How much does a photo shoot cost?

5S5Sr7z3 ↓

Sun, Oct 21 2012, 6:55 pm

I'm an amateur photographer. Always fooled around with pictures and cameras, and always taking pictures. Recently I took pictures of my kids, and the requests have been streaming in. Problem is, I dont know how much to charge! I never took 'professional' photos of my kids, since I always took the pictures myself, so I'm really out of the loop on how much these things go for.

The biggest problem is, I don't really have any fancy equipment, just a good, expensive camera (a Nikon D5100 if it makes a difference), and a good eye. So I've been mostly taking my pictures outdoors in good light.

Anyway (excuse my rambling!!), I was asked for a price for a group of 6 kids in a group home. They want individuals and group photos. How much would you charge/pay for that?

mirror

Sun, Oct 21 2012, 7:12 pm

I paid a professional photographer to come to a site. He charged $100 to show up, plus $25 per photo. However, he is a professional.

Since you are an amateur, you probably should charge $50 to show up, plus $15 per photo.

mrsmagoo ↓

Mon, Oct 22 2012, 5:36 am

the past 2 summers I have taken proffesional pics of my 3 kids- once in NY and once in LA - with people just starting out -both times in parks
total cost $100 including a CD of all the pictures
personally I would only use someone who included a CD and wouldn't pay more than that- I think u can always find a beginner with talent for that price and just wouldnt pay more...
the photographers charging $300 and up for a sitting fee and then per picture- its highway robbery and just not worth it!
good luck!

Simple1 ↓

Mon, Oct 22 2012, 5:50 am

It depends on your experience level and reliability. To ask for expensive sitting fees, you need more than a good eye, you need to learn the more technical parts of photography (which can be self taught).

↑ 5S5Sr7z3 ↓

Mon, Oct 22 2012, 5:56 am

Thank you mrsmagoo!!!

Simple1, of course I don't want to overcharge. I know I'm not THAT good just yet! I just didn't even k ow where to start, being that I never went to anyone t take pictures of my kids. I would love to learn all the ins and outs properly one day, but I do have 2 other jobs, so this is going to stay a hobby for now.

Raisin

Mon, Oct 22 2012, 5:59 am

when our kids had school pics recently we had the option of buying prints and/or a cd. I think they charged about $30 for the cd. It was just one picture though.

If you offer a package with lots of different size pics, for say, $50, people will see it as good value as opposed to being charged per picture.

ElTam

Mon, Oct 22 2012, 7:04 am

We've worked with someone for several years. When she first started, she charged $50 an hour, which included a CD with all pictures. As she has gotten better, she's gone up in price, and is now $100 an hour, including the CD.

↑ Simple1

Mon, Oct 22 2012, 8:07 am

You could charge by the "sheet", let's say $10. You can start with no sitting fee, and as you become better at it, add a sitting fee which you can gradually increase; and you can raise your sheet price as well. Sitting fees can vary greatly from $25 which is very low, to very high - a few hundred dollars.

Toriadore

Mon, Oct 22 2012, 8:21 pm

You should NOT take photos indoors if you don't have lighting.

You wrote you've been taking outdoors until now...it will make a huge difference. You don't want them to not be satisfied and then stuck in a situation where you did the work, dealt with the kids, and now they don't want the photos.

Better for your reputation to stick to outdoors and take beautiful shots. Save the money you earn from the first jobs buy lighting if this is something you really want to do.

And BTW, no one is highway robbery. Every photographer commands a different amount. There will be a significant difference in the quality of the photos of the photographer charging $100 vs. $500 and up. For those who can afford, it is well worth it. It's better than having beautiful art on your walls. There is a significant difference. Obviously, people think so, because the good ones are the ones who are busy.

So, work your way up, take courses, and learn if you want to pursue it. But do things that would reflect well on you and this point. You don't want the indoor shoot to be a step back.

I am not a photographer but, in my line of work, I hire and work with photographers almost every day.

↑ mrsmagoo

Tue, Oct 23 2012, 5:37 am

the reason they are so busy is the HYPE- its a fad thing!
there is someone selling shaitels STARTING at $3000 and up and she is also SO busy! I dont believe for a minute that her shaitels are better then a regular high end shaitel that costs $1500
my pictures taken by 2 very talented people just starting out (who knows mabey in a few years they will be charging $500 a session) are STUNNING!!! people cant believe how gorgeous the pictures are and are always asking me where I took them...
but I will tell you that ALOT of people will definetly stay away from someone charging a crazy amount for pictures...it just isnt worth it if you can find someone who also takes stunning pictures for a decent fee