reasonal price for amateur photographer?

sapphirebouquet

I am having a friend of a friend do our photography. She is amateur, but she's pretty good and has experience and a website. What do you think is a good price for engagments and wedding day coverage? Also, I'm asking her to make a 250+ mile round trip.

prlmrg08

What are her wedding prices? You also need to cover her hotel and gas. Most photographers that I know just starting out charge anywhere from $75-$125 hour.

bigbabyface

honestly, if they're more like a friend. i think it comes down to what you're willing to pay and what she's willing to take. these prices are negotiable. just throw a number at her, if she says more then go up to a number that you feel comfortable.

you figure you'll need a photographer for the entire ceremony, reception and getting ready. so figure approximately 6 hours? maybe closer to 7 or 8.

I think a fair number for an "amateur" is in and around $650-$750. depending on the length you want for them to be there.

i mean, some are cheaper - because they are learning they may be willing to take more like $500. more experience comes with more pay. then you're looking at a HUGE range of numbers such as $1500-$7500.

engagement sessions range from $150-$400 a session. so again, this is negotiable in this situation. 

I also agree with PP with pitching in for travel fair. When i do events this is a must, especially for longer distances. Just make it to where their not basically paying money to come all this way and take pictures, a service is provided to make money - there needs to be a fair profit margin for him/her. 

I say talk to him/her. i'm sure you guys can come up with something you're both comfortable with. but as PP said, $75 per hour is a good starting point.

MsLaura31

I would just ask her and go from there. Her idea of amateur may be that she's very experienced but just does photography on the side. Another person's idea of amateur may be something entirely different. So it makes sense that pricing could be wildly different.

Whatever you decide on for pricing, please get a contract that states exactly what you'll pay and what the photog will provide for you.

professorscience

I would strongly advise against going into this type of business with a friend.

sapphirebouquet

On her site, she has listed enagements for $300 and wedding for $500. So y'all think that's on target?

I know her through one of my good friends and she would not be invited to my wedding if she wasn't doing the photography. She will only know our mutual friend, so I'm not worried about her favoring one side of the family over the other.

She requires that we sign a contract.

professorscience

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_texas-dallas-ft-worth_reasonal-price-amateur-photographer?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:102Discussion:fa45e8e4-ecef-43da-aa0f-f57a31e5dd13Post:d32af6b1-7f97-4d64-aa6c-93e4b3d4a480">Re: reasonal price for amateur photographer?</a>:
[QUOTE]On her site, she has listed enagements for $300 and wedding for $500. So y'all think that's on target? I know her through one of my good friends and she would not be invited to my wedding if she wasn't doing the photography.<strong> She will only know our mutual friend, so I'm not worried about her favoring one side of the family over the other.</strong> She requires that we sign a contract.
Posted by sapphirebouquet[/QUOTE]

That's not what I'm worried about.  Your earlier post implied she was a better friend than what you now describe, and I would worry about the outcome if somehow one or both of you was dissatisfied with the end product.

You should definitely pay travel if this person has a long way to go.

Jay&Marissa

I'd pay what she charges--does this price include a disc or prints?

I'd also work out something travel-wise for her...airfare and hotel?

sapphirebouquet

It includes disc(s) with all of the photos she takes with 100 edited photos. I will definitely pay her additionally for the travel and lodging.

bsn1752

You get 100 edited photos from the whole wedding??

sapphirebouquet

This is what her website says "you will have a few options to select up to 100 of your favorite photos.

I will then edit your selected photos and put them in their own "favorites" folder on each CD. The remaining unedited photos (usually around 300+) will also be on the rest of the CD, and you will contain the rights to do what you will with them."

bsn1752

I would hire a more seasoned photog honestly.  I had over 300 (edited) pics from my wedding.

sapphirebouquet

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_texas-dallas-ft-worth_reasonal-price-amateur-photographer?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:102Discussion:fa45e8e4-ecef-43da-aa0f-f57a31e5dd13Post:c2d7d340-675e-4eb5-817b-b645b51a1e97">Re: reasonal price for amateur photographer?</a>:
[QUOTE]I would hire a more seasoned photog honestly.  I had over 300 (edited) pics from my wedding.
Posted by bsn1752[/QUOTE]

What kind of price tag does that come with? I've got $1000 budgeted for engagements, wedding and travel expenses.

bsn1752

I am not sure if her prices will fall in your budget (they may have gone up), but call Brooke with MaddiePie Creations.  Let her know your budget and she *may* work with it.  It doesn't hurt to ask!

bigbabyface

You can try my photographer. Jillian Zamora. She's pretty budget friendly. and she's in the area so travel for her is fairly cheap. I think her prices have gone up since i booked her. but alot of photographers are willing to haggle by customizing packages....its worth a shot

http://www.jillianzamora.com/

sapphirebouquet

Thanks for the referrals!