Just possibly booked a 40yr class reunion, they want single/couple formal portraits and a group photo. About 60-70 ppl. I am waiting to find out if the attendees will be purchasing prints also, so I know there will be a profit from that if that is the case. But I don't really know where to start as far as how much to charge. $200? 400? I don't want to go too high, but I don't want to go too low either. I think it will be about 2-4 hrs. Any advice is appreciated.

Thanks!

2-4 hours is a pretty big timeframe. How experienced are you in shooting events?

Will you be printing on site?

If the portraits are simply shoot and hope, I would factor in $15 to $20 per couple as a base price for the shoot, then add $25 to $35 for the group shot.

35 couples plus group shot would equal $525-700 for the portraits plus the fee for the group shot.

Add a flat $125 to $150 for time involved.

Offer a package set of (1) 8x10 and (2) 5x7 for $25 on the back end.

On the cheap end I would offer to do the shoot for $675 and $885 on the high side. Any additional orders would just be gravy.

Not a great amount of experience but enough to do this comfortably.

No I won't be printing onsite, and the organizers are paying a flat fee to have me there. Then I was going to pass out my card so they can go to my site for proofs. Then I would imagine they will order from there. So I'll need to set print prices. I'm just not sure what to charge for the flat fee. The only thing the attendees will be paying for is prints if they want them.

A link to your site would help me. Based on your equipment, you probably shouldn't be charging more than $400.

www.mkayser.smugmug.com

I also have a lightstand and umbrella, and will be purchasing another sb600 along with another lightstand/umbrella.

Originally Posted by bendruckerphoto A link to your site would help me. Based on your equipment, you probably shouldn't be charging more than $400.

Huh? Why would the equipment have anything to do with the price charged?

Originally Posted by Cygnus Studios Huh? Why would the equipment have anything to do with the price charged?

While it's possible to do good work with inexpensive gear, the 18-35mm f/3.5-5.6 really isn't going to cut it in low light. It also tends to indicate ones experience. Tends. It's not a guarantee, but a rough indication.

That being said, lilmomma certainly exceeds my expectation based on her equipment. I stick with my previous price $400 to show up. No CD, no prints. All that should be extra.

Originally Posted by bendruckerphoto While it's possible to do good work with inexpensive gear, the 18-35mm f/3.5-5.6 really isn't going to cut it in low light.

Oh my gosh, just realized my siggy has a typo. It's actually 18-105. not that it helps as far as low lighting is concerned. however I do have a 50 f1.8 that might help for individual/couple shots but for a group shot i'll want to use smaller ap anyway to make sure all are in focus. So for that I believe the 18-105 will be sufficient.

I may post over in technique for tips on lighting the group....

Originally Posted by bendruckerphoto That being said, lilmomma certainly exceeds my expectation based on her equipment.

I am taking that as a compliment ;)


thanks for the advice guys!

Originally Posted by Cygnus Studios Huh? Why would the equipment have anything to do with the price charged?

My thoughts exactly.....:d unno

Why not charge as if it were a wedding.......plus offer a book, nice hard bound with printed cover date and title....plus your individual prints.....cine the organizers havethe addresses of all coming ask for a copy to send order formsand links to your website......

This will be one helluva lot of work and you need to be compensated for it.........

you are a PRO....

charge like one..........

Might be a good idea to have an assistant and a 2nd shooter also.............

Do you ahve any kind of studio lights and where is this even being held.....ifit is a large Hotel (Marriot, Holiday Inn, Hilton etc etc) tehy should have some stair risers possibly 4-6 feet in lenght and 3 stairs high.......ask for 2 or 3 and have the hand rails removed on the insides (leave the outter hand rails for people to lean agains in a not so stuffy group shot.....give'm a little lattitiude to play and be goofy for a couple of group shots as well as gettingthe stuffy one.......

With you SB600's you may want to go bare flash I am not sure I would umbrella them for the group shot.....but do use brand new batteries in both flash units for the group shot......you want all the power you can muster forthis......also you want your flashes at least 9' up and a slight .....very slight tilt down (exact for both flashes).....do not worry about back ground going blk that is probably the best..........

