cost of family photographs

[sdjen]

Just checking to see what some of you may have experienced with this.

My brothers and I (along with spouses and 6 grandkids) are planning on doing a family picture in April to give to our parents at their 50th anniversary party this summer.

I am wondering about what I should expect to spend for a photo session and a few photograph prints? We would prefer to use a "professional" photographer locally and not JC Penneys etc...

Thanks for any advice

 

[MichelleinMaine]

No idea on pricing- but would it be better to bring the photographer to the party in June, so then your parents can be in the pic, too? Maybe wrap up a frame as a gift and say "and here's the photographer to get us all in a pic to put in there"?

 

[jen73]

we had some pictures of the kids taken last summer before our oldest went off to college and the photographer we hired charged $100 for the session (about an hr) at my location of choice and I could either order the prints through her or pay $50 for a CD of the pictures. I ordered the CD and uploaded them online onto Costco.com and ordered them there. WAY cheaper than her prices. I ordered bigger pictures (16x20). If you don't have a Costco, prob Sam's Club is the same. We are in North Texas, btw

Also, I bought the frames at Hobby Lobby where they are usually 50% off or I used a coupon

Good Luck!

 

[havaneselover]

We did this in 2011 for my parents' 50th anniversary. It was my parents, their 4 children, their 2 daughters in law, and 8 grand children ranging in age from 2-13.

My sister and I nearly killed each other coordinating clothes (not matchy matchy). We ended up finding cute dresses for the four granddaughters at gap kids and coordinating everyone with those. The pictures were taken outside my parents home in Northern Michigan with the water in the background. It was a lovely setting.

I think we paid about $400. It may have been $500. The photographer came from 60 miles away (not a lot of choices and the lady we wanted to use was on vacation the week we were up there). For that we got digital files and a few blow ups. I think it was a 2 hour session with an assistant. We will probably never be together again at the same time so it was worth it.

We took the files and had fun making an acrylic print, a photo book, plates, etc. on shutterfly.

 

[clh2]

In my neck of the woods, there are photographers that will take pictures like this - and it will run ~ $150-250. Kind of depends what you want in addition to the group photo (i.e. individual family photos, each married couple, the respective children from each set of parents, and possible individuals of the kids.)

This would include about 1.5 hours of a photoshoot, as well as about 30 of the images being retouched, and a CD wil all images plus the retouched images.

There are a couple of companies that do great reprints - like mpix.com and those are a lot less expensive than having the photographer handle any prints that you want.

 

[MinnieForMe]

Definitely do some research in your area and check the photographer's gallery out. Everyone who owns a DSLR is claiming to be a photographer these days.

Depending on where you live an investment of $300-500 will probably get you the pictures you want. I also agree that having your parents in the picture will probably mean more to you and your siblings in the future.

 

[katclicks]

I am a photographer and have many photographer friends. We all charge different rates and offer different things. It really depends on your area and what you want. If you want, pm me and I can ask on my photog forum for a photographer in your area. I would expect a minimum of $200 regardless.

 

[3boymthr]

Keep an eye on living social and groupon in your area. I frequently see photographers offering specials on there, usually the deals are very good.

 

[LilSweetPeaPhoto]

I've been a professional photographer for 8 years. I personally charge $350 for the session alone. In a situation of extended families like this, some people will charge more. I also suggest to my clients in this situation to buy the CD, which I charge $1800 for.

I would warn you about using cheap photographers (I'm not saying you have to drop coin on someone like me). Many of the cheap people are taking the income and NOT paying taxes (really not cool to legit photographers, or really any of us who DO pay taxes with our jobs, etc). They also don't have insurance. God forbid something happens to a family member during a session (brides have fallen into rivers and drowned). They likely aren't paying for backup of your images, god forbid someone dies, or worse, they loose your images, etc, etc. And many times there are issues w/ color, focus, etc, etc, etc.

You can find good photographers who are priced lower then me, who are legit and good. Do your research! Don't pick a jack of all trades photographer either! Posing large families is hard! Not everyone can do it.

And FWIW, I photographed my grandparents at their 65th wedding anny a few years back. My grandpa was 100% fine at it. 2 weeks later he was dead. Those pictures mean the world to my dad, and grandma, my cousins and myself, as it was the last time we were all together and he was alive and somewhat healthy. Of course, I did it for free, but they truly are priceless!

 

[wiigirl]

Keep an eye on living social and groupon in your area. I frequently see photographers offering specials on there, usually the deals are very good.

 

[*pixie*]

Everyone who owns a DSLR is claiming to be a photographer these days.

This!! I live in a small rural area and suddenly we have more "photographers" than we know what to do with. I just have to shake my head when people have them take their wedding, senior, etc. portraits because they are "cheaper" and then are devastated when they get their CD of unedited photos back and they are just awful. My friend didn't get a single photo of her wedding reception because the "photographer" didn't realize the reception hall would be so "dark". I am a hobbyist photographer at best, and even I could have gotten decent photos at the reception.

I just really feel for the true professional photographers. These people have to be killing their business.

 

[sdjen]

OP here - thanks everyone for the advice.

I would prefer to have a family photo done at the party this summer also (to include my parents) but they dont want a professional there. We will just get more casual shots by some family members to include the whole immediate family there. We are doing a picnic on a Friday night and also a dinner/dance at a hotel for Saturday night so we will be together several times.

I myself would also prefer to have them in the pics we will do in April but my brother (actually his wife) really wants to do them as a suprise gift so I am kind of going with the flow (not worth the battle with her). His family lives 400 miles away and the weekend in April is the only time prior to July that we will be together.

I was just trying to get an idea if we were talking about a few $100 or a lot more. I have looked online locally for some pricing but no one really wants to post their actual pricing on their website

Thanks again!