do any of you have any ideas? if so, please help me out!
Full Version: what do you charge to travel?
a friend from college just asked if i could do her best friend's wedding. they live about 6 hours away from me. i haven't booked any weddings that far before. they have all been in driving distance. i am deathly afraid of flying and i'm considering driving the 6 hours for the wedding instead of a flight. this is just a thought .. nothing is set in stone right now. so, if i do end up driving, i'm sort of lost about how much i should charge for the long boring drive. do any of you have any ideas? if so, please help me out!
do any of you have any ideas? if so, please help me out!
anyone!? you're telling me none of you that read this travels for weddings!? 
Nicole,
Depends on a couple of factors:
How long will I be shooting that day? What time will I be starting that day? What time am I to be finished shooting that day?
If I'm starting early in the morning at the salon, and it's a 3+ hour drive, then I'll drive down the night before and have the couple pay for the room.
If I'm finishing later in the evening (ie. 10pm or later), then I'll also request/require a room for that evening, and drive home in the morning.
I'd also charge an appropriate amount for travel based on a per mile basis. Something along the lines of $0.25/mile should suffice. So, 6 hours driving = ~360 miles which = ~$90 each way in mileage.
$180 for mileage. $110/night for the hotel. $400 would pretty much cover it.
Or, if they're willing to pay for flights, then fly.
Depends on a couple of factors:
How long will I be shooting that day? What time will I be starting that day? What time am I to be finished shooting that day?
If I'm starting early in the morning at the salon, and it's a 3+ hour drive, then I'll drive down the night before and have the couple pay for the room.
If I'm finishing later in the evening (ie. 10pm or later), then I'll also request/require a room for that evening, and drive home in the morning.
I'd also charge an appropriate amount for travel based on a per mile basis. Something along the lines of $0.25/mile should suffice. So, 6 hours driving = ~360 miles which = ~$90 each way in mileage.
$180 for mileage. $110/night for the hotel. $400 would pretty much cover it.
Or, if they're willing to pay for flights, then fly.
First, you need to get over the fear of flying. You can't drive every where.
Second, it may be a six-hour drive for you, but there are a lot of competitors for whom it is right in their neighborhood. Even though you have a referral, you are still competing with them and you can't afford to charge too much more (under most circumstances). I'd also charge a standard rate per mile plus the hotel room. ($110 per night? I don't pay that in Miami.)
But realistically, if $400 is more than 10% of your package price, it will hurt your competitiveness.
Finally, doing things for friends - or friends of friends - is pretty much a no win situation. They will expect a "deal" and be insulted if you don't give them one.
Second, it may be a six-hour drive for you, but there are a lot of competitors for whom it is right in their neighborhood. Even though you have a referral, you are still competing with them and you can't afford to charge too much more (under most circumstances). I'd also charge a standard rate per mile plus the hotel room. ($110 per night? I don't pay that in Miami.)
But realistically, if $400 is more than 10% of your package price, it will hurt your competitiveness.
Finally, doing things for friends - or friends of friends - is pretty much a no win situation. They will expect a "deal" and be insulted if you don't give them one.
QUOTE(jkantor @ February 13 2007, 02:10 PM) [snapback]76754[/snapback]
First, you need to get over the fear of flying. You can't drive every where.
Second, it may be a six-hour drive for you, but there are a lot of competitors for whom it is right in their neighborhood. Even though you have a referral, you are still competing with them and you can't afford to charge too much more (under most circumstances). I'd also charge a standard rate per mile plus the hotel room. ($110 per night? I don't pay that in Miami.)
But realistically, if $400 is more than 10% of your package price, it will hurt your competitiveness.
Finally, doing things for friends - or friends of friends - is pretty much a no win situation. They will expect a "deal" and be insulted if you don't give them one.
Second, it may be a six-hour drive for you, but there are a lot of competitors for whom it is right in their neighborhood. Even though you have a referral, you are still competing with them and you can't afford to charge too much more (under most circumstances). I'd also charge a standard rate per mile plus the hotel room. ($110 per night? I don't pay that in Miami.)
But realistically, if $400 is more than 10% of your package price, it will hurt your competitiveness.
Finally, doing things for friends - or friends of friends - is pretty much a no win situation. They will expect a "deal" and be insulted if you don't give them one.
i know i can't drive everywhere .. but in situations where i can drive and they are willing to cover costs for either driving or flying, i am going to drive. it's just a personal preferance. nothing wrong with that!
there is one other photographer besides myself they were considering and they decided they wanted to book me. they made that choice even before they contacted me. i luckily was available!
i know dealing with friends is bad news but the friend got them to contact me. they aren't expecting any deals and even if they did, i'd just tell them no.
QUOTE(Chris Uglanica @ February 13 2007, 01:27 PM) [snapback]76697[/snapback]
Nicole,
Depends on a couple of factors:
How long will I be shooting that day? What time will I be starting that day? What time am I to be finished shooting that day?
If I'm starting early in the morning at the salon, and it's a 3+ hour drive, then I'll drive down the night before and have the couple pay for the room.
If I'm finishing later in the evening (ie. 10pm or later), then I'll also request/require a room for that evening, and drive home in the morning.
I'd also charge an appropriate amount for travel based on a per mile basis. Something along the lines of $0.25/mile should suffice. So, 6 hours driving = ~360 miles which = ~$90 each way in mileage.
$180 for mileage. $110/night for the hotel. $400 would pretty much cover it.
Or, if they're willing to pay for flights, then fly.
Depends on a couple of factors:
How long will I be shooting that day? What time will I be starting that day? What time am I to be finished shooting that day?
If I'm starting early in the morning at the salon, and it's a 3+ hour drive, then I'll drive down the night before and have the couple pay for the room.
If I'm finishing later in the evening (ie. 10pm or later), then I'll also request/require a room for that evening, and drive home in the morning.
I'd also charge an appropriate amount for travel based on a per mile basis. Something along the lines of $0.25/mile should suffice. So, 6 hours driving = ~360 miles which = ~$90 each way in mileage.
$180 for mileage. $110/night for the hotel. $400 would pretty much cover it.
Or, if they're willing to pay for flights, then fly.
thanks for the info!!
I have a situation like this for 7/7/7. I charged an extra $500 for reasons similar to what Chris said. I also threw in some extra for my inconvienence of leaving my family for a whole weekend (that was included in the $500). I don't justify it to the client - I just tell them the factors that go into it if they question it (they will probably be used to the $0.50/mile estimate that most photographers provide them).
This is a "lo-fi" version of our main content. To view the full version with more information, formatting and images, please click here.