What Should I Be Charging? (Please View My Portfolio)

[gohan2091]

@Geoffc, I don't do anywhere near the amount of jobs that a full time photographer would do. My main job is my part-time office job. I still live with my family, my living costs at the moment are low and I don't have to pay tax because my earnings are so low. I can earn £5000 from my photography before I start to pay 20% tax. I don't need to budget 6 weeks holiday, when my office job provides a suitable amount of free time. Last year, I did only 5 weddings and about another 5 jobs for other things... that's it. I am not flooded with responses because I am not advertising a whole lot. I don't think I'd want to shoot a wedding every Saturday, it's too much work for the moment. This is a hobby that's turning into a SMALL part-time employment and I still have lots of things to learn before I'd class myself as a professional. £800+ to me is a professional price. When others here are charging only a few hundred AND they display nice photos in their ads, I have virtually no chance to draw in clients because my skills are only good, not great.

A couple asked what my wedding prices were for 4 hours of time, and I said £450 plus travel and they said that's outside their budget. We settled on £250 (plus travel). It's low, I know, but it's more than I have ever charged for a Wedding before and I'd prefer that then to lose them. Any new clients who approach me, I will be asking for £400 minimum. I have a Wedding booked in June, and I sent a polite message to the couple yesterday saying the £250 cost I quoted them has increased to £400. I said hopefully I have allowed enough time for them to find an alternative photographer if they are unhappy with my price increase.

 

[Horoscope Fish]

My technique has always been to grab the client by the ankles, flip them upside down and shake them vigorously until money starts falling out their pockets. I do this until my arms get tired and give out or when it looks like I've shaken loose about everything I'm going to. Don't be afraid to shake wives, adjacent friends or kids... Especially kids! You'd be surprised how much money those little s--ts squirrel away sometimes.

.....

 

[gohan2091]

Yes I did do that with the couple I recently booked. I went down to £275 but they said they would love to have me but that is still too much and they wished me the best for the future. Then I emailed back and we settled on £250

 

[Geoffc]

@gohan2091 sorry I got a bit carried away and though you planned to do it as a main job. I think the higher rate still stands if it's regarded as the true cost of a job, however if you're doing it as part hobby and part extra cash then that's a different thing altogether. I recently did a shoot in my home studio for my wife's friend and her two kids. I charged nothing on that occasion as I wanted the practice. On that basis you're quite ruthless by comparison

 

[gohan2091]

@Geoffc, that's ok but others here know I am doing this part-time and think I should be charging a similar price to what you said. What do you mean by I am quite ruthless? in the early days, I did jobs for free too.

 

[Geoffc]

@Geoffc, that's ok but others here know I am doing this part-time and think I should be charging a similar price to what you said. What do you mean by I am quite ruthless? in the early days, I did jobs for free too.

The ruthless comment was a joke. Thinking about it I didn't even charge my daughter for doing her wedding!!!

 

[gohan2091]

I've photographed the family and did it for free. I was going to be the photography for my mums Wedding too for free until we had an argument and I pulled out (but back then, I was only just beginning photography so probably not much missed anyway!)

 

[ShootRaw]

I don't think quoting someone a price, and then raising after the fact will fly..When I said I feel you should charge more..I meant going forward..But if you quote something and book it..You should stick by your price...