I've been asked to shoot a friend's bed & breakfast, as well as to shoot a panorama of the area around it for it's interior...

The thing is I don't know how much to charge...Can you give me a figure (in Pesos) that you think would be fair?

The panorama's probably going to be 20x60in..

P.S. I'm fairly new - I've never been hired before :)

Thanks and I hope to hear from you soon!

I've been asked to shoot a friend's bed & breakfast, as well as to shoot a panorama of the area around it for it's interior...

The thing is I don't know how much to charge...Can you give me a figure (in Pesos) that you think would be fair?

The panorama's probably going to be 20x60in..

P.S. I'm fairly new - I've never been hired before :)

Thanks and I hope to hear from you soon!

Somewhere in this forum there are many suggestions on how you can do your pricing. It's a long list but first, before anyone can give you any suggested price, can you make a list of what you are supposed to shoot - for example:
a. one set up of bedroom A, with two talents, from one angle
b. one set up of bathroom of bedroom A, without talents, from one angle
c. one set up of dining area, with four talents (couple dining, one waiter, one counter person), from two angles
d. one panoramic shot of resort, to be photographed at sunset, to be photographed from a boat
etc. etc.

Is this the first time that your friend is having his bed&breakfast place photographed? If it is not, then you can ask to see those photographs that they did before and ask what it costed him, and you can then have a basis for your own pricing. You can ask how long it took, what he liked and did not like about it, etc.

If this is the first time, then ask him to show you samples of other brochures (from competitors or from other cities or from abroad) that he may have gathered so you can gauge his expectations.

Get as much information as you can get as to how he wants the place photographed, and then do your own tentative computations based on your direct and indirect costs, your professional fees and the profit margin you would like to make.

What kind of rights will you be giving? Will it be for one-year use? will it be for displays only, or for brochures, website, etc.

Are you going to be adequately equipped to do the job or would you have to rent (or borrow) some equipment?

How long do you think it would take you to set up, shoot, process and download?

What are you submitting to your friend? CD, DVD, prints? Will photo retouching be required?

There are many more questions.

For experienced photographers, they can get a list of photo requirements, ask a few questions and they can give an estimate right away - but don't worry, you too will get there. For now, you just have to ask the questions so you'll know you understood the requirements fully.

You asked for a figure (in pesos) that would be fair. If you asked a hundred photographers, you might get a hundred answers, but I would be wary of any amount to be quoted without a fuller understanding of what needs to be done.

In the end, you still have to decide what's fair for you and your client, given your situation and theirs, and given their expectations and what you are capable of delivering.

Somewhere in this forum there are many suggestions on how you can do your pricing. It's a long list but first, before anyone can give you any suggested price, can you make a list of what you are supposed to shoot - for example:
a. one set up of bedroom A, with two talents, from one angle
b. one set up of bathroom of bedroom A, without talents, from one angle
c. one set up of dining area, with four talents (couple dining, one waiter, one counter person), from two angles
d. one panoramic shot of resort, to be photographed at sunset, to be photographed from a boat
etc. etc.

Is this the first time that your friend is having his bed&breakfast place photographed? If it is not, then you can ask to see those photographs that they did before and ask what it costed him, and you can then have a basis for your own pricing. You can ask how long it took, what he liked and did not like about it, etc.

If this is the first time, then ask him to show you samples of other brochures (from competitors or from other cities or from abroad) that he may have gathered so you can gauge his expectations.

Get as much information as you can get as to how he wants the place photographed, and then do your own tentative computations based on your direct and indirect costs, your professional fees and the profit margin you would like to make.

What kind of rights will you be giving? Will it be for one-year use? will it be for displays only, or for brochures, website, etc.

Are you going to be adequately equipped to do the job or would you have to rent (or borrow) some equipment?

How long do you think it would take you to set up, shoot, process and download?

What are you submitting to your friend? CD, DVD, prints? Will photo retouching be required?

There are many more questions.

For experienced photographers, they can get a list of photo requirements, ask a few questions and they can give an estimate right away - but don't worry, you too will get there. For now, you just have to ask the questions so you'll know you understood the requirements fully.

You asked for a figure (in pesos) that would be fair. If you asked a hundred photographers, you might get a hundred answers, but I would be wary of any amount to be quoted without a fuller understanding of what needs to be done.

In the end, you still have to decide what's fair for you and your client, given your situation and theirs, and given their expectations and what you are capable of delivering.

First of all, I would like to thank you for your very informative post..Seems I've got a lot to figure out first hahaha..

It's his first time but he did show me a website: [link] (http://www.thescarlethotel.com/#) so I guess that that's what he wants me to do..The photos I mean.

He offered me a free night's stay (about 9-10K worth) but we haven't talked about how long and what he's going to use it for, as well as many other considerations you talked about...

He also added a few days after that he wanted me to take a panorama of the surrounding area (20x60) and I was thinking that I should charge him extra for that because that requires a lot of work..I was thinking along the lines of 3-4K, not counting printing charges.

The thing that stops me from setting my price is that he knows that I'm new and somewhat inexperienced commercially (and he's my friend) so I don't feel comfortable charging a somewhat high price..

