Selling your photos

[mvazul]

Hi, everyone!

I have a question and I am hoping some of you can help me.

My husband's cousin is getting married the Saturday after Thanksgiving. She has contacted me to do their wedding photography. She has also asked my son to be an usher and our daughter to be a flower girl. I am absolutely thrilled!

So, my question is, how much do I charge? My normal costs for a wedding are $700 in area and $1200 out of state (up to 12 hours away). I have done two family weddings (for my side - in town) and didn't charge very much ($150). Plus, I burned all of their pictures to a CD for them to print their own. I would do the exact same for my husband's cousin, but...

We are in Pennsylvania. The wedding is taking place in Scottsdale, AZ. I checked plane tickets yesterday and they will be at least $1800 for the four of us to fly. If we drive, we are looking at 35 hours in the car - not to mention stops along the way and hotels.

She has offered to pay me and sign a contract. I wouldn't charge her, except it will cost us alot of money to get there. Because it would cost so much, we weren't planning to attend even though we really wanted to be there. Then she asked me to do the photography and asked the kids to be in the wedding. Now it's a completely different story.

She had originally looked at another photographer and decided she wanted me, instead. I don't want to make a profit off her, however I feel like I will need to charge something to help cover our travel costs. I am still planning to burn a CD of all the pictures for them to have.

If it matters any, the wedding and reception are going to be held here. It looks like it will be a beautiful place for a wedding. We won't be staying there. I looked up room prices and they are $475 a night!! I think we will be looking for a Day's Inn!

Anyway...I appreciate any help any of you might have.

Thank you!

Michelle

 

[Steve's Girl]

Personally, I wouldn't want to charge family. Maybe you could ask her to pay your hotel charges for while you are there. Just explain that you don't really want to be compensated for being the photographer, but some help with the expenses while there would be appreciated. You may also want to wait a little while on booking flights. Southwest usually has get-away rates that are pretty reasonable. But, those rates are generally released 6 to 12 weeks out.

 

[jann1033]

you'd be going anyway with the kids being in it so the expense of getting and staying would be the same, so if that were all it involved, i'd just do what you did for the other family members but really it's going to cost lots more than just getting there.
the expenses for the kids are going to be a lot too so i might rethink if you can't really afford to go. or maybe see if you can do a swap ie the kid's clothes( ie my granddaughter's dress was over $200 recently and they really searched for less expensive ones, a tux for your son, will they need shoes etc) etc for the photos. i think most people know things are tough financially now. it's a lot to pay to attend a wedding

 

[mvazul]

Personally, I wouldn't want to charge family. Maybe you could ask her to pay your hotel charges for while you are there. Just explain that you don't really want to be compensated for being the photographer, but some help with the expenses while there would be appreciated. You may also want to wait a little while on booking flights. Southwest usually has get-away rates that are pretty reasonable. But, those rates are generally released 6 to 12 weeks out.

Thank you!

That is exactly how I am feeling.

I am not used to flying, so I will keep that in mind about Southwest. My husband says we will probably drive - we usually drive everywhere). Our kids are good travelers (son will be 15 and daughter will be almost 8 by that time), but I can't imagine driving that far.

I am just so honored to have been asked and have the kids be a part, too.

Thanks, again!

Michelle

 

[lsayd]

I agree with Steve's Girl - that way you are treating each family equally. You may also want to find out if they are getting a discount on rooms for out of town guests - most hotels will include a number of rooms at a discount for guests.

 

[mvazul]

you'd be going anyway with the kids being in it so the expense would be the same, i'd just do what you did for the other family members

That's eactly what I told my husband, but he said, "It's your business. You would normally charge for a wedding." Yes, but not so much for family.

Michelle

 

[mvazul]

I agree with Steve's Girl - that way you are treating each family equally. You may also want to find out if they are getting a discount on rooms for out of town guests - most hotels will include a number of rooms at a discount for guests.

I completely agree about treating each family equally! It's my husband who is making me doubt myself - even though he keeps saying it is ultimately up to me what I charge. I'm glad the rest of you feel the same way I do!

I will be asking her if she is getting a block of rooms. I know we did that at the hotel where we had our reception. And I know they will be having alot of out of town guests. She is from Illionois. Her parents and sister, brother-in-law and nephews are still there - along with her aunts including my mother-in-law. My husband's siblings are in Florida. The groom's family are all from Pennsylvania. It would only make sense for them to get a block of rooms.

Thank you, again!

Michelle

 

[jann1033]

different families feel so differently about work expenses..ie my family will do everything for free for each other( although my mother always sends us money afterward and refused to not do so ) but my husband's family charges us what they would charge anyone. so if your husband's family is more like my hub's then they may expect to be charged for it.

