Need help - Church shoot?

[SportShotsLive]

Folks,

Although I'm primarily a sports shooter, I got asked by a local church to come do a photo shoot for pictures that will be used for a holiday mailing. :?

I'm looking for information on the following:

- Rate for a church shoot? (I'm in suburban NJ)

- How to deal with copyright issues?

- The best way to start negotiations?

- Equipment (LENSES) needed to shoot church interiors?


My current equipment:

Nikon D200

Nikon 70-200 f/2.8 VR
Nikon 80-200 f/2.8
Nikon 18-70 f/4-5.6
Nikon 50mm f/1.8

Nikon SB600 flash

Tripod w/ tilt head

Thanks in advance!!

[rinniethehun]

Rate - do it for nothing.

Copyright - don't worry about it.

Best way - tell them you want to donate your talents to the church - when can I start?

Equipment - bring everything and experiment.

Happy Thanksgiving and Merry Christmas!

the Hun

[MrPogo]

What was said above. Ask for nothing more than a credit with the pictures, ideally with a "photographic services donated by...", and the publicity will be worth more than whatever you could charge for the shoot itself.

[tommysdad]

rinniethehun wrote:

Rate - do it for nothing.

Copyright - don't worry about it.

Best way - tell them you want to donate your talents to the church - when can I start?

Equipment - bring everything and experiment.

Happy Thanksgiving and Merry Christmas!

the Hun

The above advice is spot on,use your tripod and your head.Look at your surroundings for a while,is there light pouring in through the windows, a balcony or bell tower? a nice shot of the area from the bell tower, overlooking the "congregation" so to speak would be nice.Personally I would take a few interior w/a shots from different positions, then pick out some details with your 200mm`s,ceiling, statues etc.I would also do some exterior shots.I`d probably take more pics than you need, then that way you don`t miss anything :G

Good Luck, and don`t forget to post the results

TD

[SportShotsLive]

Thanks for all the help - I appreciate it.

Off to church I go! :G

[Corpsy]

Use auto exposure bracketing! It's the only way you'll get a good exposure of both the dark interior and the bright stained glass windows!

[tclune]

Just one point -- you still need to know what the highest going rate would be. Don't "give" your services, DONATE them. The church will give you a receipt for the donation for tax purposes if you are a professional.

[BillDrew]

tclune wrote:

Just one point -- you still need to know what the highest going rate would be. Don't "give" your services, DONATE them. The church will give you a receipt for the donation for tax purposes if you are a professional.

Talk to your accountant - I am pretty sure you will be able to deduct only the expenses involved in the shot, not the rate for your labor/profit. That also means this might be the time to rent a short/fast lens to try out - but do talk to your accountant before assuming you can deduct that kind of thing.

SportShotsLive wrote:

...
- How to deal with copyright issues?
...

I agreewithnot charging them, but give them only the use of the images for this year's holliday advertising. Perhaps you will be able to sell afew prints at the next flea market/craft sale/... Or if they want to use the image(s) in a calendar they are going to sell you might want to think of some smallish royalty.

And get a property "model" release from them that allows you to sell the images to whoever will pay you. You might make a little money that way.