I am trying to quote a couples wedding shower. It is being thrown and paid for by a couple of our friends. It's a Saturday - for only 2 - 4 hours during the afternoon. It will be people mingling, presents, etc.
I was thinking to charge a flat fee for the shoot, and then post the proofs online for them to order from my smugmug website. (it's a 2.5 hour drive from my house). I don't know the easiest way to go about doing that, and the prices to charge. Any suggestions? What do you all do for something like this?
Bonues: if they like my work, I could potentially be flown to Aruba to shoot their destination wedding!
Bonues: if they like my work, I could potentially be flown to Aruba to shoot their destination wedding!
That's a definite plus and worth cutting a bit of a discount for...be a nice portfolio builder.
So, 5 hours driving, plus fuel and up to 4 hours shooting. Me, I'd say $225 (3 hours at $75) to shoot and about $150 for the drive (looking at about $25/hour plus gas).
Bonues: if they like my work, I could potentially be flown to Aruba to shoot their destination wedding!
That's a definite plus and worth cutting a bit of a discount for...be a nice portfolio builder.
So, 5 hours driving, plus fuel and up to 4 hours shooting. Me, I'd say $225 (3 hours at $75) to shoot and about $150 for the drive (looking at about $25/hour plus gas).
Would you be going to the shower anyway? If so, I'm not sure I would worry about the travel. It sounds like they are friends of yours? If it was me and they were my friends, I'd take the photos for free and just have them buy prints from me - or likely give that to them as the shower gift.
If the only reason you'd be there would be strictly for the photography, then I'd charge more.
Would you be going to the shower anyway? If so, I'm not sure I would worry about the travel. It sounds like they are friends of yours? If it was me and they were my friends, I'd take the photos for free and just have them buy prints from me - or likely give that to them as the shower gift.
If the only reason you'd be there would be strictly for the photography, then I'd charge more.
Thanks for the replies so far you guys. :)
They actually not friends of mine, but my friends are helping throw them the shower, and are the ones that suggested me as the photographer for the event. I don't know the actual couple. My friends though, will be helping pay for it.
So, that being said, maybe if I charged $200 for the actual shoot, I still am not sure what or how to charge for the prints??
If you do this for a living, or even part time, it's easy to know what to charge. If you don't do this for money (photography) then don't charge at all.
What's your per-hour charge? Multiply that by the coverage time.
2 to 4 hours for me would be in the range of $225 to $450. Pics on CD would be another $190. I'd most likely throw in 6 or 8 gift prints (loose prints up to 8x10).
the type of coverage is similar to a reception, and your time has the same cost structure whether it's a wedding or just the bridal shower.
As to the hope of going to aruba - never quote something now based on future business. It may not come (and usually doesn't).
4x6 $1.50 - $3.00
5x7 $8.00 - $12.00
8x10 $10.00 - $15.00
& so on
I would also make sure you set your smugmug up in advance and give every guest a flyer with ordering instructions. I would charge at least $200 for shooting it. (That low only because it’s a friend) You could have as much as 8 hours in this because of the driving distance. Maybe more $ if the event runs longer than expected. You really need to gross about $500 on this to make any money. That would be $200 for the shoot and travel and $300 in total print sales. Any less than that and you’re just trading dollars.
