Portraits/Candids - How do I charge

Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM

07/06/2006 11:33:32 AM · #1

I have a friend who recently requested a photo shoot of her extended family.
8 adults & 5 children (ages 4-14).
She thinks an hour or two shoot (which, I tend to think that amount people will take longer than an hour or two).

They want portraits & candids - and just want a CD of the photos so that they can print them at will.

So, can anyone advise on how to charge for something like this?
Anything I should know about the scenario - copyright, pricing, etc?
Do you charge by the amount of time you spend shooting & editing - or per photo?

idnic

Canon EOS-60D

07/06/2006 11:37:20 AM · #2

I charge $100 sitting fee per hour, but I never give CDs, that way I also make about 60% profit from all prints they order. If you plan to give the CD, then you should charge more than JUST a sitting fee.

OdysseyF22

Panasonic DC-G9

Olympus 12-45mm f/4.0 Pro

07/06/2006 11:40:50 AM · #3

A friend of mine just had a family reunion and they hired a photog [not me, so I guess that shows what kind of friend he is! ;-)] and for a similar time frame, but with more people, I think the price was only $75, and then the CDs for unlimited use were either $10 or $20.

I tend to think that's cheap. Working with with 13 people, some of whom are young, is going to be a task, and if it only takes two hours, like you suspect, you'll be lucky. And that's just portraits. Candids will take longer, since you'll have to get them when everyone is relaxed, and not posing for the camera.

Now granted I've never done a shoot like this, but I'd think of charging around $100 - $150 for the shoot, and then extra for the images. Since you'll be giving them a CD for unlimited use, I think they'd be getting off cheap if you only charged $50 per disk.

Even then, they're getting a good deal. Since it's for friends, that's okay. But I'd be sure to get them to sign a release, or at least have a paragraph in the contract (which they sign) that allows you to use the shots for self-promotion (website, etc). That way at least you will be able to show off your work after.

Hope this helps!

07/06/2006 04:13:27 PM · #4

Thanks for the suggestions. They bring up very good points - and give me a great idea on ballpark charges.

I had not thought of having a contract/release written up. Might have to look into that.

I don't mind giving the CD - saves me the hassle of printing stuff.

What are thoughts on actually "signing" the photos with a copyright? I assume that would detract from the images.

Prof_Fate

07/06/2006 05:22:17 PM · #5

Signing the images is to me one of these - ego (yours), self promotion/advertising (good thing), makes the print more valuable (one day you'll be famous!), or to keep the prints from being copied.

I ususally do it on 8x10s and larger for the copy reason and the self promotion. I try not to make it too obnoxious (i want a logo thing as opposed to my whole name..still thinking on that one)

If you giving then unlimited right to print the pics, then a few of those reasons are not important, and you have no control over the size they print.

Yeah, it's more hassle to manage the printing, but it's more money for you. If you don't want the money, then don't charge them for the sitting either (it's work too ya know, and can be a hassle). If you feel comfortable charging for the 'creation of the images' why not just do a 'time and materials' on the prints?

I try to get $40/hour for HS seniors as a sitting fee, and hope to sell some prints. Just did - $150 worth, including a 16x20 canvas (hope it turns out good...). Puts $100 in my pocket and the 'hassle' was taking an email, picking the pics they wanted, cropping to the right aspect ratio and uploading. I did some minor retouching on the 8x10 and larger prints. hour tops. $100. No too much hassle IMO!

I don't give up the CD without $500 in print sales (albums, etc for weddings). Or they can buy the CD for $500. they can copy the CD with a lot less hassle than they can copy prints.

wee_ag

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

07/31/2006 10:34:51 PM · #6

Don't want to hijack any threads but here's what I'm charging just starting out in family reunions.

I don't have a sitting fee and charge the following for prints:
5x7 - $10
8x10 - $20
12x18 - $50

That's it. The flaw in my plan is when they don't buy a lot of prints. But my question is this... if they buy a lot of prints am I over charging? I just did a job with 25 - 5x7's, 8 - 8x10's and 1 - 12x18. That's $460 for about an hour and a half of picture taking and an hour or so on the computer. I keep the originals, if they want a CD of photos for email/backgrounds/screen savers or the originals I'm not sure what to charge.

I wonder if packages aren't the way to go and then have a la carte pricing if they want more prints...

anyway, that's my .02 - any more thoughts on this would be greatly appreciated by myself and by others I'm sure who have similar questions.