Originally Posted by lilmomma I am taking that as a compliment ;)

That's absolutely how it was intended! I knew people would get upset over the equipment thing. The fact is, without a link to your website, a cheap zoom and an SB600 would suggest that you might not have the skillset to charge a lot. Before everyone flames me: SUGGEST. Can you take great photos with the gear you have? Absolutely, you've proven it on your site. But, given the number of people I know that buy the D90 and an 18-200 or 18-105 and an SB600 and are absolutely awful photographers, I guess I'm biased. That type of kit seems to be the kit most popular with people who tell me they've outgrown a P&S (when the fact is they can't even take a decent photograph on a point and shoot and think it's the camera's fault). I'm sorry to sound so blunt and nasty, but this whole thing is really a compliment to lilmamma. With a limited lens set and limited lighting gear, you've produced great work. Congratulations!

Also, as you mentioned, you'd said 18-35 rather than 105. Big difference there. With an 18-35, you'd be missing that critical 35-55 range that I use all the time for event work.

For the umbrellas, do shoot thru for small groups and reflected (maybe even get a silver umbrella) for any big groups. The SB-600 just don't have the power (and shoot thrus don't have the spread) to cover big groups. For a big group shot, you might even consider setting the SB-600s bare a few yards camera right and left on light stands and tilting a few degrees forward and bouncing off the ceiling.

Make sure to scout your location so you know these things ahead of time.

Originally Posted by lilmomma but for a group shot i'll want to use smaller ap anyway to make sure all are in focus. So for that I believe the 18-105 will be sufficient.

The larger aperture on a lens isn't just for creative effects. It greatly affects focussing in low light. I hardly shoot at 2.8 when working a reception, but I need the 2.8 or I wouldn't be able to focus. I wish I could get zooms even faster.

The aperture also affects the amount of light let in from the flash, whereas the shutter speed doesn't. You may find that with a big group, 2 SB600s don't have the power to shoot at f/11 or if they do, they're bouncing off 2 reflective umbrellas at full power. Also, at f/11, you may have 0 background exposure. That means you'd need another 2 SB600s to light the background.

Originally Posted by lilmomma Just possibly booked a 40yr class reunion, they want single/couple formal portraits and a group photo. About 60-70 ppl. I am waiting to find out if the attendees will be purchasing prints also, so I know there will be a profit from that if that is the case. But I don't really know where to start as far as how much to charge. $200? 400? I don't want to go too high, but I don't want to go too low either. I think it will be about 2-4 hrs. Any advice is appreciated. Thanks!

I think you're mistaken to say " you know there will be profit from folks buying prints", especially since you are not printing on site. I say print on-site is a must. You must know people are going to have their cameras there as well, so your best bet, in my way of thinking is to show your stuff right there and sell away~

I just submitted a proposal for a class reunion:

$500 to secure the date - 100 couples in attendance estimated.

$45.00 to shoot each couple includes 5x7 print and wallet - they cannot be in the book without being shot. Additional images on website availabe to be ordered. Must prepay before shooting. Credit cards on site accepted.

$50.00 for the event book - must buy it at the event for that price and photos from the evening will be included in the book. $75 afterwards
Book is softcover 8x8. Will shoot formals and couples as well as candids through out the evening.

Studio set up at venue - softbox, fill, hairlight...photographer and assistant.
Photo studio set up at sign in table. Almost will have to be in line for photo before they sign in to attend.

Originally Posted by angevin1 I think you're mistaken to say " you know there will be profit from folks buying prints", especially since you are not printing on site. I say print on-site is a must. You must know people are going to have their cameras there as well, so your best bet, in my way of thinking is to show your stuff right there and sell away~

Well, i don't have onsite printing equipment and won't be investing in one before this event. that's a whole other can of worms and stack of bills there.... And yes they will have their own cameras but they won't have their own lighting system and backdrop. I will guide them to the online proofs and let them make the decision on which to hang on their wall: p&s red-eye removed flash-blasted snap with walmart's yellow tinted paper or professional quality portrait from me and professional quality print from Bay Photo. (not dogging on the p&s, but you know that's what comes out of it on auto mode when in the wrong hands) If they want the portrait they'll order it. If not, their loss, I can't force them but I can't imagine that I won't get at least a few orders out of 70 people. I will inform them of the online viewing and ordering process and go from there. I might also bring a sample of wm print vs. bay photo print to emphasize the quality difference. Also, they are getting a "free" sitting, as the coordinators are paying to have me there. Which is why I was wondering what to charge for me being there. They only want me to setup in one spot and have portraits of people as they register.

Originally Posted by bendruckerphoto The aperture also affects the amount of light let in from the flash, whereas the shutter speed doesn't. You may find that with a big group, 2 SB600s don't have the power to shoot at f/11 or if they do, they're bouncing off 2 reflective umbrellas at full power. Also, at f/11, you may have 0 background exposure. That means you'd need another 2 SB600s to light the background.

