You know what grinds my gears?

When you've established yourself as a pretty good photographer and you have family coming out of the wood works saying,"Can I get a free session since we're family," or "wanna hook me up?" And then get offended when you tell them that you don't work for free.

I would expect mates rates

You know what grinds my gears?

When people don't give me smurf for free!  

Quoting Onalee's Mummy:" I would expect mates rates"

Mates rates?

I mean, for family, I'd probably do it for free...but that's just me.

Quoting Captain Obvious:" I mean, for family, I'd probably do it for free...but that's just me."

Even ones that never talk to you?

Quoting Legendary Bonnie Beaver:" Even ones that never talk to you? "

Nope. LOL

Are they like distant family? Or close family? I would do it for free for my family, or at least half off.

I don't blame you! That's really rude of them to ask for you to work for free.

ETA: It's one thing if they ask you for photos intending to pay and you offer to do it for free...that's what I would do (for close family/friends anyway). But for them to just expect/demand it seems rather rude to me, especially if they don't usually have much to do with you.

Quoting Lizplustwo:" I don't blame you! That's really rude of them to ask for you to work for free. "

Thank you.
This is a cousin that hadn't talked to me in about a year in a half. And then another who hadn't talked to me in about a year. I gave them my prices and they never responded.

Quoting Legendary Bonnie Beaver:" Mates rates? "

At a discount.

Meh, I think EVERY experiences this.

people want free law advice from lawyers, free haircuts from stylists, they want writers to read their manuscripts, they want mechanics to help with their cars.

My husband is a software developer, and he is CONSTANTLY fixing peoples computers. Why? Because they're family, and they help us out to. Could he say "sorry, I get paid $50 an hour, so fork it over or fix it yourself." Yeah, but they're family/friends and it isn't that big of a deal.

So, you don't have to do it, but it isn't specific to photographers. I think people do this with EVERYONE if they have a friend/family with a skill.

Oh but for serious, I wouldn't expect anyone in my family to do their job for free for me.

Well except my sister, I make her paint me stuff all the time. But nobody else lol

Quoting she nan igans:" Meh, I think EVERY experiences this. people want free law advice from lawyers, free haircuts from stylists, ... [snip!] ... do it, but it isn't specific to photographers. I think people do this with EVERYONE if they have a friend/family with a skill. "

Maybe I'm differen't. But if I've asked for a family member that has a specific skill and wanted them to use that skill to help me, I never asked them to do it for free. I paid them .

I think it's rude of them to ask! That's how you make your money to help support your family, I'm sure they wouldn't go work in an office for free.
Maybe a slightly discounted rate for close family, but that's about where I'd draw the line.