unsure of charging rates

[swift_wraith]

I have been asked by a few of my friends and also by some of the parents who send their kids to my girlfriends playgroup, to do some portrait shots. The thing is, I'm unsure about what to charge. So far i have come up with these options:

1. Charge a set price for X amount of pics but also offer extra shots at a set price.
2. Let them have all pics taked during the session for a set price.
3. Simply charge £X for each single picture with a reduced rate for multiple copies.

Which of the above seems to be the best option?

Also, can someone please supply me with a "going rate"? All my photos will be processed at a professional lab for which I am able to get a fairly decent rate.

Thanks

[kenwae]

I have been questioning the same thing and am leaning towards one set fee for a disc with all the pictures, high resolution, processed, and ready to print. Need to charge for the time in taking the pictures and then the time in processing the pictures. The disadvantage is that you don't make any profits on orders and re orders; the advantage is you don't have to mess around with orders and re orders. The fact that the client gets the "originals" can be a selling point and the rates you charge for taking and processing can be higher than it would if you were to hold the originals and sell prints -- would like to hear what others do.

[heartseye]

You can't answer these issues without FIRST telling us what quality.....Artisticly as well as Technically you produce.

If your work is crap.....or if it is genius.....where on that line you sit will suggest a price framework....., or at least a starting point...cheers, Bob

[brian.austin]

Originally Posted by heartseye

You can't answer these issues without FIRST telling us what quality.....Artisticly as well as Technically you produce.

If your work is crap.....or if it is genius.....where on that line you sit will suggest a price framework....., or at least a starting point...cheers, Bob

Even that doesn't matter much.

Where are you? What type of photography are you shooting? Weddings? Fashion? Art? Landscapes?

Way too many variables.

[swift_wraith]

Sorry, I should have been more specific. I'll try to answer all variables i can think of.

I'm a hobbyist photographer, no training at all. So I dont want to charge professional rates as I am well aware that I am not one. As I stated, I have been asked to do shots not the other way round.
I live just outside Manchester, UK. I'm doing a fair bit of photography in the studio/portrait style and have some Interfit Ex150 lights bought as a gift by my gf, who's also my current model. Besides her and my sisters pet dog, I have no real experience as a portrait shooter. I have converted my spare bedroom into a hobby room and will be using this as a studio setup as well.

I was thinking of charging for the printing and a small fee to cover my time. I know I'm not good enough to charge the big bucks yet.
Also, as it will be mainly children I'll be photographing I'll be making sure that a parent or guardian is with them at ALL times. This covers me in the ridiculously oversafe world as it is today, and also, i'm not a creche.