a fashion designer friend of mine is building a website and wanted me to take pictures to use on the website. the pictures will consist of straight product shots (i'll really have to get this lightbox thing down) as wel as models using the products in different locales.

i've done portraits of her for her boyfriend in the past for no charge and while i know i can always use the practice (and i'm sure most here could do better than me), like raj's post said it's all about marketing. what would one request for payment for a small project like this?

i also have an up and coming band that wants me to photograph them at some area shows. getting on their bartab for payment is one thing, but what would somebody expect to charge for a show?

i think both of them in addition to much needed practice could be helpful getting my name out there since it'd be on their websites. one of these days i hope to produce photographs anywhere near of the quality some of you post here on a regular basis.
thanks

How much would she pay a photographer if you did not oblige.

I understand she is a friend. I have done favors for friends...as a matter of fact there is a magazine sitting on my desk with a shot I took for a friend as a favor...but he at least promised me a dinner and a bottle of Grey Goose...he lived up to both. You should get something out of it. If you need shots for your portfolio...well, then that can be the "something" out of it. At some point you are going to have to start charging for your expertise.

To answer your question...whynot start with $200 for the shoot of her products?

The second question about the industry pricing is more appropriate. And that's really what he's asking if you're reading between the lines.

$200 sounds reasonable enough. as far as my time, i'm extremely busy with work and school at the moment, but i dont expect her being ready to shoot anything for a month or two which should work out perfectly for me.

Which is what I do with my friend's bands...

Once you have a bunch of 'published' photos, then start charging.

I charge for weddings though, as it's a HUGE time commitment.

because they liked what i shot for a friend's band which i did for free. i dont know these new guys though.

as far as the fashion friend, i'll wait and see how serious she is about this website/business. if it's more for fun and she's not looking for much out of me i'll probably just do it. but if she's looking to really make things happen, i think it might be worth pitching me a few bux on the side.

I didn't realize this was a different band..

for your friend, I'd do it free, with a mention on her site.

I get $900 to $1,000 for shooting private events. Of the initial fee...$70 goes towards a proof book where the client completes an order sheet and from there I make extra income on prints.

Hence my time is worth $900 to $1,000 an evening.

Ask a taxi cab driver what his time is worth, and he'll say $100. Ask a doctor the same, and he'll say $2000. Ask the high end escort and she'll say...well nevermind. My point is you need to understand market rates, you can't just charge what you think your time is worth...that phrase means a lot of things to a lot of different people, and around here most are not professional photographers, they are hobbiests.

Yes, but you are not going to charge a doctor or a lawyers rates to take photos for a friend. A photographers time is valuable too. How valuable, well that is up to the photogrpaher. Why should someone with a camera do something for free? Other than trying to build a portfolio A2TURBO's, as well as yours and everyone elses time is worth something. Also, I am sure your equipment was a s expensive as mine...no shame in trying to make a few bucks back with your skill and equipment, no?

What I said was he can't charge "what his time is worth" if he's a taxi cab driver or a doctor, because the value he puts on his time in his given profession is irrelevant when it comes to photography. I never said he should do anything for free...don't know where you got that impression. I simply suggested he should find out what the going rates are for the type of work he's doing (which is what he's doing). He can adjust as he sees fit (friends discount).

I suspect we don't completely disagree, but if you insist that it's impossible for you to misunderstand anyone, I guess we'll have to agree to disagree.

Where did I insist it is impossible for me to misunderstand anyone?

no worries.