The thing that stops me from setting my price is that he knows that I'm new and somewhat inexperienced commercially (and he's my friend) so I don't feel comfortable charging a somewhat high price..

It's not about charging high or low, but finding a price that's fair for both of you.

As for the free night - it's customary for resorts or hotels (or bed & bfast places) to offer accommodations and food on the day or night that you are shooting. That does not take the place of your fee.

As for the free night - it's customary for resorts or hotels (or bed & bfast places) to offer accommodations and food on the day or night that you are shooting. That does not take the place of your fee.

Oh, I didn't know that hahaha..But then I understand his need to cut costs at the beginning..What if I cut up the pay into installments over a period of time, like 3 months, do you think that would be fair?

Oh, I didn't know that hahaha..But then I understand his need to cut costs at the beginning..What if I cut up the pay into installments over a period of time, like 3 months, do you think that would be fair?

Do you think it is?:)

Haggling is the buyer's move, not the seller's. Before you negotiate yourself down (by lowering your rate or by offering 90-day credit), why don't you wait and see what your friend has to offer? He may actually value your services more and maybe has no difficulty paying you COD.

If, however, you've said your price and your terms, and he tries to negotiate you down, then that's the time for you to try and consider how you can make it softer and more attractive for him.

How much is cost of photography compared to what your friend has invested in his bed and breakfast place? I'm sure it's a tiny fraction, yet, it's the photography that will help sell and turn those empty rooms into profit. Emphasize the value of your work in marketing his B&B place.

By the way, I had to buy regular bedsheet sets (local brand, not imported and nothing fancy) for a guest room, and was shocked at how much they cost now, but even more shocked that photography charges seem to be less than what bedsheets cost. :(

How much is cost of photography compared to what your friend has invested in his bed and breakfast place? I'm sure it's a tiny fraction, yet, it's the photography that will help sell and turn those empty rooms into profit. Emphasize the value of your work in marketing his B&B place.

Yeah you've got a point..Guess I'm just feeling awkward about charging him since he's a really good friend..

Thanks for all the advice! I'll update here as soon as I've talked to him..The project's on May though haha.

Yeah you've got a point..Guess I'm just feeling awkward about charging him since he's a really good friend..

Thanks for all the advice! I'll update here as soon as I've talked to him..The project's on May though haha.

I think price is a secondary consideration. What matters more is doing a good job of photographing those rooms and the place so that prospective customers are enticed by your images to book a room. I'm sure you will.:) You have time to prepare. :) Good luck.:)

i learned a lot from this

Yeah you've got a point..Guess I'm just feeling awkward about charging him since he's a really good friend..
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Sometimes it can be awkward when friends ask us to do photography for them, especially the first time they do so, and we don’t know whether to charge them our regular rates, a discounted price or none at all.

On one hand, if we are too embarrassed to charge, our friends may feel embarrassed to expect work of the highest caliber since we are not charging. They may feel that they have no right to impose, or to challenge us to work to the fullest. After all, we’re working for free.

On the other hand, if we charged, we worry that our friends may feel that we are not giving consideration to our friendship. Or, even when our friends offer to pay, we may feel “guilty” about charging our friends for our services.

What a dilemma.

Here are a couple of stories about two incidents when friends asked us to do work for them:

Recently, we did a family portrait for a balikbayan friend and his young family. I really did not want to charge him because first, he is a friend, and secondly, portraiture is not one of our expertise or services. But he insisted on paying. I informed our studio manager that we were not charging for the photo session, but that if he would insist, then graciously accept whatever payment he would give so he would not be embarrassed to come again. He paid some cash - based on his experience having his family portraits done in Vancouver - and gifts galore for all our staff.

In 1975, when we were just starting, John took photos of Napoleon Abueva, the sculptor, for a General Motors magazine. In 1976, Dean Abueva was being nominated as National Artist, and needing photos for his nomination, he came to our studio to order copies. He offered to pay for them but I would not hear of it. I explained to him that I was a U.P. student in the 60's who marveled at seeing him drive a chariot (yes, a chariot!) on the Diliman campus. I was totally blown away, completely awed, by his presence in our studio and of course, didn't want to charge him. He graciously thanked me.

He came back to invite us to the ceremony recognizing him as a National Artist, and to dinner afterwards with family and friends. I was thrilled to no end. He also presented me with a bas relief in wood on which he carved a flower and his name. It's a treasure I keep, and one of the most precious things I own.:)

Maybe we can hear from you and others about your and their experiences, negative or positive, funny or serious, inspiring or otherwise, in doing business with friends?

I think price is a secondary consideration. What matters more is doing a good job of photographing those rooms and the place so that prospective customers are enticed by your images to book a room.

Yeah that's true, I'll keep that in mind :D

And the stories are wonderful, too bad I don't have equally good stories to tell (yet) hehehe :D Thanks for all your help!

Yeah that's true, I'll keep that in mind :D

And the stories are wonderful, too bad I don't have equally good stories to tell (yet) hehehe :D Thanks for all your help!

Maybe the other members of this forum can share their stories. I am sure we all have, at one time or another, done photography for friends. Let's hear everyone tell their experiences doing photography for friends. How did they charge - full, discounted or free? Is it easier or more difficult to work for a friend? What happened? Share the stories so we can all learn from each other. :)