For a first paid job, the safest approach is to be very clear about expectations and charge modestly relative to established local professionals. Community advice suggests calling photographers in your area to learn the going rate, then pricing below that if you’re still inexperienced.

In this case, a reasonable example was about $200 for 3 hours, including edits and delivery, which was roughly $100 less than local professionals. That kind of discount reflects that you’re newer, may not have backup gear or an assistant, and are still building experience.

The key isn’t just the number—it’s transparency. Make sure the client understands your experience level, has seen your portfolio, and knows exactly what is included: coverage time, approximate number of edited images, turnaround time, and delivery format.

Also be careful when shooting for friends: once money changes hands, it becomes a client relationship with higher expectations. For future shoots, base pricing on your local market, time spent shooting, editing workload, and your reliability/experience, then raise rates as your portfolio and consistency improve.