to about 10 family and friends and no answers, when I sent another e-mail saying they could have a free shoot and free prints, I got 2 takers.

[bhursey]

I was thinking of doing $65 and a $15 print coupon. The problem I am having with shooting for free is that no one will take me up on it. I sent an e-mail to about 10 family and friends and no answers, when I sent another e-mail saying they could have a free shoot and free prints, I got 2 takers.

65$ with a 15$ coupon is not a free shoot with free prints....... Im just saying it is kinda high for just starting out. What are your print prices? Money is not every thing building a loyal client base is. If people like your work they will allow you to shoot their photos. People have followed me from when I shoot for free to sitting fees just fine because they loved my work. I get all my clients from basically word of mouth.

[andyw]

I am glad I am not in the wedding/portrait game so I don't really get these family requests.

If I was I would probably approach it something like
Immediate family (parents/brothers/sisters) - free sitting - pay for prints only
All others - family rate = normal rate less 10-20%

[Daryl Everett]

Originally Posted by bhursey

65$ with a 15$ coupon is not a free shoot with free prints....... Im just saying it is kinda high for just starting out. What are your print prices? Money is not every thing building a loyal client base is. If people like your work they will allow you to shoot their photos. People have followed me from when I shoot for free to sitting fees just fine because they loved my work. I get all my clients from basically word of mouth.

Let's see if I can clear up the confusion. I emailed my friends and family 5-6 months ago saying that I was portfolio building and would do a free shoot and give them a free sheet of prints for their time or five image files (I was suckered into the cd by the onetaker on the deal). Only one taker. I sent an email about two months ago to a different group of friends and family saying I would shoot for free and they pay for prints. This got two friends interested. I posted some of the shots from the first of these and my cousin messages saying she wants info because she wants pics of her daughter.
I haven't set my print prices yet I am just starting out, that's part of why I want help with session fees. I seem to be stuck in a group of "I love your work but I am not wling to pay for it" people.

[mandyatm]

I am actually surprised at the responses...if you posted this another time, you would probably get the crowd that says "never shoot for free!" But today you are getting "$65 is too high."

When I first started, I would have done any family or friends for free to build my portfolio. I just had them pay my cost of the prints. Immediate family will always be free. The first person that wasn't family or close friends that asked, I told her $50. and I gave her the CD for $25. Probably not the best idea, but I was brand new and looking back on those images, I am glad I didn't charge her more.

The cousin thing is a gray area for me. I have tons of extended family and I can't possibly do everyone's pictures for free. But where to draw the line is hard. If I were still building my portfolio, I would not charge anything, but there are other's that will disagree with me.