United StatesHow much to charge for a "destination" wedding?
I would certainly charge a minimum of $3500 for the shoot plus at least $500 for each day that you are traveling and expenses. You don't want to be sitting in the hotel bar waiting and not generating revenue. I have charged 50% of my Creative fee when traveling for Advertising work, I simply thought that I'd charge a minimum of $500 in this case.
I travel regularly and always bring my own gear and seldom rent. It is a comfort thing and even at $50 / case that the airlines are charging, I think it is worth it.
When I quote on out of state or out of country jobs, I start with a number I would give if it were in my backyard. I then add on the travel time $500 - $1,000 /day. This rate varies on the "PIA" factor (Pain In The ...). If it is a major US city, things like cell phone connection, rental cars and other things that make a location job easier are available, then the hardships to me are fewer and I go with the lower number. If the job is in the middle of Montana in winter and the gas station attendent says "Better fill up and make it last 'cause I'm not running out there to save your sorry butt......" then that number is a bit higher. I also throw in hotel cost and a bit for meals.
I would be comfortable with the numbers you mentioned - good luck!
I don't normally do weddings. But I've done two so far and it was only because I knew the people and they hounded me to do this for them. I told them as long as they would allow me to do it the way I knew best to do so (photojournalism style) then I'd acquiesced. I charged too little ($3,000) for the first one, as the clients themselves told me as they were giving me the check, "You charged too little I would have paid you double." (??)
The second wedding I just did for one of my visYoga™ students. For this one I charged $3,500 (I'm still working on the images. I am too much of a perfectionist and I will not release images without these haven't been properly edited and worked on).
I will have to hire an assistant on location so he/she can help me to set up lights for formal portraits. I havent decided if I should travel with own lighting kits or if I should rent these on site.
Anyhow sorry for the segway, I just thought these would put my question within context: I'm now being asked to fly to another state (all-expenses paid) to do their wedding next year. How much should I charge for this?