Well, i'm thinking i'll have to use the wide end, and with that many people i'll need to be back pretty far. So i may be able to keep it around 5.6 or so and still be ok. And i'll need to put some fresh batteries in both flashes and fire at full power. I'm also thinking about diffusing my on board flash (to combat glowing eyes, of course that will need to be tested) and firing that at full power, with SB600's to right and left. I'll have to take a few and chimp, but with group photo's I do that anyway and tell them i'm making sure I have all eyes open, which is not a total lie :) . I'm definately going to check out the venue before I make any commitments here.

Originally Posted by JohnBiggs The larger aperture on a lens isn't just for creative effects. It greatly affects focussing in low light. I hardly shoot at 2.8 when working a reception, but I need the 2.8 or I wouldn't be able to focus. I wish I could get zooms even faster.

yes that is very true, but given the limitations on my equipment and my wallet i will likely just switch to MF for the group. Hunting issue resolved.


Art- Yes that would be a lot of work at would justify a high cost, but i don't think they are looking for that. Great idea though, I may suggest it as an option before settling on a price.


Once again dgrin comes through, wouldn't be booking this event had I not discovered this forum and all the useful information and great people here. Thanks a bunch!

Originally Posted by ChatKat I just submitted a proposal for a class reunion: $500 to secure the date - 100 couples in attendance estimated. $45.00 to shoot each couple includes 5x7 print and wallet - they cannot be in the book without being shot. Additional images on website availabe to be ordered. Must prepay before shooting. Credit cards on site accepted. $50.00 for the event book - must buy it at the event for that price and photos from the evening will be included in the book. $75 afterwards Book is softcover 8x8. Will shoot formals and couples as well as candids through out the evening. Studio set up at venue - softbox, fill, hairlight...photographer and assistant. Photo studio set up at sign in table. Almost will have to be in line for photo before they sign in to attend.

I would like to hear how that turns out. Please let us know if they accept your proposal.

Marty

Originally Posted by lilmomma Not a great amount of experience but enough to do this comfortably. No I won't be printing onsite, and the organizers are paying a flat fee to have me there. Then I was going to pass out my card so they can go to my site for proofs. Then I would imagine they will order from there. So I'll need to set print prices. I'm just not sure what to charge for the flat fee. The only thing the attendees will be paying for is prints if they want them.

In my experience, I find it easier to get sales if you show the pictures on the spot, and sell them right there. People seem to put off placing orders if you let them do it at their lesiure. You could get a 2nd person to show the pictures while you take the next set. Problem is you dont normally have time to proces the images first this way.

edit>

Forgot to mention take the order now, but print later from the lab you use. Not on spot. You can print on spot if you want, but as you said you dont have the equipment. Add a couple dollars for shipping. : )

Originally Posted by lilmomma Just possibly booked a 40yr class reunion, they want single/couple formal portraits and a group photo. About 60-70 ppl. I am waiting to find out if the attendees will be purchasing prints also, so I know there will be a profit from that if that is the case. But I don't really know where to start as far as how much to charge. $200? 400? I don't want to go too high, but I don't want to go too low either. I think it will be about 2-4 hrs. Any advice is appreciated. Thanks!

Oh, and I was just wondering how you booked this. Did you contact them, or did they contact you? :)

I am preparing for a high school reunion and I was hoping for background suggestions. Most of my studio drops are for seniors which im guessing wont be of much use for this. I did just order the silver diamond tuft from dennymfg so hopefully that will be suitable for this. I was focusing more on the group photo and then I realiezed its only a few weeks away and that I should be offering couples portraits.

I would love to know what kind of drop you all use for this type of event!

I read an awesome post on high school reunions and someone gave some very helpful advice, but I can not find that thread. This was like 4 months ago and on the 3 computers I use I can not find the bookmark.

They suggested using large labels to get the people to write down their address so all you have to do is slap the label on the envelope and you are done with that. This saves an incredible amount of time having to hand write or type up these labels and triple checking there are no mistakes.

I believe I will also setup the portraits of the couples as they arrive by the door, although I am not sure about this. It works great for bear jamboree in pigeon forge and it would ensure you get everyone instead of hoping they will come by at some point. I am thinking of slim lining the picture viewing process since im only taking a few pictures and having them choose from the back of the camera and marking down the file number on their order form. This way I dont have to setup a computer there.