Photographing friends...charging?
By crazyredhead
@crazyredhead (954)
United States
January 14, 2008 10:16pm CST
I am having a blast taking my friend's pictures and I would really like to know your opinion on this shot. Joanne is from Ireland but moved to the US and when I saw my beanie baby collection this was the first thing I thought of.
Also, I was wondering...any suggestions on if I should make anyone who I'm not real good friends with give me a little something for my work. I haven't been charging my friends anything but when people that aren't really that close to me but I guess I could consider my friends see them they say "oh, can you take mine too?". What do you think, should I charge money for taking 'not so close friends' senior pictures?
Oh yeah, as a side note, I had a woman I see every day when I go to pick up my little brother ask me to take a couple of family photos for her and she wanted to know what I would charge her. Suggestions?
3 responses
@AICIRT81 (847)
• United States
15 Jan 08
sounds like you are doing professional photography on the side. if this is the case then go ahead and charge for it. especially when you are not close to the people, and its a business transaction charge for it. call around to other photographers to see what the going rate is.
@crazyredhead (954)
• United States
15 Jan 08
One of my closest friends keeps calling me a professional. I wouldn't consider myself a professional, I just find it fun and would someday like to make money off of it. But hey, if I can now and you think it's OK for me to charge others now than maybe I will. I've been looking for some extra cash anyway. Thanks for your input.
@graedragon (329)
• United States
15 Jan 08
I think that's a greta picture of your friend. You seem to be very talented.
I would charge others to take their picture. You are spending time and money on taking them. You should get a little return on it.
As for the person that asked if you would take some family photo's I would check around your area and see what places are charging, such as sears or J.C penney and then maybe take a little off that to make her want you to be the one to do them.
@crazyredhead (954)
• United States
15 Jan 08
I've been looking for some extra cash so hearing that you think it is OK to charge them makes me feel better. I'll look into the prices around town. Thanks for your help.
@trickiwoo (2702)
• United States
3 Jul 08
If you don't feel comfortable charging them, maybe you should consider having them sign model releases. You could sell the photos that you take on stock photography websites. Photos of people are the best sellers, but you need a signed model release in order to sell the photos.
If you're interested in learning more about stock photography, I have lots of information on my website http://www.lindsaydean.com/sellstock.html
