This is an excerpt from a photography blog I turn to from time to time for inspiration and advice. I found this useful advice for the friends and family who think I owe them free sessions all the time...Don't get me wrong, I love my friends and family.... but when they pretty much just expect me to be the one to take the pictures at any and all events, or have me take the time to set up backdrops, use my props, lighting, and professional equipment, and then edit and enhance the pictures with the software that cost me a pretty penny, and then either expect me to make them a free disc so they can go print them out at the local walmart, (which by the way, the color will be completely wrong and the cropping at walmart is terrible!) Or they actually expect free prints, or they just offer to pay for the cost of the prints, never mind all the time involved on my part, apparently that is worth nothing to them.... Sometimes it just gets to me, and only my fellow photographer friend can relate. Here's the article:
"....Everybody is budget minded and everyone would like to find a way to keep an expense contained and nearly everybody has friends. Let's just say we feel the obligation to lower our price to friends and relatives, how do our other friends who have businesses react when the shoe is on the other foot?
When a plumber, electrician or mechanic is needed two things are generally thought. The first is, "Well ol Jim Bob is in that business, I'll get him. I'd rather steer business to someone I know rather than to a stranger." The second thought is, "Ol Jim Bob is a friend, he'll cut me a deal." What is the benefit to ol Jim Bob? If he's a friendly guy (and if he's got a successful business, he is) then he could probably stay busy filling his days with jobs for friends and having taken away from him the opportunity to make a real profit from strangers.
I live in a small community where just about everybody is friends with just about everybody. My friend the doctor doesn't charge me less for an office visit, my friend the grocer doesn't give me a discount on milk and bread, and my buddy who owns the oil change place doesn't cut the price of an oil change for me. Likewise, if any of them should hit me up for a photo job I wouldn't give them a reduced deal.
Michael mentioned that you don't gouge friends and that's something to think about. If you can consider your price as a gouge for anyone, its time to restructure. What you charge should be reasonable and fair for all. Your expenses aren't less because its a friend job. The time you spend on a friend job is no less valuable to you, since you could be doing a "real" job in that time slot.
The last reason I shy away from friends is they never seem satisfied with "the deal" there's always something more. They are like an animal on the hunt, wearing down their prey and they will not stop until they have consumed it."
So there it is. Now some of you might be gasping, thinking "how could she put that on her blog?" Well let me just say that this is my blog, not just a web portfolio of my pictures. This is a place I can go and feel free to vent. If it offends you, then you are probably the exact friend or family member that has been walking all over me for your free pictures. To quote Dr Evil from Austin Powers: "throw me a friggin' bone here" If you are my friend or family member, then you know that this isn't some "hobby" of mine. I don't do this simply for the "fun" of it. (although it certainly is my dream job...) But that's just it, Its my JOB. This is my bread and butter, the way I help put food on the table. I have a very wonderful and understanding husband who supports me in following my dream... In other words, he is the sole paycheck, and what I do is extra, but can't always be counted on, especially when family and friends assume or rather expect FREE sessions. A close friend of mine is a hairdresser. I don't expect free haircuts from her, ever. It wouldn't be right to expect that, she is a professional. If I wanted a free haircut, I'd have my mother/husband/child take a hack at my hair (not that I would ever be cheap enough to do that!!) You want free pictures? Get out your little point and shoot camera and set the self timer...They will probably come out looking about as good as a free haircut. Rock on.
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