Need personal opinions

rocketman122

Senior Member
I was at a bodybuilding competition to photograph 2 friends who competed. I also photographed other competitors when they did their routines. I edited them as well. Which isnt a lot since i get it right in the camera mostly. I did a few bw as well.

I contacted a few to offer their pictures for a small fee of 30bucks for the set. I send full size images and smaller rezed ones of the net.

Is asking 30 bucks being greedy? There were no pro photogs there and only family members shooting with smartphones

Yes i was given an ok to shoot at the event. I didnt post any inage of any competitor.

Whats your take. Im wondering if you were a competitor and i came to you and said hey i have pics of you at the competition doing your routine. Ill give them to you for 30 bucks. Roughly 30+ images. Some have more some around 30ish. Some 50 or more. Would you feel offended i asked for payment?
 
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rocketman122

Senior Member
I have this guilt attack that makes me feel i should be ashamed to ask for money. That i need to give it. The. Contenders put a lot of money into injections err vitamins and there are no money prizes won. My guilt trip will be to kne wholl say tell me youre not embarrassed to ask 30 bucks for 30 pictures? It will sit on my conscious. My flaw is not being a good businessman and learning how to take money.
 

mikew_RIP

Senior Member
I have this guilt attack that makes me feel i should be ashamed to ask for money. That i need to give it. The. Contenders put a lot of money into injections err vitamins and there are no money prizes won. My guilt trip will be to kne wholl say tell me youre not embarrassed to ask 30 bucks for 30 pictures? It will sit on my conscious. My flaw is not being a good businessman and learning how to take money.

I know what you mean,but thats some thing that has to be settled in your mind,i no pro :D but odd bits i do for friends ect i never charge for but thats only because i want it as a hobby and no more.would giving something away now earn you more in the future if not ask for money.
 

Marcel

Happily retired
Staff member
Super Mod
Unless they are close friends, I wouldn't feel bad about charging a bit for pictures.
Just do the math; how long were you there for? How long did it take you to sort them, crop and post process them? Then see how much you get from that shoot and you'll find out that you probably worked for less than minimum wage...

I would not be afraid to ask. Since they already have spent so much to get where they are, they might want to spend a bit more to keep record of how their bodies are today. They for sure must know that this fitness doesn't last for a lifetime. :)
 

rocketman122

Senior Member
Somethibg i noticed though is that when i give away work there is no worth to it. It's.not appreciate it as much as when they pay (no matter how much it is) its kustjust my experience. Even when i shoot for my sister wheb its her daughters bday its a given that i shoot and i get a simple thanks and thats it. As if i owe her somethibg. And ur right its in my mind. Im a pro and make my living with my gear and should charge even if its a small amount.
 

PapaST

Senior Member
I personally would think they would love to have photos of themselves. It's something they can add to their portfolio or share with friends. Otherwise they probably would have no visual-record of themselves competing.

You're not asking for much at all. Something for your time basically. I wouldn't feel bad at all. You're probably doing them a favor in some respects.
 

Horoscope Fish

Senior Member
If you, as the photographer, are not 1000% confident your work is worth what you're asking for it, you really can't expect someone else to be.
...
 

rocketman122

Senior Member
If you, as the photographer, are not 1000% confident your work is worth what you're asking for it, you really can't expect someone else to be.
...

bravo! well said! my work is very nice. no issue with this. I always had a problem taking money. it was about the photography for me. and I enjoy it and im also a giving person so I have my conscious telling me to give it as a present.
 

Moab Man

Senior Member
I 24 hour mountain bike race. There are photographers at all these events that charge a pretty hefty price. I review there shots of me and when they have a great shot of me I buy it. So to your point, as a competitor having been on the receiving end of offers like yours, I have no problem receiving those offers and if the work is good I have no problem buying an image for the price requested.

And for further reference, I'm paying on average $35 for one digital image. From my reading it sounds like you're offering a small package of photos.
 

Ruidoso Bill

Senior Member
I bring a rack card size flyer to events I shoot. I give a stack of them to the registration folks so they can hand them to the competitors as they register, the card has instructions to go to my zenfolio site where they can look up the event and purchase pics and downloads. No direct selling that way, I am reasonable with my prices.
 

rocketman122

Senior Member
for anonymity he might not want his face shown. there are color ones as well but here I simply chose the BW...cause I like BW.

Untitled-1 copy.jpg

no issue with quality imo. now I see I cropped his foot in the 2nd. its there in the original. just didnt compose it well in PS.
I dont want to feel like im giving away my work because I do good work. I just want some kind of fee that makes them feel like they got something for their money. perceived value. if you give it for free some just dont appreciate it.
 
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skater

New member
for anonymity he might not want his face shown. there are color ones as well but here I simply chose the BW...cause I like BW.

View attachment 181481

no issue with quality imo. now I see I cropped his foot in the 2nd. its there in the original. just didnt compose it well in PS.
I dont want to feel like im giving away my work because I do good work. I just want some kind of fee that makes them feel like they got something for their money. perceived value. if you give it for free some just dont appreciate it.

The ones with smiley faces are screaming to be made into some internet meme. ;)

To add to what Moab Man said - we've bought pictures from events we've been involved with, too, and then there's always things like Disney's Photopass and the like. :)
 

aroy

Senior Member
Competitors spend a lot of money for the competition, so there should be no qualm in charging for photographs they want. As others have said, you are just offering them a choice of buying, not forcing. In fact I think that $30 for a set of more than 10 images is quite low. As you have said, what is free (or almost free) in rarely appreciated, so you must always charge for your work.
 

Deezey

Senior Member
You feel guilty...so to make up for that...you then make yourself cheaper. Maybe instead of thinking how they may feel...keep in mind that just like them, you didn't achieve this overnight. You put in the work just like they did. Head up, shoulders back, look them in the eye....and not just tell them, but show them what you are worth.

You put out fantastic work. They can either pay you what you are really worth, or they don't. Guilt free. Why feel guilty over their choice? Charge what you are worth. If they see you as worthy...they will prove it to you. Then go buy your guilt a drink. As many as it wants.
 

rocketman122

Senior Member
Sorry but you are way underpriced. Just my opinion
thank you. just want to give them a good feeling that they got nice pictures and didnt get ripped off. theres no money in these contests anyway and it costs a lot to do BB

You feel guilty...so to make up for that...you then make yourself cheaper. Maybe instead of thinking how they may feel...keep in mind that just like them, you didn't achieve this overnight. You put in the work just like they did. Head up, shoulders back, look them in the eye....and not just tell them, but show them what you are worth.

You put out fantastic work. They can either pay you what you are really worth, or they don't. Guilt free. Why feel guilty over their choice? Charge what you are worth. If they see you as worthy...they will prove it to you. Then go buy your guilt a drink. As many as it wants.

very kind of you. much appreciated. thank you
 
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