Family of 35 for portrait session

MB Shutter

Ok, this isn't a typical, "what should I charge question." I have a request from an out of town client to shoot his family while they are in town later this summer for a reunion. He is asking for copyright release, multiple disks (for family members at reunion), and online proofing and ordering. I have all of this without problem available and in this case have no issue with copyright release. My only problem is that I do not know what to charge for 35 people. :huh

My standard fee is $125 for the first 5 people and $25 for each additional, however I think that is too much when we are talking about 35 people with 30 of them at $25 a head. I'm just not sure I can wrap my brain around a price for this many people at the moment. Any suggestions?

happysmileylady

MB Shutter wrote:

Ok, this isn't a typical, "what should I charge question." I have a request from an out of town client to shoot his family while they are in town later this summer for a reunion. He is asking for copyright release, multiple disks (for family members at reunion), and online proofing and ordering. I have all of this without problem available and in this case have no issue with copyright release. My only problem is that I do not know what to charge for 35 people.

My standard fee is $125 for the first 5 people and $25 for each additional, however I think that is too much when we are talking about 35 people with 30 of them at $25 a head. I'm just not sure I can wrap my brain around a price for this many people at the moment. Any suggestions?

Well, at your regular price, that's $875. What about just a flat $500?

A friend of mine asked about doing a similar shot but was upset that most photographers they asked wanted $600 or so.

That many is a pain! The most I have done is 23 but that was in a controlled (sort of) studio setting.

The number and ages of kids is big part of this....if 10 of the 35 are kids but all the kids are ages 6 to 16, thats a little easier than if half of them are kids, 5 of those kids can't stand, and the rest are all between the ages of 2 and 6:D

Also, if you have 5 elderly adults in wheelchairs, it's going to be more difficult than if all the adults are able-bodied and you can sit some, lay some whatever...

So, you might want to get some details of the family composition before deciding on a price.

Blaker

happysmileylady wrote:

Well, at your regular price, that's $875. What about just a flat $500?

A friend of mine asked about doing a similar shot but was upset that most photographers they asked wanted $600 or so.

That many is a pain! The most I have done is 23 but that was in a controlled (sort of) studio setting.

The number and ages of kids is big part of this....if 10 of the 35 are kids but all the kids are ages 6 to 16, thats a little easier than if half of them are kids, 5 of those kids can't stand, and the rest are all between the ages of 2 and 6:D

Also, if you have 5 elderly adults in wheelchairs, it's going to be more difficult than if all the adults are able-bodied and you can sit some, lay some whatever...

So, you might want to get some details of the family composition before deciding on a price.

Be sure to think about how much time this is going to take- are they going to want smaller groups done as well as the group of 35? I can see them saying, oh, as long as we're here let's get a photo of our family of 5, or just the kids with the grandma's, or all the kids together, etc.

And if they do smaller groups and couples or individuals as well as the entire group of 35, that's a lot more time spent on post processing. Then there's the cost of all the cd's- will you have to pay postage to mail the cd's to everyone since they are all out of town?

How did they find you? Have they seen one of your ads or website with your pricing ? They might be prepared to pay a large amount since it's such a large group and it's a one -time happening to have them all together.

It's easier to start with a high price and let them negotiate you lower than to start low, then realize you won't be making any money on the deal, and try to increase your price.

Just a few things to think about!

Good luck and have fun with it!

bob swanson

From my experience wouldn't it be better to just charge your regular fee and NOT give up your reprint rights. Post proofs on the internet with reprint prices and let the individuals pay for their own reprints. I have one coming up in June and I have given them a Group photo price with a retainer. The retainer is refundable if the group purchases a certain number of the group enlargements. Good luck.

Blaker wrote:

Be sure to think about how much time this is going to take- are they going to want smaller groups done as well as the group of 35? I can see them saying, oh, as long as we're here let's get a photo of our family of 5, or just the kids with the grandma's, or all the kids together, etc.

And if they do smaller groups and couples or individuals as well as the entire group of 35, that's a lot more time spent on post processing. Then there's the cost of all the cd's- will you have to pay postage to mail the cd's to everyone since they are all out of town?

How did they find you? Have they seen one of your ads or website with your pricing ? They might be prepared to pay a large amount since it's such a large group and it's a one -time happening to have them all together.

It's easier to start with a high price and let them negotiate you lower than to start low, then realize you won't be making any money on the deal, and try to increase your price.

Just a few things to think about!

Good luck and have fun with it!

Nikolai

MB Shutter wrote:

Ok, this isn't a typical, "what should I charge question." I have a request from an out of town client to shoot his family while they are in town later this summer for a reunion. He is asking for copyright release, multiple disks (for family members at reunion), and online proofing and ordering. I have all of this without problem available and in this case have no issue with copyright release. My only problem is that I do not know what to charge for 35 people.

My standard fee is $125 for the first 5 people and $25 for each additional, however I think that is too much when we are talking about 35 people with 30 of them at $25 a head. I'm just not sure I can wrap my brain around a price for this many people at the moment. Any suggestions?

Last time I shot this size crowd I got paid $1,500... And copyright (and RAWs) stayed with me, I just sent them one CD with a few dozen touchep up fullres jpegs. Extra print sales happened afterwards, too.