Comments on: Wedding Singer… I mean… Photographer http://mothman.efx3.com/2009/11/20/wedding-songer-i-mean-photographer/ Ramblings, Rants, and Photos of the MothMan Wed, 17 Mar 2010 18:48:53 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: mothman http://mothman.efx3.com/2009/11/20/wedding-songer-i-mean-photographer/comment-page-1/#comment-379 mothman Mon, 23 Nov 2009 16:48:38 +0000 http://mothman.efx3.com/?p=166#comment-379 Hey chandramoon. Yeah, for sure, less stress would be good. lol I'd want it to be at least somewhat enjoyable for me too. :p The woman who asked me about it has assured me she will be speaking with the couple to find out what they would be comfortable with, what they'd expect, etc, finding out if they'd be OK with an amateur taking photos. One thing I'm wondering, and need to get clarification about... is I don't know if she came to me because the couple wants to save money ... or if it's this woman, wanting to provide the the photography as a gift, but looking to do it as cheaply as possible. If it's the former, then OK, I can understand that... they want to spend much less money, and are OK with decent-good photos done by an amateur. But if it's the latter, then I don't want any part of that... if the couple expect a professional, then I wouldn't want to put myself into that situation. The woman who contact me asked if I could provide some examples of the shots I took at my dads wedding, so I'm going to provide some of those, and she'll show the couple, and explain to them everything about who I am, etc, and we'll take it from there. Does anyone have any suggestions on whether my thoughts re: what to charge is reasonable? I don't want to charge too much... because this will basically be a first time for me, and I am just a guy with a camera. But I also don't want to undervalue myself. That's where the ~$20/hour for my time came in... and then just estimating how much time it might actually take all told. My dad figured I shouldn't go below $25/hour... but I'm not sure. I realize that's a hard question for you folks to answer, as wage levels will be different in different places around thew world. As an example, minimum wage where I live is currently $8/hr. Hey chandramoon.

Yeah, for sure, less stress would be good. lol I’d want it to be at least somewhat enjoyable for me too. :p

The woman who asked me about it has assured me she will be speaking with the couple to find out what they would be comfortable with, what they’d expect, etc, finding out if they’d be OK with an amateur taking photos.

One thing I’m wondering, and need to get clarification about… is I don’t know if she came to me because the couple wants to save money … or if it’s this woman, wanting to provide the the photography as a gift, but looking to do it as cheaply as possible.

If it’s the former, then OK, I can understand that… they want to spend much less money, and are OK with decent-good photos done by an amateur.

But if it’s the latter, then I don’t want any part of that… if the couple expect a professional, then I wouldn’t want to put myself into that situation.

The woman who contact me asked if I could provide some examples of the shots I took at my dads wedding, so I’m going to provide some of those, and she’ll show the couple, and explain to them everything about who I am, etc, and we’ll take it from there.

Does anyone have any suggestions on whether my thoughts re: what to charge is reasonable?

I don’t want to charge too much… because this will basically be a first time for me, and I am just a guy with a camera.

But I also don’t want to undervalue myself.

That’s where the ~$20/hour for my time came in… and then just estimating how much time it might actually take all told.

My dad figured I shouldn’t go below $25/hour… but I’m not sure.

I realize that’s a hard question for you folks to answer, as wage levels will be different in different places around thew world.

As an example, minimum wage where I live is currently $8/hr.

]]> By: chandramoon http://mothman.efx3.com/2009/11/20/wedding-songer-i-mean-photographer/comment-page-1/#comment-378 chandramoon Mon, 23 Nov 2009 10:53:03 +0000 http://mothman.efx3.com/?p=166#comment-378 I think it sounds great - it's good you're going to be clear that you're not a professional and that it's their responsibiltiy to have some back up shots of "crucial moments" - especially if you're not charging a lot they should be able to afford someone for the more conventional shots - it's an art after all learned after lots of experience of similar events. That way it won't be so stressful for you and you'll probably get brilliant shots then. Good luck! I think it sounds great – it’s good you’re going to be clear that you’re not a professional and that it’s their responsibiltiy to have some back up shots of “crucial moments” – especially if you’re not charging a lot they should be able to afford someone for the more conventional shots – it’s an art after all learned after lots of experience of similar events. That way it won’t be so stressful for you and you’ll probably get brilliant shots then. Good luck!

]]>