What’s Your Preference?

Charlz · #1 (**permalink**) 10-29-2010, 08:53 AM

Hi

Well basically i need some advice...i have always loved photography, graphic design and only recently decided to buy my own dslr camera with my own pocket money. I have always taken out pictures for family and friends...free of charge for a couple years now. My dad normally does the filming anf i do the photos. but not once did we ever charge anyone. I attend a church and i have been here for the last two years. From the time my dad and i went we always did all the work of the photos, filming, etc. I even designed the cover of our pastors book for free...we designed websites, made slideshows, printed pictures, printed on dvds and dvd covers. All for free. Which we had no problem doing as it was for God's kingdom. However my pastor had asked me to photograph and video is inlaws 50th anniversary, and he wanted a whole package with dvds, prints, album..ect.

So i eventually did a price for him for the package and gave it to him and at first he said he would pay me for it...Its not church related. After giving him the price yesterday he phones me today and tell me that he didnt budget for photos and filming. i gave him really resonable prices. And he said that he will sort out the photos we must just come to the event as a family.

I feel really upset about this whole thing because at the end its my hard work of editing pictures, driving to get the phots printed..etc He has always been happy with my work and just once when i decide to put a price to it, he has a problem with it.

Please tell me if im wrong here? Should i just do it for free?

From the time i got my new camera i have only been taking out photos for people for free. I need to charge people so i could compensate for the money i took of my own to buy the camera and so far i have had no luck with it beacuse i am always doing it for free...

I really need some advice from you experianced photographers..Am i wrong for charging my Pastor?

RLucas · #2 (**permalink**) 10-29-2010, 09:07 AM

Quick question. Did your pastor sell the book you designed the cover for or give it away?
I am not even going to ask about all the other stuff you and your dad have done.

Charlz · #3 (**permalink**) 10-29-2010, 09:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RLucas

Quick question. Did your pastor sell the book you designed the cover for or give it away?
I am not even going to ask about all the other stuff you and your dad have done.

Hi Luke

He sold the books

Charlz · #4 (**permalink**) 10-29-2010, 09:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charlz

Hi Luke

He sold the books

even the dvds that we make are all sold

TheDarkReaver · #5 (**permalink**) 10-29-2010, 10:01 AM

Sounds like the pastor wants you to be his bitch and is laying down the guilt trip to get you to do his in-laws anniversary.

RecurrentNerve · #6 (**permalink**) 10-29-2010, 10:09 AM

If it's for a private thing then he should pay for it. It's fair enough to do it for free for charity or your church but to expect the same for a private job smacks of advantage-taking.

There's an old saying 'If you can do something that others can't, don't do it for free.' So if he doesn't want to pay you, don't do it.

oldwolf · #7 (**permalink**) 10-29-2010, 11:35 AM

You should be getting paid. He's taking advantage of you. Where did the proceeds for the book go? To the church or his pocket?

Doing it for free for the church is good. Doing it for free for a private event is bad. It doesn't matter if the private event was for a pastor or not.

CheaperKings · #8 (**permalink**) 10-29-2010, 11:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oldwolf

It doesn't matter if the private event was for a pastor or not.

+1 Get paid!

Charlz · #9 (**permalink**) 10-29-2010, 12:21 PM

@ the dark reaver, you are right, he is using the guilt trip to get me. He said he hadnt budgeted to pay for photography...so that alone should prove he had no intention of paying me right?

@RecurrentNerve, you are absolutely right, i should be paid for my work and he is taking advantage of me. This isnt right

@old wolf, im not too sure where the proceeds went too, no one has spoken about that... I honestly dont mind doing it for the church, i have been doing it without pay or moaning for the last two years. I even did many personal favours for them too, which wasnt church related.

And they are very fussy people (my pastor and his wife) more like demanding, and even in their demanding state i always produced good results to them and they really liked it.

It really is frustrating that they feel i shouldnt be charging them. And i really dont want to feel guilty just because he is a pastor.