Need help with pricing. - DPChallenge Forums

10/26/2004 12:00:50 PM · #1

Ok. I just did my first photo shoot for a friend and I am having a really hard time coming up with the prices per photo and cost for the shoot. I have been looking around the forums but I can't seem to find anything and I really need to give her a price. I don't want to rip her off but at the same time I'd like to make money doing it. Is there a standard rate people normally follow?

Please help...

daveit

Canon EOS-10D

10/26/2004 12:30:45 PM · #2

I had a similar problem not too long ago. I'm not really a professional photographer (as much as I'd like to be) so when I started doing portraits and weddings I had a really hard time comming up with a price structure. Eventually, I looked at what my costs were:
* event time
* wear and tear on equiptment
* editing time
* paper/ ink/ wear on printer (canon i9100)
Then you have to see what the market in your area will support and add your mark-up.
I've had to charge a little less than some of the others in my area in order to gain a name for myself (which I'm still working on)but once established will be more inline with everyone else.
If you still can't come up with a price, ask your friend what they think it's worth. If they're any friend at all they're not going to lowball you.

10/26/2004 01:00:25 PM · #3

My wife and I have the same problem.
How do you build a name, gain experience and refine your set-ups without giving away prints?
Currently the sitting fee pays for our expenses and some profit comes from prints. I think it works well, if we do a good job we sell lots of prints which people a happy to pay.

10/26/2004 01:02:40 PM · #4

Thanks for the reply. Here's another question. Is the Canon i9100 good enough? I only have the i560 so I was going to out source the prints this time until I make enough to pay for a printer good enough for the job...

Nikon AF Zoom-Nikkor 28-105mm f/3.5-4.5D

10/26/2004 01:06:50 PM · #5

We have the i450 (but we dont use it for clients) we outlab everything to a professional lab that we trust and can depend on. We found that the canon in can fade too quickly if only using the standard ink.

daveit

Canon EOS-10D

10/26/2004 01:15:39 PM · #6

Couple of things here
1. I don't think you can build a name and reputation for yourself without giving away prints. To date, I have given framed prints to charity for fundraisers, I have donated my time and prints for other charity's that needed pictures done of their event..anything to get my name out there. Giving away some of your work is the best way to get noticed. I've called organizations that are having a fundraiser and offered my work. Trust me, you make it back ten fold!
2. The Canon i9100 is a great printer IMHO. The quality of the prints equals anything I've had outsourced. Now I don't know about the ink fade so that might be something to look into.
As far as outsourcing goes, it's hard to beat the price, butI like having all the control.

GoldBerry

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM

10/26/2004 01:48:57 PM · #7

For friends I generally do small jobs for free since my company is still new.
Eventually, I'll give them a 50% discount. For large jobs, like friend's weddings, friend's bands, etc I just cut them a deal. Like 25% off and free negatives.

The easiest way to do small jobs, is to charge $50 to cover your shooting/editing time and don't do any prints - just give them the disc.

Gotta be fair and play nice :-)

mcrael

Nikon D300

10/26/2004 02:04:27 PM · #8

IMHO, $50 is way too low to charge friends for shooting and editing time, but this would depend largely on the number of photos you intend to provide. $50 might be considered okay for the shooting time, but the editing process can be very time-consuming. Be prepared to be basically working for free on that. Can you barter something in exchange (ie does your friend provide a service or product you want?)

GoldBerry

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM

10/26/2004 02:20:12 PM · #9

I charge, as a 'professional', $150CND for a single-person session (1hr, 20+ images on disc, 1 print). I would think anything over $50 for some friendly work might be too much. That's going by my own personal pricing of course. Then again, for that sort of job I only spend about 1 hour post-editing.

Also, what I learned from record engineering, is that you can't charge people full price for hours of work as an amateur, because a pro would do it in less than half the time. (that can apply to photo editing as well..)

10/26/2004 02:26:26 PM · #10

Originally posted by daveit:

Sorry I didnt exactly get my point across. I was not refering to giving away promotional prints. I was refering to doing the work for free. I agree that promotion through volunteering and charitible donations is an excellent promotion method as well as the help that I will be giving to a local high school's digital photography club. Anything to get your name some exposure.

10/26/2004 02:57:27 PM · #11

How do you find out about the volunteer and charity donations?

10/26/2004 03:05:28 PM · #12

Easiest way to find places to donate your pictures is the paper. Many charities take out ads for thier fundraising events which a silent auction may be held.

Gordon

RIM BlackBerry Curve

Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM

10/26/2004 03:57:45 PM · #13

For actual friends, I don't charge for shooting/ editing. I'll even give them a properly finished, edited print or two for free. After that I'll help them work with a lab to buy any more prints that they want. But I only do shoots that I actually want to do.

The barter thing works well too - free meals, drinks, anything they happen to produce, that sort of thing.

I give a lot of my pictures away to charitable organisations as well, as Dave mentions, what might seem overly generous in the first place typically repays you many times over. The more generously I give with my limited talent, the more I seem to get back from it.

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro

10/26/2004 04:03:16 PM · #14

Well tell me if this seems unreasonable.

They are getting 4 different images broken down into 16 wallets, 10 5x7s and 4 8x10s for $160. That includes the shoot, editing and prints.

Fare or no for a friend? I was also going to throw something in there for free as kind of a bonus...

Spork99

OM System OM-1

10/26/2004 04:06:27 PM · #15

Originally posted by eostyles:

The best advice I have heard is not to discount your work for friends/family unless you are giving it as a gift. Instead, throw in a freebie print or two beyond the standard package.

Gordon

RIM BlackBerry Curve

Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM

10/26/2004 04:10:28 PM · #16

One thing to consider is it's often better to arrange this up front. Not much help now, but something to keep in mind next time.

Then you at least have an idea how much they would want or expect to pay.

The next part is are you doing this for a business normally, then
discounting for your friend. Or are you doing this as a one of thing and thinking you can make some money out of your friend for doing this ?

I've seen packages like that sell for about $20, and I've seen single portraits sell for $5000.