What is the shortest you will allow someone to book you for?

I just got off a call with a bride to be that is working on a serious budget and only wants a photographer for 20 to 30 minutes. She wants photos of them with the priest during the ceremony only. I've never been asked for such a short period and wondering should I pass on this one or what to charge. She was asking what I charge for "20 to 30 minutes". I told her I would be sending a proposal over to her via email. Honestly I just needed to buy time and figure what I wanted to do. It's not worth my time to bill for only 20 or 30 minutes. So is it fair to charge for a minimum amount of time? What's your minimum? Again this is a first for me, so never considered this. But money is money these days.

Thanks for the help.

Personally I have a 2 hour minimum. I would quote for 2 hours and let them decide.

It really depends if you have the time or if you want to do it. I would charge the same as doing a portait shoot on location.

Depends on travel and the day of the week etc.

The minimum I do it for is 1 hour. You should do the same (maybe charge for 2 hours to include travel). It's rare a shoot is just 20-30 min. You have to set up, travel etc. etc.

BTW the first hour I work is always more expensive than the subsequent hours. To make up for travel and setup time.

1/500 sec, if it pays well enough.....

Francis wrote: It's not worth my time to bill for only 20 or 30 minutes. So is it fair to charge for a minimum amount of time? What's your minimum?

Yes, it's fair. You need to determine a price that not only covers your expenses and fees, but one that makes you take the job seriously ( and not regret taking it! ). Your minimum might be what you would normally charge for 2 hours or 4 hours even if you only shoot for 30 min. My hourly rate gets more expensive when I'm booked for a less amount of time. That reflects that there is a minimum I need to earn to make loading up the gear and going to work worthwhile. It's also more expensive to secure me early. A year from a particular Saturday I'm going to hold out for a couple that wants to hire me for at least 6 hours. A few weeks from an unbooked Saturday I'm a lot more flexible.

My minimum depends on the situation. When is the wedding?
6+ months from now on a Saturday: 6 hour rate is my minimum to book, 8+ hours is my cheapest hourly rate
6+ months from now on a Fri or Sun: 4 hour rate min
in a few weeks, on a day when no one else is going to hire me: I'll work with them. First it's important to determine what they want, and whether their expectations are reasonable. In my experience people tend to underestimate how long it takes to pose people, and get a selection of nice portraits. Possibly what they want would fit one of my portrait packages.

Recently I photographed a couple before they got married at the courthouse 2 blocks from my house on a Wednesday afternoon. It was a very short portrait session in the park so I gave them a portrait rate. A few weeks ago I was contacted by a couple getting married this weekend. They wanted me for an hour and a half. It's a 30 mile round trip, and ceremony, portraits, and whatever else I can get, but at the same time I had the day open, so I gave them 2 hours for 1/2 my 4 hour rate. If they'd contacted me a few months out my minimum might have been my 4 hour rate.