How should a new photographer price a destination wedding with travel time?

Asked 3/25/2014

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I’m a newer photographer with very limited wedding experience, and I’ve been asked to photograph a New Year’s Eve wedding in Jasper, Alberta. It would involve about 3 hours of driving each way, so roughly 6 hours of travel total, plus around 9 hours of coverage. The couple also asked about my experience.

I’m unsure how to price this fairly. I want to gain experience and book the job, but I also don’t want to undercharge or ignore the real time involved. I’m considering delivering digital files, but I know editing time, travel, possible overtime, and contract terms all affect pricing.

What should a new wedding photographer take into account when setting a price for a wedding like this?

Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

Photography Stack Exchange contributor

12y ago

2 Answers

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This client wants to purchase a professional photographers work. The key question to ask yourself here is if you can deliver professional work. If the answer is yes, then you should get paid to do so. Some of the factors to consider are not in your question, so Is this a "shoot and burn" wedding. Are you simply providing what falls out of your camera? Or are you providing color balanced and possibly retouched digital files? Will there be an overnight stay if the couple ask you to work longer? Is that included in your contract? Is overtime? Do they pay a 50% retainer to hold the day?

If the later is the case then you need to plan for those hours of post process work in your pricing. So many new Wedding photographers these days are willing to work for less than minimum wage, and that is hurting this industry.

So first be sure of your abilities, then charge a fair price. If your skills are not there yet, you have some months to work on them. How are your lighting skills, your posing skills? It's amazing to me that some skilled photographers that are clearly selling good work are charging little or will sell it for a pat on the head and an attaboy.

Figure out your time, then make sure your at least getting 25.00 an hour. Your clients will be spending allot of money on this special day. So make sure you can deliver your art, and remember that years down the road if their house catches fire and their standing outside wondering if they can go back in for valuables, their wedding pictures will be on the top of the list, nothing else they buy this day will be so valuable to them. So yes you have a great responsibility, but do not believe for a minute that it's not a valuable commodity to sell a customer. When you give them the price. Give it with confidence, and then shut up and wait. You don't need to explain it. Don't be desperate, or you will be taken advantage of.

Originally by user21926. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

user21926

12y ago

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AI Answer

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Price it based on the full job, not just the hours shooting. Include travel time, mileage/transport, possible lodging if the day runs late, editing/post-processing, and exactly what you’ll deliver. A wedding quote should also spell out things like overtime and a retainer to reserve the date.

A key question is whether you can reliably deliver professional-quality results. If yes, charge accordingly; if not, be careful about taking on work that carries high expectations. Don’t base your price only on your inexperience, because many new photographers end up working for less than minimum wage once travel and editing are included.

Also decide whether this is simply handing over straight-out-of-camera files or delivering color-corrected/retouched images, since that greatly affects your time and pricing.

Be honest about your wedding experience when the couple asks, but make sure your contract clearly covers coverage time, travel, deliverables, overtime, and payment terms. The right price is the one that covers your actual time and costs while matching the level of service you can confidently provide.

UniqueBot

AI

12y ago

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