pabnj - You wanted to help, or You needed help in some other aspect of life :) - as for females, I guess that after reading Your last posts, they are all gone - it was too pessimistic, but You know - life is to short to worry too much

You are too funny Niko, I have a feeling that trip to the tavern would be a very long an intoxicating one. Please, if there are any females reading this "photo" forum, please do share.

It's OK buddy. You, Gentoo, and I need to take a trip to the local tavern and share "war" stories ;^)

I would like to hear what the female readers of this forum think of this thread. It would be good to hear a ladies perspective.

Niko, you have no idea of the memories, and the garbage I have dealt with from ex's just because I wanted to help, and be a nice guy.

Hmmm, did some of my pessimism show through?

Damn pabnj, looks like this thread has brought back some crazy memories for you ;^)

I think Gentoo is a big boy and he'll be fine if he just keeps it professional. No need to start second guessing people's motives and thinking like a mind reader. Money's money! Just make sure she pays you upfront and try to have fun. Let the past go Gentoo.

Girlfriends are nothing, wait until you guys get married! Then the real "pain" begins :^)

Willis, I am glad I could make you laugh, as I am sitting here laughing myself wondering what did I just posted in a photo forum????????????????????????? Then again, I have always been the big picture advice kinda person.

ROFL... relationship advice NikonRumors style!

The only sensible thing to do is charge her double. HA! Bonus points if you can... aww never mind.

Ok, she has another photographer friend of hers who somehow got out of her request, and now she has turned to you. Which makes me far more suspicious. I have no doubts she'll pay, I have strong doubts if she really wants to pay you, or anyone else for that matter.

Now that I know of the on-off routine has been going on for six years now, I feel even more strongly of my advice, RLH. Sorry if I sound cold, and blunt, but I have been down the very same road as you, and it sucks big time. That's why I am in a photo forum offering up some very non-photo advice. Find someone who loves you, and cares for you because of who you are, not because you are convenient. Yup, I know, that sucks too. Been there, done that, and got the tee-shirt to prove it.

pabnj, she broke up with me...twice. The friend/dating thing went on with us for 6 years.

At any rate, if she's offering to pay, she will pay. It most likely won't be much though.

I have a feeling the only reason she asked me to do it is because another photographer friend of hers is most likely unavailable.

I can't believe nobody has asked the obvious question here, so I will and boldly go where no photo forum has ever gone before.

Gentoo, is this an ex-girlfriend who broke-up with you that you want to get back together with? If so, does she know it (she probably does)? If the answer to both of those questions is yes, RUN LIKE HELL! You have better things to do with your time than unknowingly stroke the ego of your ex-girlfriend who is playing you.

On the flip side, is this a girl friend you broke with? If so, RUN LIKE HELL! In this case she is using your interests and desires against you, possibly to get you back together just to dump you a few months later. Many people can't deal with being the one who gets dumped, and in their own insecurity need to be the one who initiates the break-up.

Please trust me on this, with the fact that the two of you are not on the best terms with one another tells me there is an underlying hidden agenda here as to why she is talking to you about a photoshoot, and none of them have anything to do with photography. As to the reason why she is offering to pay you, well that just adds to the complexity doesn't it? Ultimately, she knows of your desire to be a paid pro, and is using that against you too, the fact is SHE DOES NOT WANT TO PAY YOU! In the times I have had contact with an ex-girlfriend, either by choice or not, nothing good has ever come from it, just a whole lot of pain and heartache.

You have been very helpful to me, so I figured I had offer my heartfelt advice for what most likely can be a dangerous situation.

Sincerely,

Dear Abby :-)

gentoo - get some snacks for dogs and some toys, this will give You a chance to freeze them for a sec, the second You take the shot; as for timing, it shouldn't take You more than two hours - after that time, both sides got tired (dogs and dogs owners)

I know what you mean niko and when it comes to this, that's what I've been doing. I only want to use this as a business right now. I won't be doing any of the printing, Just the shooting. Likely I will be making her a CD and she can do what she wants.

Don't let those bitches bite you in the ass Gentoo! I'm talking about the dogs people! The dogs! ;^)

Seriously, though. If it already sounds "shady" then watch out. If the job is for "as long as it takes" that usually means a big butt load of work for little pay.

Is it for a humane society or nonprofit? I've donated my time to a nonprofit shelter. They wanted photos of their animals for their website. Their were LOTS of animals! More than what they originally told me! Photographing animals is a lot like children but worst! They have zero attention spans were as kids at least have one to two minutes worth.