Message edited by author 2006-07-31 22:40:50.

jusdino4it

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

Sigma 70-300mm f/4-5.6 APO DG Macro for Canon

07/31/2006 10:40:33 PM · #7

Dont sell each CD individually, sell them the rights to the photos. I would charge 500 for the time and the rights. Then they can do whatever they want with it.

jpochard

Canon EOS-40D

Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM

07/31/2006 11:00:58 PM · #8

With putting copyright info on it...I wouldn't do that if you're selling them the CD to make prints or do whatever they want with it. They will have problems getting a lab to make the prints if you have the copyright I would think.

faidoi

Pentax K10D

Pentax DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AF

07/31/2006 11:03:39 PM · #9

If you decide to charge cheap you could ask for release forms to be signed for stock :)

NVPhoto

Canon EOS-40D

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

08/01/2006 03:41:42 PM · #10

I would charge handsomely for the CD. If you give that up you give up all print sales. What I did for someone who kept asking for the shots we didn't use for prints was resize them to 4x6 at a resolution of 72. That way they look fine on the computer, but they can't print them w/o some hassle.

Your print prices should be dependant on how much it costs you to print. I took a price list from MPIX & Bayphoto and came up w/ my prices according to them. I started at 5x cost, then as the prints got larger 4x then 3.5x. That kept prices in my ballpark but offered me a good margin. I try to sell the crap out of 8x10. They cost under $2 and I can easily charge $15-$20. I sell more of them because $20 a pop isn't so bad. People start controlling their spending when they are looking at $125 for a 11x14 on canvas.

dacrazyrn

Nikon D300

Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II

08/01/2006 04:12:37 PM · #11

I did my only wedding last year and they wanted to go the CD/DVD way. It looked like this (for about 150 edited shots)...
Usage License
Subject to the terms and conditions below, Photos4Aidan the creator of the work ("Work")
referenced in this document (number 2005-1004-PO) hereby grants to (Family Name) and members of
this family defined herein ("Client") an Exclusive license to use the Work in The United
States/Canada only. This license shall be valid until February 1st, 2006 and shall cover publication
of the Work in the following media only: Unlimited Printed Media for personal use. Any other use
of the Work by the Client shall require a separately negotiated license.
Two CD/DVDâ��s will be provided to the family with the final approved, full sized jpeg photos in a
printable form for family and friends use. All the photos on the disc are for unlimited use for
printing until February 01, 2006. After that date no other license applies and the discs must be
returned.
Usage Fees (Unlimited Printing until 02/01/06) @ 200.00
Film, Processing, Prints, Digital
Digital Archiving (Done on my time) @ 0.00/hour for 1 hour
Digital Editing @ 30.00/hour for 8.5 hours=255.00
2 Digital Media (Web/email/full size images) @ 15.00 ea.=30.00
Digital Post Production (Color and WB editing) @ 30.00/hour for 1 hour=30.00
Digital Proofs to Web @ 30.00/hour for 1 hour=30.00
Location/Studio
Location Shoot @ 40.00/hour for 4 hours=160.00
Travel
60 Travel Time (35 cents per mile-Round trip) @ 0.35 ea.=21.00

I gave them a time frame that they print them. I wrote this on the DVD's in permanent marker and also gave them a signed paper with my information and the agreement printed out, so that they could print somewhere without hassle. I figured about 10 8x10's at $20 for the usage fee.
I used the program Blinkbid for this. Works great!!
Must have been an acceptable agreement for them...the mother had me do her twin sons senior pictures and then a 6 person family portrait shoot after.

Message edited by author 2006-08-01 16:16:47.

Sigma 15-30mm f/3.5-4.5 EX Aspherical DG DF for Minolta

11/03/2006 04:48:07 PM · #12

Needing to revist this thread.

Based on previous comments - am thinking for a 2-3 hour shoot...charging $150 - plus $50 for a copy of the disc of the best shots - edited. Allowing them to print what they want.

Knowing I am not a professional photographer & am limited in equipment currently (have had multiple requests from friends wanting me to shoot them. I need to start charging so I can add to my equipment...so I can do more shoots) and limited in my editing skills.

Again, this would be one of my first shoots - and one of my first paid photo "jobs".

Would also want contract or agreement that I could use the photos in my portfolio - online, etc.
Does this sound reasonable?

MrEd

Sony DSLR-A100

11/03/2006 05:34:32 PM · #13

Originally posted by AutumnCat:

I don't mind giving the CD - saves me the hassle of printing stuff.

When I upgrade my Smugmug account, I'll uploading any shoot photos on there and let them order for themselves. You have nothing to do with the printing, shipping, etc. With the Pro account, you can set your own prices. I curently have the power account, they can order photos, but I can't set prices.

Prof_Fate

11/03/2006 07:45:50 PM · #14

Sounds reasonable.
But you are a professional - you're getting paid aren't you?

You need a model release - google a bit and you'll find lots of them. You'll want to put a release on the CD they can print and a printed one as well in case when they go to get the images printed the lab won't do it fo fear of copyright issues - walmart is pretty strict on this.