Hi all. I will like to hear some advices from brothers in CS.
I started out photography back 2-3 years, and have done considerable number of events (both FOC or paid). Recently, I am being offered an assignment by my gf's friend to cover a ROM lunch reception next year. I predicted it's going to be roughly a 2-3 hour event, but the exact details are not known yet.
The problem comes in deciding a fee for my services, which I have to let them know (soon).
My portfolio has a number of event shoots, but when it comes to wedding, I only have 1 so far, where I helped my friend as a backup photographer (to gain some experience).
Because this client is my gf's friend's friend who is getting married, and plus the fact that I have no real experience in wedding photography, I thought of offering them at a lower rate for a start, and subsequently, after 3-4 wedding events, the rates will be increased too. This is not to say that I cannot handle wedding coverage, but just that I have no actual wedding portfolio to show except 1 and I thought of taking this chance to build up my wedding portfolio.
Now, I am wondering, if I were to offer a lower rate for this first paid wedding coverage, and in the event she recommends me to her friends in future, is it ok for me to charge them at a higher rate because I gain experience in this field? I am just worried that future clients will use my present rate I am offering to the present client as a base. Do you all think it is possible to up the fees in future? For example, the first 3 clients gets special promo price. I will not want to charge a high price for now when I have only 1 wedding portfolio to show, and probably cannot justify the fee I were to be offering if its the market rate.
I am not intending to spoil the market by offering a lower rate, but I guess one will have to start somewhere. And my main concern is lower rate for a start, and subsequently with more wedding portfolio to justify the higher rate in future - is it feasible?
Hope to hear some constructive advices,
Thanks in advance!
I started out photography back 2-3 years, and have done considerable number of events (both FOC or paid). Recently, I am being offered an assignment by my gf's friend to cover a ROM lunch reception next year. I predicted it's going to be roughly a 2-3 hour event, but the exact details are not known yet.
The problem comes in deciding a fee for my services, which I have to let them know (soon).
My portfolio has a number of event shoots, but when it comes to wedding, I only have 1 so far, where I helped my friend as a backup photographer (to gain some experience).
Because this client is my gf's friend's friend who is getting married, and plus the fact that I have no real experience in wedding photography, I thought of offering them at a lower rate for a start, and subsequently, after 3-4 wedding events, the rates will be increased too. This is not to say that I cannot handle wedding coverage, but just that I have no actual wedding portfolio to show except 1 and I thought of taking this chance to build up my wedding portfolio.
Now, I am wondering, if I were to offer a lower rate for this first paid wedding coverage, and in the event she recommends me to her friends in future, is it ok for me to charge them at a higher rate because I gain experience in this field? I am just worried that future clients will use my present rate I am offering to the present client as a base. Do you all think it is possible to up the fees in future? For example, the first 3 clients gets special promo price. I will not want to charge a high price for now when I have only 1 wedding portfolio to show, and probably cannot justify the fee I were to be offering if its the market rate.
I am not intending to spoil the market by offering a lower rate, but I guess one will have to start somewhere. And my main concern is lower rate for a start, and subsequently with more wedding portfolio to justify the higher rate in future - is it feasible?
Hope to hear some constructive advices,
Thanks in advance!