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Question from Tracy: “How do you handle pricing with friends? Do you give a discount, do for free, or just charge like you normally would?”
Reva: it depends…I usually charge my normal rates 🙂
Kandis: It depends on the friend. MY bff I just do hers because we’re tight. Other friends if they are close I do give a discount depending on the situation. Just people I know…NO.
Hilary: I tend to give a small discount to close friends
Anna: I’d love to hear what people say as well. I have friends all the time asking me to do pictures for them, and i cringe. I hate charging my friends. Especially when they have done “things” for me, that take up their time. At the same time, I have a TON of friends/acquaintances.
Ashley: I have a group of friends + immediate family that benefits from my friends and family pricing. They get one free session per year, all other sessions are half price, and all products are full price.
David: this is too personal. it’s up to you. a friend would usually get some type of break, a good friend or family member may get a break or free. It depends who they are to you.
Laura: Never discount to anyone. They won’t take you serious.
Christie: family gets allll for free of course. i have 2 friends who get free also. everyone else regular price.
Cara: Whatever you do – put it in writing, even if it is just for yourself. That way you can be consistent. Full price or free is common advice… free usually being reserved for BFF’s or blood relatives. Other friends (well true friends anyway) will understand that you have a business to run. I usually give them “gift” items after their order is placed as a gesture of good will and friendship.
Anna: Laura, I totally disagree with you. Thats just not true. The individuals I have discounted TAKE me VERY serious. And they do pay even if its discounted and keep coming back and support my work. Some have even payed more or payed me above my requested amount, like tipped me, because they loved my work.
Teresa: used too, but it is the same amount of work if they’re friends or not?!
Sadie: I like Ashley Fisher’s idea! I already do immediate family free (my parents, siblings and nieces and nephews and hubby’s same), if they try asking for extra, I’ll probably do that! Close friends might get a discount when I get my prices set in January…but now my prices are pretty low for portfolio building, so they pay what everyone is paying.
Jen: I discount to friends. I love taking my friends photos and I really hate charging them. They are my friends and it feels weird to me to take money from them. I charge them enough to cover my costs like gas, cd’s, postage, etc., but I don’t charge them a creative fee or for my editing time.
Kelly: No session fee for family & a few *extremely* close friends, but products/prints are still full price. Small discounts can be given to a handful of closer/good friends as you so choose, but it’s really about if you’re moved to do that for the person asking. If you do end up offering a discount, I would keep that part quiet. I wouldn’t offer discounts to acquaintances because word will get around and that’s just not good business. I wouldn’t listen to anyone telling you to charge your own immediate family for a session fee or even a best friend.
Betsy: I discount for really good friends/extended family and free for immediate family. But if I’m swamped with paying jobs, free sessions get pushed to the back of the line
Allison: My friend photographer, does a session for 1/2 off & includes the cd, for close friends only.
Palmetto: I look at it like this… I will give a slight discount for family and close, close friends.. but I don’t expect them to give me free legal advice, fix my plumbing, or clean my house for free… so I don’t expect them to ask me for free services either. We pay full price for these $3000 cameras and $600 + for lenses….
Amber: I tend to give about 30% off to close friends and family. I make sure though they are aware they are getting the “friends and family discount” and make sure they know the true price, so when they go tell their friends about my work and refer them to me, they give them the real price, not their discounted one.
Natalie: I never charge immediate family. but their sessions would be pushed to the back of the editing pile if needed..and they would understand.
Jen: For me it depends, I have some close friends who help me out in my planning phases and let me use their kids for my ideas…I don’t charge for that. I will give a discount to a group I’m involved with, but most people get charged the full price. I like the idea of 1 free session a year and have to pay for products though.
Lesley: Immediate family doesn’t pay. If friends schedule a shoot they pay, but if I ask if I can shoot them (portfolio building or just wanting to see how something will look/practice, etc) then they don’t pay.
Christy: Depends on how close they are. Most I charge same rate. Would you ask your dentist friend to clean your teeth for a discounted price?
Sara: I charge the same for friends, but give them extras at no cost – my base package is $150 and includes 15 images – ill give them 30-40, or design a birth announcement/holiday card for free.:)
Krystle: I charge for the session fee and include a cd for family where anyone I know or clients they get charged for the session and cd
Janel: I charge normal prices for friends. I will include a Christmas card, birth announcement, or fb timeline as a bonus. It’s hard to charge friends but even friends will take advantage if given the opportunity.
Alyssa: I love Ashley’s idea – I think I will start doing that from now on… Right now I’m the same as Sara – if they’re not close enough to do it for free, then I’ll charge the same amount but give them more…..
Tia: Family is for free and discounted pics. Friends-no sitting fee and reg priced pics.
Elizabeth: My mother will get anything she wants for free. Immediate family we trade services- my brother fixed my car and I give him a free session. Other than that I usually charge them the same as other clients, I just give them the option of a paying in installments though which is not something I usually do. When i first started and needed to build a portfolio I discounted a lot for family.
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