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12/30/2008 05:23:39 PM · #1 |
So I recently went to one of the VP's of the company I work for's home to photograph her house for her. She was participating in a local Tour of Homes and wanted some photos of her house being that it was "the best it had ever looked". Well I did it and she loved the photos. Then I get an email from her telling me that she sent some of the photos to her contractor. Apparently she had just had her bath room redone and he wanted some photos of it. Well he loved them too and emailed me himself asking it I'd be willing to photography more of his work for his website. I let me know I'd love to, but that I was not a professional architecture photographer. However he still wants to use my services, which I am cool with, but he wants to know how much I will charge to do photos.
What's a fair price? My understanding is that he does select projects. (a bathroom or a kitchen and such) Not full houses or buildings. What do you think I should charge? |
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12/30/2008 05:46:42 PM · #2 |
I charge $225, this includes up to 20 images of a house using additional strobe lighting(for interior only). The images are provided on cd with both full resize and resized web photos. I charge $150 just for an exterior twilight shot where the exterior is lit using strobe equipment at late dawn/early dusk. You can see my work in my portfolio if your curious of the quality.
As far as just shooting one room, thats obviously a bit different. It would probably take me less time photograph one room that it would for me to drive there. Just decide what your hourly rate is a go by that. Quality photography is worth paying for. I probably wouldn't charge less than $75 to show up and thats still cheap.
Message edited by author 2008-12-30 17:47:11. |
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12/30/2008 09:24:24 PM · #3 |
True architectural photogs charge by teh day or half day. Realistically if you drive there to preview, come back to shoot (picking time of day for best lighting or access), need to stage the room, light the room, shoot it, packup and go home. Then process the pics and create a disk or other method for delivery. 1/2 day easy.
Full time pros charge $2500 a day or more.
On the complete other flipside are the realtor service providers that shoot a house, quickie from the street in any weather or light, no staging, for $15. But then they make up for the low price with volume.
Personally I want to get $100 an hour or more for my time. May sound like a lot, but I have stuff to pay for - cameras, computers, software, office, phone, etc. as well as my car, gas, time, knowledge and expertise, and don't forget taxes. And I can't bill every hour of the day or week either. There is what we're doing here - work related but no client will pay us for it, charging batts, packing up gear, accounting (got paid, must go to bank ya know), etc. If you can bill for 50% of your actual time you're doing good.
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12/30/2008 10:04:46 PM · #4 |
I see. Well, I think i' getting in over my head. The photos I took before where in a very well lit house with tons of huge windows. All I needed was a tripod and my 17-35. I didn't use strobes or do any hardcore HDR post work.  trnqlty, your work looks great, but I'd have no idea how to properly light rooms like you have.
Message edited by author 2008-12-30 22:07:27. |
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12/30/2008 10:33:03 PM · #5 |
One of the big things with architectural photography is lighting, time of day, season of the year. I attended a seminar by a guy that does this for big clients and it's work. Real work.
Exteriors you have seasons -want green bushes? Or will that obscure the view of the building? Fall or spring? Will the grass be cut, cars moved, etc? OK, sunday morning is best, but the light is better at 4 pm or is that 7pm? Damn, today it's too cloudy or too sunny. Need a twilight shot to show the windows or sign lit just so. What about angle? Perhaps a man lift to get you 70 feet in the air will give you the angle you need.
Inside you have more lighting issues. Windows...reflections, color balance with lamps inside and daylight outside. Rarely are strobed used inside, but it cna be done. What, there's flourescent lights too? Goody! In the old days you'd gel it all to be the same color, including windows. Much easier now, but more work in PS to combine all the different WB shots into one, natural looking one.
You want even, inviting ligting - no dark corners, shadows, reflections (on windows, floor, counters, mirrors, furniture, etc).
The challenge of it intrigues me, but man the work involved can be tremendous.
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