Fee for providing lost images, video, etc?

[hasselblad]

Hey Guys! I am a wedding photographer. A client contacted me recently who apparently lost her wedding photos. I shot her wedding 9 years ago.
She asked me to find out whether I still have their images. It would take me a half a day to go through all the archives.
My question: Do you charge a fee for providing images 5 years after you shot a client's wedding, portrait session, etc?
If yes, how much and how do you explain the clients that a fee is involved...?

Thanks a bunch!
Otto, Miami

 

[ahalpert]

Personally, I charge a couple hundred bucks. I just charged someone $250 to resend some finished videos from a few years ago that only took me an hour or so to locate.

I think most people call it an "archive" or "de-archiving" fee.

I would explain that it will take you hours to find the shots and it also costs you to maintain your archive. I would also set expectations low and tell them you may not have them anymore, but if you locate them you will charge them X amount.

And from a financial standpoint - if they have lost their photos, it is probably worth a lot to them to get them back, up to as much as they paid you to shoot them in the first place. I wouldn't charge that much, that seems like extortion. But you can essentially set whatever price you want because the photos are worth a lot to them. If it will take you half a day to locate them, you could charge for a half-day of editing for example.

 

[hasselblad]

Personally, I charge a couple hundred bucks. I just charged someone $250 to resend some finished videos from a few years ago that only took me an hour or so to locate.

I think most people call it an "archive" or "de-archiving" fee.

I would explain that it will take you hours to find the shots and it also costs you to maintain your archive. I would also set expectations low and tell them you may not have them anymore, but if you locate them you will charge them X amount.

And from a financial standpoint - if they have lost their photos, it is probably worth a lot to them to get them back, up to as much as they paid you to shoot them in the first place. I wouldn't charge that much, that seems like extortion. But you can essentially set whatever price you want because the photos are worth a lot to them. If it will take you half a day to locate them, you could charge for a half-day of editing for example.

I totally agree. I just needed to hear what people's expectations are. Indeed, those drives cost a lot and my time is valuable. Thanks so much for sharing your ideas!