u/nzeas

My girlfriend’s family was originally quoted $1,800 for photo + video coverage for her(NIECES) quinceañera. Later, my girlfriend asked if I’d be willing to do it at a more affordable rate.

At first, I said I’d think about it, but I ended up saying no.

For context: I’ve been doing photography as a hobby for years. At one point I tried launching a photography business, but it failed because I didn’t really approach it seriously. Even so, I’ve done paid gigs before, and this year I decided I want to actually treat it like a real business and stick to my rates.

Recently I sat down and worked out my pricing properly. My starting rate for photo only is around $1,200 for 2–3 hours (and more if video is involved).

Her family is willing to pay me something to photograph the event, but it would still be well below the rates I’ve set for myself. I’m grateful they thought of me, but I also feel underpaid for the amount of work and responsibility involved.

What makes this harder is:

• I’m not super close with her family
• My girlfriend and I already argued about it
• I’ve done a lot of free/cheap shoots in the past, which I’m trying to stop doing if I want to be taken seriously
• My parents are pressuring me, saying it’s “good money”
• If I attend as a guest and don’t photograph, I worry people will think I refused to help
• There’s also that awkward feeling of wondering: Am I invited because they want me there, or because they want a photographer?

Part of me feels guilty turning it down because it’d still be the most I’ve ever been paid for a single gig. But another part of me feels like if I cave on my rates now, I’m undermining the whole point of trying to build this into a real business.

The only compromise I can think of is just attending as a guest, bringing my pocket camera, casually taking some photos, and gifting them whatever I happen to get — totally unofficially.

I honestly don’t know what the right move is here. Am I being unreasonable for sticking to my rates, or should I just take the opportunity?

TL;DR:
Girlfriend’s family wants me to shoot her (NIECES) quinceañera because I’m cheaper than the $1,800 quote they got elsewhere. I’m trying to take photography seriously as a business and my rates start around $1,200, so I feel underpaid doing it for less. Now I feel guilty saying no, my girlfriend/parents are pressuring me, and I’m stuck between sticking to my rates or taking the gig for the experience/money.

My girlfriend’s family was originally quoted $1,800 for photo + video coverage for her quinceañera. Later, my girlfriend asked if I’d be willing to do it at a more affordable rate.

At first, I said I’d think about it, but I ended up saying no.

For context: I’ve been doing photography as a hobby for years. At one point I tried launching a photography business, but it failed because I didn’t really approach it seriously. Even so, I’ve done paid gigs before, and this year I decided I want to actually treat it like a real business and stick to my rates.

Recently I sat down and worked out my pricing properly. My starting rate for photo only is around $1,200 for 2–3 hours (and more if video is involved).

Her family is willing to pay me something to photograph the event, but it would still be well below the rates I’ve set for myself. I’m grateful they thought of me, but I also feel underpaid for the amount of work and responsibility involved.

What makes this harder is:

• I’m not super close with her family
• My girlfriend and I already argued about it
• I’ve done a lot of free/cheap shoots in the past, which I’m trying to stop doing if I want to be taken seriously
• My parents are pressuring me, saying it’s “good money”
• If I attend as a guest and don’t photograph, I worry people will think I refused to help
• There’s also that awkward feeling of wondering: Am I invited because they want me there, or because they want a photographer?

Part of me feels guilty turning it down because it’d still be the most I’ve ever been paid for a single gig. But another part of me feels like if I cave on my rates now, I’m undermining the whole point of trying to build this into a real business.

The only compromise I can think of is just attending as a guest, bringing my pocket camera, casually taking some photos, and gifting them whatever I happen to get — totally unofficially.

I honestly don’t know what the right move is here. Am I being unreasonable for sticking to my rates, or should I just take the opportunity?

TL;DR:
Girlfriend’s family wants me to shoot her quinceañera because I’m cheaper than the $1,800 quote they got elsewhere. I’m trying to take photography seriously as a business and my rates start around $1,200, so I feel underpaid doing it for less. Now I feel guilty saying no, my girlfriend/parents are pressuring me, and I’m stuck between sticking to my rates or taking the gig for the experience/money.