 

[mvazul]

different families feel so differently about work expenses..ie my family will do everything for free for each other( although my mother always sends us money afterward and refused to not do so ) but my husband's family charges us what they would charge anyone. so if your husband's family is more like my hub's then they may expect to be charged for it.

Yes, it sounds like our families are exactly the same. We usually have wedding receptions in the local fire hall with family doing everything (I grew up in rural Pennsylvania). My Husband's family is used to having weddings/receptions in hotels/country clubs hiring people to do most of the work (he grew up in Chicago). Even though there are those differences, my family and his family are eerily similar.

Thank you!

Michelle

 

[RBennett]

My whole 2 cents is, I agree that since it's family you may not charge (or charge as much) like you do with normal customers. HOWEVER, you stated that you probably would not have gone since it is so far away, except that she asked your kids to be in it and asked you to do the photography. Having said that, if she ASKS you to be there and be involved as much as you will be, I would want SOME sort of compensation. It sounds like you will be travelling farther than most of the rest of the family and that's a pretty big request, asking someone to travel around 4,500 miles round trip and pay for hotels. Let's say that your car gets on avg 30 miles/gallon on the highway and you have a 15 gallon tank; that's 10 fillups to get there and back. Plus hotels while you driver there and back, food, and hotels/food while you're there, and the kids' outfits. Now I'm like you and not suggesting that you make a profit, and shoot, I'm not saying they have to pay ALL of it, but that's a pretty big chunk of change to ask someone to throw done for free. But at least maybe a few hundred? I don't think that's too unreasonable for all that you're doing: photography (including the cds,) providing an usher, a flower girl, and travel thousands of miles. I guess ultimately even though they are family, that doesn't mean that you should have to shell out a couple thousand dollars. Let's say you normally charge $700 for local wedding, $150 for a local family wedding, so for a LONG distance family wedding maybe around $400-$500? Sorry this was so long, but I was trying to explain my reasonings. Good luck!

 

[annnewjerz]

If you were going anyway, I would say it would be perfectly fine to charge nothing or a small amount (like $150) for your family. That being said, you weren't planning to go because of the expense----so to change your mind and spread your finances thin to go now just because she asked your kids to be in the wedding and you to photograph, that's a whole different story.

You said she chose you in place of another photographer---do you know what the price of that photographer was going to be?

If you are going to drive, I would ask her to cover the cost of your gas and maybe some portion of the kid's clothing if it gets pricey (leaving you to pay for the hotel and food). If you decide to fly, I'm sure you can get the price down to $1200 or so (especially if you fly with one stop instead of non-stop) and if that's the case, I wouldn't feel guilty asking for enough to cover your hotel and and food expenses while you are out there.

Either way, it looks like they would both work out to fall somewhere between $500 and $1000, so maybe $700 would be a good amoun.

I know it's hard to charge family and friends, but with the way things are right now economically it would be foolish not to charge something unless you have a surplus of money sitting around for the trip.

Good luck and hopefully you can work something out that you are comfortable with---and be sure to share some pics!!

 

[Chikabowa]

My advice is to charge them what you would normally charge any other regular couple that comes to you for a wedding. Then, tack on your travel costs on top of it.

That is too far to travel, too much work, and too much expense to not charge them anything else. Especially when going to a wedding you weren't intending on going to in the first place.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I think, given the situation as it stands, I might charge them, but I would charge them a set amount and just apply it to the room or children's formal clothing, etc, myself, ie not get into hotel charges and such with them. It just gets too complicated (and subjective - like why choose hotel A when hotel B is better, etc). I would tell them my rationale, though, so they don't feel shortchanged. (The extenuating circumstances are kind of extreme. )

I started to respond earlier about the distance but I got interrupted.

My DH and I, before we had kids, used to travel 12hrs in the car to visit a relative. It seemed absolutely endless. Over the years, we've considered driving the 1200 miles (~ 22hrs) to WDW, but between the kids and remembering those other rides, we always nixed it.

I always have good luck getting good fares on SWA, but it takes a lot of work, ie daily checking, comparing prices, switching around, etc. The thing about that weekend is that as the busiest travel weekend of the year, I doubt you'll be able to get any great deals on airfare. This happens not only on holidays, but over school vacations as well. Astronomical pretty much everywhere. (The only thing that might be different this year is the economy.)

Let us know how it goes.

