Pricing question for wedding photogs

How would you price this? This is from an email from a potential client. Do you think there

would be a problem getting 100 unique shots of just the ceremony and group shots? I

have only shot a few weddings and I've never just shot for an hour, I've always shot the

entire wedding.

 

FROM CLIENT

I was thinking 1 hour to 1.5 hours at the church; time depending on length of ceremony. ?I

would like pics of the ceremony and pics of me & my fiance, the wedding party & our

families. ?I think that a minimum of about 100 original color and black & white (maybe 50/

50 split) is fair. ?And I would like to have either: 1) a book of all pics, 2) CD of all pics, or

3) negatives... all of which to be supplied to me after the wedding so I can see all photos

that were taken.

 

Any suggestions appreciated.

 

Thanks

I wouldn't price this. I'll gaurentee that this is one of those fraud deals, I'd email them back saying you don't totally understand what they want and you want a phone number to contact them through and I bet you won't get one. Sorry boss, these seem to be going around alot more often now. But hey, I have been known to be wrong, once ;) (j/k)

My answer would be "I am sorry, but that is probably not enough time to do jsutice to your event. May I suggest 2.5 hours as the minimum."

 

having said that I would want to charge a min. per hr. rate of say 150 and have it understood there is no post work included. That's where I live at least.

I forgot to mention that it would also depend on the date/day. If it were a w/end that usually books, then I would just decline anything less than the normal $$ you would get for the day. Just my opinion.

8 hours at least of real work, times $150/hour rate. (the text from the client sounds fishy in any case)

100 pictures in an hour? And that's good pictures. Personally I would find it difficult to take 100 album quality pictures in an hour.

I had a request last week for 2 hours of coverage. Getting ready, ceremony and formals. It is very short notice (2 weeks) and I was free that day with no plans.

 

I quoted a flat rate for shooting with images on a cd. I also gave her the option of ordering a small print package.

 

She booked including the prints. I'll make a little on the prints and a lot on the labor. But if it was not a last minute booking, I would have not accepted it.

Friend of mine just did a wedding like that. 1 hour of coverage, he gave the client a cd with all the images. He charged $1500.

What happens when someone calls you for the same day and wants a day-long package, with albums, for two sets of divorced - and remarried - parents? That's four albums, plus the couple's albun.

 

You'd already stuck with the cheap client. A similar scenario happened to me in my first year.

Rich, exactly why I would only do this as a last minute booking.

Call me a sucky photographer, but...<br>

I have never produced 100 good pictures in 1.5 hours.<br>

Derek, if you're shooting a pro bike race 100 quality photos in 90 minutes is easy!! ;-() <p>

As for a wedding I dare say it is impossible unless you want the proofs to look like a slow-running, card flip type of a movie.

I decided to pass on this "opportunity."

"Friend of mine just did a wedding like that. 1 hour of coverage, he gave the client a cd with all the images. He charged $1500."

 

WOW!

 

As far as the original question. I say to brides that I charge a 4 our minimum, so wether they get me for 1 hour or 4 it is the same price. Why rush it?