I love photographing nonprofit galas and fundraisers. The pictures can help an organization thank its donors, recognize its sponsors, apply for grants, promote the next event, and show people why its work matters. A picture is worth a thousand words. For a nonprofit, those words can help raise money and reach more people.
I also need to charge a fair market price for my work. That is the only way I can stay in business and keep doing it.
I know what a nonprofit needs from its photographs
Nonprofit event photography is not only about getting a few nice pictures of people at a gala. The organization needs photographs of the speakers, honorees, sponsors, volunteers, board members, and guests. It needs the room before the event begins and again when it is full. It needs the award presentation, the fundraising appeal, the reactions in the audience, and the people having a great time. The development team may need pictures for donor emails and grant applications. The communications team may need them for the website, press, and social media. Sponsors need photographs showing their involvement. The event committee needs pictures that will help fill the room next year.
I know how to create a gallery that gives everyone plenty to use.
My expenses don’t change for a nonprofit
My cameras, lenses, lighting, insurance, editing software, gallery hosting, file storage, equipment repairs, and taxes cost the same for every job. The overhead cost of running a business in NJ/NYC goes up every year. The work takes the same amount of time too. Every job I do at a discount is potentially not letting me do a higher paying one. There are emails, preparation, travel, file backups, editing, uploading, and gallery delivery. None of those expenses or responsibilities changes because an organization is a nonprofit. My price is based on the quality of work I do and my time
I cannot deduct the value of my labor
If I provide a photography package that would normally cost $xxxx, I cannot write off $xxxx on my taxes. The IRS does not allow me to deduct the value of my time or professional services. The hours spent preparing, photographing, and editing are simply unpaid hours. They do not come back to me at tax time.
Exposure doesn’t turn into paid work
I have been told: “So many people will be there. They’ll see your work and want to hire you.” Those jobs did not lead to paying clients. They led to more requests for free photography. Once people know you as the photographer who worked for free/cheap, they often ask for the same thing putting me in an uncomfortable position. The hope of future work cannot pay today’s bills. I cannot run my business based on a promise that someone at an event might hire me later.
Fair pricing allows me to keep doing good work
Photography is how I support myself. It is not a hobby I occasionally bring to an event. Charging a fair market price allows me to maintain professional equipment, carry insurance, pay for reliable backups, keep my software current, and spend the time required to deliver high quality galleries. It also allows me to stay in business. If I regularly provide professional photography below its value, eventually I will not be able to offer the service at all. Fair pricing is what allows me to keep showing up, doing excellent work, and giving nonprofit organizations photographs that can genuinely help them.
This applies to startups too
I understand that startups have limited budgets. I run a small business, so I know exactly how quickly expenses add up. But one small business cannot be expected to fund another one. If a startup needs professional photographs for its website, launch, press, fundraising, or social media, those pictures are business assets. They are being created to help the company grow.
Nonprofit work is important to me
It is an honor to photograph people working hard for causes they care about. I want the finished gallery to show the size of the event, the people behind it, the money being raised, and the community supporting the organization. I want the photographs to help the nonprofit long after the night is over. I give this work my full attention because I know how much the pictures can do. I charge fairly because that is what allows me to continue doing it.
Looking for a nonprofit gala photographer?
I photograph nonprofit galas, fundraisers, donor events, award ceremonies, and community programs throughout New Jersey and New York City.
Visit my nonprofit event photography page, then fill out my contact form and tell me about your event.