 

[mvazul]

My whole 2 cents is, I agree that since it's family you may not charge (or charge as much) like you do with normal customers. HOWEVER, you stated that you probably would not have gone since it is so far away, except that she asked your kids to be in it and asked you to do the photography. Having said that, if she ASKS you to be there and be involved as much as you will be, I would want SOME sort of compensation. It sounds like you will be travelling farther than most of the rest of the family and that's a pretty big request, asking someone to travel around 4,500 miles round trip and pay for hotels. Let's say that your car gets on avg 30 miles/gallon on the highway and you have a 15 gallon tank; that's 10 fillups to get there and back. Plus hotels while you driver there and back, food, and hotels/food while you're there, and the kids' outfits. Now I'm like you and not suggesting that you make a profit, and shoot, I'm not saying they have to pay ALL of it, but that's a pretty big chunk of change to ask someone to throw done for free. But at least maybe a few hundred? I don't think that's too unreasonable for all that you're doing: photography (including the cds,) providing an usher, a flower girl, and travel thousands of miles. I guess ultimately even though they are family, that doesn't mean that you should have to shell out a couple thousand dollars. Let's say you normally charge $700 for local wedding, $150 for a local family wedding, so for a LONG distance family wedding maybe around $400-$500? Sorry this was so long, but I was trying to explain my reasonings. Good luck!

Thank you! You make alot of sense. I agree it is alot of work and travel to do it for nothing.

If you were going anyway, I would say it would be perfectly fine to charge nothing or a small amount (like $150) for your family. That being said, you weren't planning to go because of the expense----so to change your mind and spread your finances thin to go now just because she asked your kids to be in the wedding and you to photograph, that's a whole different story.

You said she chose you in place of another photographer---do you know what the price of that photographer was going to be?

If you are going to drive, I would ask her to cover the cost of your gas and maybe some portion of the kid's clothing if it gets pricey (leaving you to pay for the hotel and food). If you decide to fly, I'm sure you can get the price down to $1200 or so (especially if you fly with one stop instead of non-stop) and if that's the case, I wouldn't feel guilty asking for enough to cover your hotel and and food expenses while you are out there.

Either way, it looks like they would both work out to fall somewhere between $500 and $1000, so maybe $700 would be a good amoun.

I know it's hard to charge family and friends, but with the way things are right now economically it would be foolish not to charge something unless you have a surplus of money sitting around for the trip.

Good luck and hopefully you can work something out that you are comfortable with---and be sure to share some pics!!

Thank you very much! It is very hard for me to charge family, but it will cost us quite a bit to get there and back.

No, we do not have a surplus sitting around. In fact, if we had to leave tomorrow, the trip would deplete our savings. Thankfully, we have several months to save up - and I have three more (non-family) weddings between now and then.

I don't know what the cost of the other photographer was going to be. I did ask her last night in an e-mail, but she hasn't responded yet. I don't expect to hear from her until tonight. I let her know I wanted to make sure I was in the right ballpark when I give her a figure.

I will definitely share pictures!

My advice is to charge them what you would normally charge any other regular couple that comes to you for a wedding. Then, tack on your travel costs on top of it.

That is too far to travel, too much work, and too much expense to not charge them anything else. Especially when going to a wedding you weren't intending on going to in the first place.

I appreciate your opinion, ut there is no way I'd charge for my services plus cost of travel on top of it. I would for any old Joe off the street, but not for family. I just couldn't do it. However, after talking to my husband, and getting thoughts here, I really think I need to charge something. Now, I just need to figure out what that something is.

I think, given the situation as it stands, I might charge them, but I would charge them a set amount and just apply it to the room or children's formal clothing, etc, myself, ie not get into hotel charges and such with them. It just gets too complicated (and subjective - like why choose hotel A when hotel B is better, etc). I would tell them my rationale, though, so they don't feel shortchanged. (The extenuating circumstances are kind of extreme. )

I started to respond earlier about the distance but I got interrupted.

My DH and I, before we had kids, used to travel 12hrs in the car to visit a relative. It seemed absolutely endless. Over the years, we've considered driving the 1200 miles (~ 22hrs) to WDW, but between the kids and remembering those other rides, we always nixed it.

I always have good luck getting good fares on SWA, but it takes a lot of work, ie daily checking, comparing prices, switching around, etc. The thing about that weekend is that as the busiest travel weekend of the year, I doubt you'll be able to get any great deals on airfare. This happens not only on holidays, but over school vacations as well. Astronomical pretty much everywhere. (The only thing that might be different this year is the economy.)

Let us know how it goes.

I agree with you about the hotel. I would prefer to have say over where we will be staying and not feel guilty.

When we travel, we usually drive. It is usually cheaper than flying. We drove from Chicago to Orlando two years ago. It wasn't too bad, but we had a stop in Nashville to see my father on the way down. That helped break it up. I'm thinking if we do end up driving, we will probably leave that Tuesday and take our time getting there. The trip back, though. Thankfully, the kids have the Monday after off.

