Engagement Photos?

Question

My wife is a beginning photographer. She has taken two of our friends engagment photos, and they turned out really well. Great actually. She didn't charge a fee as she is just starting out. A friend of ours wants her to take their pics. How much should my wife charge? As this is a third shoot for her. Any suggestions?

Answer 1

What is her time worth to her? Did she take any classes at school to learn her craft? If she did and paid a fee for the class, she should charge a portion of the class fees for the pix depending on her prospects for further work. She should at least charge for consumables, travel, and wear and tear on equipment. The price of film if she's using film, and developing, and printing. And if they're going anywhere that has an admission fee that should be charged too, or directly paid for by the couple. Figure if your wife works somewhere else, her time is at least as valuable as what she's getting paid there, and likely more. If she doesn't, if she's a stay at home mom, she should charge a rate that makes her feel compensated for her work.

Answer 2

$100 an hour, minimal of $250.

Anything less she will be known as "cheap"--and she'll burn herself out after a few gigs.