How much to pay a friend?

ShannersLA · July 2015

A friend of mine who does photography professionally, just took maternity pictures for me. I asked her to quote me a rate, but she wouldn't. Money with friends is always awkward. She did such a great job - I would've hired her even if we weren't friends. I want to send her a nice thank you card with a check. I want to make sure I am fair with what I give her. I should also mention that in the future, I will utilize her for our newborn and any milestone pics of our baby that I want done professionally too.

Suggestions please!

Xstatic3333 · July 2015

ShannersLA said:
A friend of mine who does photography professionally, just took maternity pictures for me. I asked her to quote me a rate, but she wouldn't. Money with friends is always awkward. She did such a great job - I would've hired her even if we weren't friends. I want to send her a nice thank you card with a check. I want to make sure I am fair with what I give her. I should also mention that in the future, I will utilize her for our newborn and any milestone pics of our baby that I want done professionally too.

Suggestions please!

I just had this same awkward problem when a friend dogsat for me. I didn't feel right not paying her, she didn't want to charge me. I went with a gift card to a restaurant she likes, and sadly I haven't heard from her since. Part of me is now wondering if I just should have let it be a gift.

als1982 · July 2015

I would send a gift card to a restaurant or shop you know she frequents instead of a check. Can you Google other photographers in your area to find a standard going rate for maternity pics?

formerlyGDaisy09 · July 2015

If she is really refusing payment it might make it awkward to send her a check. what about if you got her a nice gift? bottle of wine? a plant? a gift card for dinner out? or put together a basket of homemade goodies?

Money with friends does get weird. for future things I'd agree on a price or allow her to refuese payment before you schedule the photo shoots. If she's going to continually refuese payment it might just become your little tradition that she takes your photos and you buy her dinner...or something similar.

hoffse · July 2015

That's really nice of your friend!

I would thank her by date night gift card thing - maybe a generous gift card to a restaurant you know she likes (or would like but is too cheap to pay for herself) plus a $20-$25 gift card to a local movie theater. There are lots of good movies about to come out.

I'm pretty sure maternity photos in my area are quite pricey, so she did you guys a huge favor by not charging you.

Mustard76 · July 2015

Another vote for a gift card/bottle of wine/experience. It's such a nice way of saying thank you while respecting her declining payment.

ShannersLA · July 2015

Mustard76 said:

Another vote for a gift card/bottle of wine/experience. It's such a nice way of saying thank you while respecting her declining payment.

Thank you so much for the feedback. I am going to go down the gift card route. I just reached out to her and said that I wanted to send her something for our gratitude and asked her what her and her husband's favorite restaurant was and told her my DH and I would also watch her 2 kids for her to give her a nice date night out. Thinking more about it, I agree that a check could feel cold and too business-like...a nice gift of gratitude would be more appropriate.

blondie42107 · July 2015

I vote gift card or nice gift. I have a friend that charges $50-75 for a quick photo shoot which is usually at a park, gardens, etc. She edits about 10 to 12 pictures and puts them on a CD with copyright letter informating that the recipient purchased the rights. It's her hobby, she's not a professional.

hoffse · July 2015

I just checked, and private photo sessions in my area by pros run around $250 for 2 hours. If you buy one of the maternity/newborn collection deals - which includes multiple shoots during the first year, etc., you're looking at around $600-$700. I live in a MCOL area.

I think the date night thing will be great, and she will love the free babysitter!

Erikan73 · July 2015

And also, ask her if you can have some business cards. The best way to thank someone for a great job is by referring business their way.

short+sassy · July 2015

ShannersLA said:

Mustard76 said:

Another vote for a gift card/bottle of wine/experience. It's such a nice way of saying thank you while respecting her declining payment.

Thank you so much for the feedback. I am going to go down the gift card route. I just reached out to her and said that I wanted to send her something for our gratitude and asked her what her and her husband's favorite restaurant was and told her my DH and I would also watch her 2 kids for her to give her a nice date night out. Thinking more about it, I agree that a check could feel cold and too business-like...a nice gift of gratitude would be more appropriate.

Bonus points for offering babysitting! That will really make it a fun, worry-free night for her and her H.

How much to pay a friend?

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