Your bolded sentence has me worried the most. We generally stay close to home around the holidays. And I know that is the busiest weekend for travel.

Thank you to all of you. You have all made some very good points. I really appreciate it. I have decide I will be charging, I'm just not sure how much yet.

Thank you, again!

Michelle

 

[annnewjerz]

For what it's worth, right now Airtran has fare from Philly to Phoenix with 1 stop in Atlanta (the first weekend of November) on Airtran for about $960 total. They don't have dates released yet for the end of November (but should within a week or two) and I would definitely check back daily to see if they have any sales or web specials.

They unfortunately charge for your checked bags, however if you are only going our for a long weekend and have family out there, you should probably be able to get away with carry-ons only I would think.

 

[mvazul]

For what it's worth, right now Airtran has fare from Philly to Phoenix with 1 stop in Atlanta (the first weekend of November) on Airtran for about $960 total. They don't have dates released yet for the end of November (but should within a week or two) and I would definitely check back daily to see if they have any sales or web specials.

They unfortunately charge for your checked bags, however if you are only going our for a long weekend and have family out there, you should probably be able to get away with carry-ons only I would think.

I was looking on Orbitz on Monday for flights. At first, I was thinking it was only going to be just myself and my husband. I figured why spend the extra money? I wasn't sure of the date of Thanksgiving and looked up the week before. It was about $560 round trip for the two of us on Northwest. Then, last night, she asked the kids to be in it. So, I went back - now knowing the exact date - and the cheapest I could find was just over $1800 for all four of us.

I will definitely keep looking. Thank you for checking, too!

Michelle

 

[Steve's Girl]

We flew over Thanksgiving weekend two years ago and got great fares. You just have to be willing to fly at off times. We flew on Thanksgiving Day. The airport was not empty, but definetly not packed like it is on the prime days. Play with your schedule a little and you should be able to find reasonable fares and avoid the masses.

 

[WillCAD]

You have two separate but related issues - part of your family is IN the wedding, and you will be WORKING the wedding.

My family has a policy: If you want us to be in your wedding, we'll do what we can, but if we can't afford the travel costs, we decline. Nobody grouses when my Aunt Jean in Seattle can't come to a wedding in Baltimore because she can't afford the airfare. So if the $1800 expense is too much, leave the kids home and cut your airfare in half.

Likewise, you're working the wedding. In my family, we don't charge for photo or video services; I have been the videographer for many a family wedding over the years, gratis, although someone usually picks up any expenses needed, such as the cost of tapes or disks if multiple copies are needed. One of my best friends is a wedding photographer, and he has shot a lot of weddings for my family; not being IN the family, he charges, but offers a steep discount, which makes everybody happy.

My opinion is, shooting an in-town wedding gratis (so long as someone kicks in for any print or disk expenses you might incur) is fine, but an out-of-town wedding where you will be incurring $1000 or more in airfare and hotel expenses is just too much to do for free, even for family.

If your cousin-in-law has already offered to pay you and sign a contract, to me that implies strongly that she does NOT expect you to work for free. Since she's family, I'd offer her a steeply discounted price, but definitely charge her a reasonable amount so as to recoup at least some of your expenses.

Ask her what the local photographers were going to charge, and use that to get an idea what she expects you to charge her. You're going to lose a tone of money on this deal, especially if you opt to bring the kids with you, but you can at least recoup some of your expenses.

And by the way - if she's having a wedding at a Four Seasons luxury resort, a place that charges $475 a night for a hotel room, I doubt that she'd blanche over a photographer bill equal to two nights in the room. I bet that you'll find that many of the photographers she's looked at were charging well in excess of $1000 even without travel expenses.

EDITED TO ADD:

Family or not, GET THE CONTRACT SIGNED! More family disagreements have escalated to estrangements over money than any other single factor, and a contract specifying exactly what you will do, and exactly how much she will pay, is essential to maintaining famaily harmony. She may not realize that you're not providing prints, so going over all of this stuff and signing a contract in advance is the best way to educate her.

Good fences make good neighbors, and good business contracts make for congenial family relationships.

 

[raysnkaysmom]

Hey! We are trying to build an e-commerce account into our website, and looking for something similar to picpick, but just looking at options....
We have our merchant account, just wondering what you may find useful and easy to navigate for loading pictures where prints can be purchased from that page....

 

[AlbertZeroK]

Are you using a front end for your website? Like Joomla or something?

I sell print on smugmug and have used exposure manager, but both fulfill the orders for me and take a cut greater than a merchant account would.