Love taking pics Hate selling...

[metric_photography]

Just got back from a meeting with some clients. I recently donated a photography session including 10 digital images at a local event (some of you may have read my posts about that). I took the pics of the family in mid July and tonight I met with them to show them the proofs. I don't usually do things this way, but then again most of my clients have been friends and family and I just give them a disk of images.

Anyway, I went there with 24 4x6 proofs and they chose their 10. They then chose 4 additional images from the proofs and I burned the images to disk (I had my laptop with me). So I made $40.00. HOWEVER, I spent a lot of money in gas going to the shoot and to the meeting. I also really hate asking for money. I know I have to get paid for my equipment, my time, the proofs, my gas etc. but I always feel so awkward about it. Especially when it is people I work with (at my day job) or friends and family.

I know many of you will say I am undercharging, etc., but I want to hear it anyway. I appreciate ALL advice given to me so let me have it!!

Thanks guys!

[High_Speed]

Prepare to get burned. A lot of "pros" will quickly scold you for undercharging, and "destroying" their profession....yada yada....

Now I'm not "pro." I just offer my services on the side as a supplemental income to help support my hobby. But I think you have to have confidence in your work, and that can be reflected in your pricing.

It sounds like you basically "donated" the initial services and 10 prints for the experience, which I think is just fine. And you charged $40 for 4 additional? That's 10 per print? I think that's fair, honestly. If you hadn't originally "donated" your services and considered the whole shoot and all 14 prints to price at $40...well then yeah that is ridiculously cheap.

Anyway, I'm certainly not going to scold you, and I wouldn't pretend to be qualified to do so either. I'm just saying, be prepared. Some people take serious offense to "undercharging." Personally, I think what should matter most is that you enjoy what you're doing and don't take such a loss that it's like you're paying others to take your work. lol

As for confidence, well that is just something that comes with time and experience. Can you show us some examples of your stuff?

[JFSanders]

So I made $40.00. HOWEVER, I spent a lot of money in gas going to the shoot and to the meeting.

Nope, you didn't make 40 dollars even taking into account they are Canadian dollars which are actually worth something. You most likely lost money. But then again you really aren't doing this for money and it is for a co-worker, so you should not feel bad about doing it. I don't think these folks were going to go and have a shoot done by a practicing professional anyway so no harm no foul. It is all good.

Jim

[Izzy]

Was your camera gear free? Was it cheap?

Then why should the work you do with it be cheap or free.

Just like a mechanic, have to pay for the tools somehow. Matter of fact I should charge you for my small useless information here.

[Phoenix_Jackson]

I don't know if this could relate but when I was dancing (eons ago), at the earliest stage my troupe have nothing to go for but relatives's events. Then again, we were bred with cheap people. The only thing that saved us is a representative (we don't want the title agent/manager/spokesman/etc). Someone who is in fact purely business focused, stay away from the dancing part, and just be the person to negotiate prices. That's his sole job. We still do our part of finding contacts, going places and establish a deal, but as long as the money part is mentioned, we point to his direction. I know it sounds like we're wuss but we're simply not business minded. And the best thing about our relationship is the guy's not a pro (but he does a fine job of raising our talent fee to x10 or more). He was just a college student (freshman) taking up commerce or something. So his "cut" was really small. He claims, "It's more the experience and the fun of 'sinking' cheap bastards."
But of course, our relationship would have to end. He graduated (suma cum something) and our troupe simply moved on from dancing.