Be upfront about what you will and will not do or provide. If she's not sure of how many dogs or for how much time, then give her an hourly rate (for your time and use of your equipment). If they have no idea of how many prints they will need, then factor in if you'll be doing the printing on your own or printing photos from a lab. Adjust your rate according to your expenses in that sense. Like I said check with photographers in your area and see what they offer and for how much. I would label this as a location portrait session. Human or animal your expenses are still the same.

Really talk to your Ex and ask her the questions I listed in the previous post. Don't think of her as your EX and try to just keep it as you would if she were someone visiting SeaWorld. Forget the ugly past between you two. Always be nice to her even if things get nasty. (That's nasty in a bad way not a good way :^)

Great advice niko! I really like what you had to say.

All I know of this shoot is that it has something to do with dogs in a park here in San Diego. She doesn't know how long it will take. When I asked, she said "as long as it takes I guess". She asked me how much it will cost. I've not given her a price for the exact reasons you just gave. I need to know what I'm getting into first.

snaketail mentioned a can of worms. he doesn't know how right he is. This person is my ex girlfriend and we haven't been on the best of terms. She asked and offered to pay. I will only do it if I get paid because I'm not comfortable around dogs for one thing.

It would help if you'd told us what kind of photo shoot you were going to do Gentoo?

If this is a wedding and you've never done one before then don't charge! Do an "apprenticeship" with a wedding photographer to learn the ropes if your interested in going that route. Same applies to any kind of event photography.

If it's not a wedding, but some other kind of portrait session then look up what other photographers in your area charge for the same thing. DON'T, under sell their prices by too much! Think about how much YOU paid for all of your equipment and whether YOU would sell your D90, D300, your flash, and whatever lenses your using on the photoshoot for $100 or $200 dollars? Same is true of your pictures!!! Don't sell CHEAP!(Selling cheap work at a high price is another topic :^)

Keep constant dialog between the client and yourself. Discuss every aspect of what is going to happen and what is to be expected. How long (an hour or by number of outfits) is the shoot? How many outfits? How many locations? How many backgrounds? How many photos? How many proofs? How many prints? What size prints and how many of each. Do they expect retouching on every photo? How much post processing? How much $$$ for additional post processing? How much turn around time? Don't think that because a client has seen your "portfolio" they understand what you are offering them! NEVER assume anything! And discuss copyright with the client! Explain what they get (just prints?) for their money. For gods sakes man, don't give them all your originals along with the prints for $100!

ALWAYS get paid BEFORE or the day of the shoot! I don't care if they are your friends or friends of friends. Money is Money. If you were selling your D90 with kit lens and your OK letting your friend's friend take it and pay you later, then let ME be that person and I promise to pay you later :^)
PREPARE! PREPARE! PREPARE! Taking photos of friends and family for free is NOT preparation for getting paid for a job! Money changes everything!

Sorry If I sound too blunt. I do this for a living and it kinda ticks me off when potential clients ask me why I charge so much when "Uncle Fred" only charges $200 bucks to shoot a wedding :^(
I snapped once and asked a potential client why she just didn't hire "Uncle Fred"? "Because his photos aren't as good as yours" she said!

Niko's rant is now over kids. You can uncover your ears and stop crying ;^)

Tough question. We usually charge differently depending on the job and subject. Austin has a lot of aspiring actor types. For them, we don't charge very much (around US $150). For a normal portrait shoot, its usually $150-$300... depending on how much pre-shoot work is involved (picking out locations, consulting with the client etc.) For big corporate events, on the other hand, we'll charge a lot more ($400-$600). For Weddings, or anything that requires a second photographer, your looking at four digit pricing.

This is kind of what I would call semi-pro pricing. Still below what you would pay in Austin for a big-shot photographer, but more than you would pay your SLR wielding uncle. We still do a lot of free work as well, but only if it represents an opportunity to Network or work on some new technique. The nice thing about Pro-Bono work is that you can take some risks that you wouldn't take on a paid shoot. Most of the best stuff in my girlfriends portfolio came from free shoots.

Edit: I should add that this is on top of any direct costs you might have (i.e. Paying a buddy to assist with lighting, etc.) Also, anything with a tight deadline deserves a bit more $$$.

Boy, talk about a can of worms!
If you give it away it has no value. If you charge too much no one will want to pay for it. Check the ASMP (American Society of Media Photographers) site for a rate calculator - its based on your investment, time, skill, etc.

Snaketail

Charge by the mb. :D

.50 cents each!

I usually shoot with and 4 friends so I normally don't charge. I may get the opportunity to do so soon though.

What are reasonable charges for photoshoots?