Pricing a Destination Wedding for the first time

[dnpayne]

Hey all. I was recently contacted to shoot a wedding that will be 6 1/2 hours away from my location. I've been asked to get them pricing on what it would take to get me to do it.

I've never had to price something like this before, so I'm somewhat at a loss. I have wedding packages available to base from, then obviously I would add airfare (I'm not driving it) and hotel for one night. But, do I also include the hours it will take in traveling?

Any thoughts on how I should approach this would be appreciated. I'm curious if any of you have done this.

Thanks.

[MattG]

From a business perspective, you need to consider recompense for the following:

1. Travel
2. Accommodation
3. *Potential lost work opportunity
4. Meals

It sounds like you have the travel and accommodation sorted out (thought I suspect you might want 2 nights unless it's a morning wedding, as you don't want to travel on the day to the location in case of travel problems). You should also add a reasonable cost for meals/refreshments.

The potential loss of working opportunity is where you will need to make a judgement call. Perhaps you could wrap this up into a fee to cover scoping the location out before the wedding and an 'on call fee'.

[Niresangwa]

Originally Posted by dnpayne

Hey all. I was recently contacted to shoot a wedding that will be 6 1/2 hours away from my location. I've been asked to get them pricing on what it would take to get me to do it.

I've never had to price something like this before, so I'm somewhat at a loss. I have wedding packages available to base from, then obviously I would add airfare (I'm not driving it) and hotel for one night. But, do I also include the hours it will take in traveling?

Any thoughts on how I should approach this would be appreciated. I'm curious if any of you have done this.

Thanks.

Personally, I"m not down with charging for "traveling time". It is, after all, a choice you're making to accept this, and they're already covering travel expenses.

I routinely turn down weddings even as close to me as a 3 hour drive, I just find it such a chore, and when it comes down to weddings that would require me to fly and miss a couple of nights, I just don't feel like it's worth it..

it's not like there's a national shortage of wedding photographers, and while I"ve been flattered to have been invited to all sorts of places, idk, I guess I"d rather just sleep in my own bed at my own place and not waste time...

I also feel a little badly that people spend money shipping me around.. I"d rather they just use that money to buy a local photographer...

[MattG]

Originally Posted by Niresangwa

Personally, I"m not down with charging for "traveling time". It is, after all, a choice you're making to accept this, and they're already covering travel expenses.

It's just a quote at this stage, as far as I can tell from the OP. Nothing wrong with providing a price you'd be prepared to do it for - they do not have to accept especially given the choices now available. Mind you, I hate wasting time preparing a quote when you don't expect the business, so would probably call them and giv them a ball park quote over the phone to see if they are still interested.

[Biomech]

PFFTTTATTTAHHTTTT funny mouth noise.

We did a job in the Isle of Man 217 miles away including a 2 hour boat trip. The boat ALONE was £700!!!!! :O

I flew to Thailand and back for £520!

Client paid for the extra travel of course, but still, £700!!!!

[Gulf Coast Girl]

Originally Posted by dnpayne

I have wedding packages available to base from, then obviously I would add airfare (I'm not driving it) and hotel for one night.

Don't you Wedding Photographers require an ungodly amount of gear? Seems to me I remember reading a recent post about all the gear you guys/gals take with you to a wedding shoot.
Are you going to check all that in with the airline? Do you have hard cases for it all.... cause baggage handlers don't treat checked luggage with care


I'm not a photographer, I work in Information Technology, and I travel quite a bit. We absolutely charge the client for my transit time in addition to travel costs. Why? Because the travel expenses don't go to my company, they go to the airline, hotel, rental car, etc. We have to be paid for my time because if I weren't on that plane traveling I'd be doing other billable work for some other client.

I don't know why this would be different for a traveling photographer. If the plane ticket costs $1,000, that money goes to the airline; where's your pay for that day? Traveling IS work these days, you should be compensated IMO.

If you are hesitant to do the job then HIGH BALL the estimate to a point that all hesitation is gone if they agree. We all have our own idea of what is worth it to us...... you just have to figure out what yours is.

[dnpayne]

Originally Posted by Gulf Coast Girl

Don't you Wedding Photographers require an ungodly amount of gear? Seems to me I remember reading a recent post about all the gear you guys/gals take with you to a wedding shoot.
Are you going to check all that in with the airline? Do you have hard cases for it all.... cause baggage handlers don't treat checked luggage with care


I'm not a photographer, I work in Information Technology, and I travel quite a bit. We absolutely charge the client for my transit time in addition to travel costs. Why? Because the travel expenses don't go to my company, they go to the airline, hotel, rental car, etc. We have to be paid for my time because if I weren't on that plane traveling I'd be doing other billable work for some other client.

I don't know why this would be different for a traveling photographer. If the plane ticket costs $1,000, that money goes to the airline; where's your pay for that day? Traveling IS work these days, you should be compensated IMO.

If you are hesitant to do the job then HIGH BALL the estimate to a point that all hesitation is gone if they agree. We all have our own idea of what is worth it to us...... you just have to figure out what yours is.

This was my thinking as well. I mean, I will be wasting 14 hours round trip in travel time. I'd like to be compensated for that. The flight alone is $500, not including two nights in a hotel, transfer to the site of the venue, etc...

But, I do have a lot of gear, but not as much as some photographers. I have one bag with both my cameras and all my lenses, tripod and ipad. It wouldn't be too much trouble getting it on the plane. I probably wouldn't have to check it either.

[Jim Bryant]

Travel time.....I charge $50.00 an hour. why......can't make any money traveling by air. If you drive, you can always stop along the way to take pictures. ButI still charge $50.00 and hour travel time.

[dnpayne]

So, this is what I've noted for my quote.

Base Wedding Package
Airfare
Hotel
Travel Time
Food Allowance
Transfers from Airport

Can anyone think of anything I may be missing?

[Gulf Coast Girl]

Originally Posted by dnpayne

So, this is what I've noted for my quote.

Base Wedding Package
Airfare
Hotel
Travel Time
Food Allowance
Transfers from Airport

Can anyone think of anything I may be missing?

Is "Transfers from Airport" taxi or shuttle service? Personally I'd skip that and get a rental car. I have some clients that want us to do that BS but I refuse. I don't like being stuck at a hotel without a car or having to wait on taxis. I always get a rental car (client pays for car & fuel).

Also, if you are parking your car at the departure airport, don't forget to factor in those parking costs.... they can be hefty depending on the airport.


I also bill for any road tolls, gratuities and phone charges.... but that's standard in my industry... might be over the top for others????