HOW TO CHARGE PHOTO SHOOT/BODY PAINTING?

I have worked as a helper for a body painter before, but now I have been asked from a Photographer Team to do a body painting project, me being the leading painter, they said "can be a portfolio building or a paid gig" and want a proposal from me. How do you charge your first project? I am interested on building a portfolio but I am sure I don't want to do it for free, at least I want the cost of the supplies back.

If you have the experience and are capable of executing the painting while staying within the time guidelines the group specifies then I'd post a price. I charge by the hour and depending on the size of the project I may add a nominal materials fee. The real question is can you deliver? if I say that it will take an hour to paint a corsette, that's how long I give myself to do the project.
If you are still uncertain about your ability to smoothly execute their design with a time constraint, I'd do it for photos. My first body painting gig was for photos and I was able to paint in a stress free environment and get pro photos which lead to more gigs.

A good rule of thumb (or at least I've been told) is that if you are wanting to build your portfolio limit the folio building designs to those that you need to flesh out your portfolio. I may paint my first full body tiger for photos, but any other requests for full body tigers will be paid commissions unless I feel I need a better one in my portfolio.

You might be able to fashion a deal for a nominal material fee AND pictures.

Thanks Lady Jayde OMG you freak me out now,I have never paint a body by myself only parts that somebody else told me to or pregnant ladies. We are going to meet tomorrow and they are going to tell me about the project, wish a tiger project, I am good at those but I have never painted a corset.

If time is your friend on this project and you have a mannequin,
I'd practice that design until I know it inside out. The best piece of
Advice I received about body painting was to never leave anything to chance
When it comes to design execution. If you've already made all
all of the pertinent decisions and fleshed out the hard parts in a practice
session then painting on the big day will be somewhat rote.

Don't be freaked out...you're going to make me stop answering question, lol.
I don't doubt that you can handle this. You just have to shift you mindset into
A larger frame and figure out what you need to do to deliver. There are several
Of us here who are willing to pad your path with nuggets of wisdom. Just keep asking questions.

As to charging, it depends what you need more of right now- Pictures of your work, or money.

If you decide to do a trade, ask for an agreement in writing, before the shoot, that specifies when, how many and in what format you will get the pictures, and alternatively how much you will get paid if they do NOT produce said pictures- as well as a release from both photographer AND model specifying how you can use the images.

Thank you to you both, Leapinglizards, I have watched your videos a lot since yesterday, bad thing I don't have paint for my air brush, and thanks for the advice I know for my own experience photographers never come back to you with the pictures the promise, I don't understand why they are digital pics don't hurt to send them in a e-mail compared to print ones looks so easy to do.