Would like thoughts/guidance regarding family portraits and the liberties thereof. Next month, I have asked extended family to be available for a Christmas portrait that I will fund. The photographer will shoot both extended family as well as the family units. Is it appropriate and acceptable for the family units to expect me to provide negatives of their shoot/pose for the purpose of producing their own Christmas card portrait, at no cost?

No, you are providing a service, organizing, to help family members have the opportunity to purchase a large group photo. You are paying for your own pictures. They can pay for theirs.

You might have someone say, "But I'm spending my time taking this photo. Don't I deserve something for my time?" Of course they do. They deserve the right to purchase a photo, just as you are going to purchase one.

hamlinje, this is very much like calling a bunch of friends/family and inviting them to lunch. It can be touchy, if you are doing the inviting and don't say anything about cost, people may assume that you will pay the cost of the meal and leave the tip.

I agree with Connie, however, since this lovely idea is yours, I think you must go beyond asking everyone to be available and requesting their time for a portrait. You should tell them before the action takes place, that you are happy to pay the photographer for services, but they are welcome to purchase negatives if they want to. Be up front about them purchasing the negatives, etc.

I suggest you present your question to the photographer who may be able to give you an idea of what to charge each member, should someone want buy a photo/negative for their own use.

There are some very top reasons to learn to take family portraits, and it's not necessary to be starting on the photography career to do this. Getting portraits appropriately done could be too costly for a lot of families. And frequently it can be hard to obtain everybody towards the studio in the scheduled time.