| Author | Thread |
|
|
12/12/2006 11:34:51 AM · #1 |
I just finished doing animation and graphics for 5 shows for a major client (around $800 million a year)
In one of the shows I got to animate around these amazing photos that they had shot in CA. So I started talking with the Marketing Director about the shoot. Here's what I learned.
When they decided to have this shoot done, they contacted an agent.
They hired a photographer for what they considered an amazing rate.
The photographer and staff arranged for a four day shoot with 3 models, a lighting truck, a hair person and makeup person and 3 photographer assistants.
The photographer arranged for the location at a french chateau with vineyards.
while she had a lighting truck there, she shot mostly existing light
she shot with top of the line canon gear
The total number of images in four days: 7,000
Number of selects for the client to choose from: 2,800
One of the assistant's was there soley to handle the CF cards and track the media and shot lists.
The client chose 15 photos total.
They have the right to use the photos in print and video for one year.
They paid in the $80,000 range for the 15 images.
They were ecstatic that they got such a bargain.
The client LOVED the photos technically too.
The bids from other photographers were in the $80,000/day range - that's why they were so happy to find someone that would do the whole thing for that price.
Interestingly enough, these images were not technically perfect - the focus was soft on a couple - made me feel like there was hope for me! To prepare the images for video I had to sharpen and saturate them a little.
I found that information VERY interesting. I hope you do too. |
|
|
|
12/12/2006 11:37:59 AM · #2 |
That's how I want to make a living in my next life :)
|
|
|
|
12/12/2006 11:56:42 AM · #3 |
Originally posted by digitalknight:
Interestingly enough, these images were not technically perfect - the focus was soft on a couple - made me feel like there was hope for me! To prepare the images for video I had to sharpen and saturate them a little. |
I look at photos all the time in magazines and such that I know someone got paid good money to shoot. Looking at these I'm thinking to myself that the images aren't really that great. Lots of times they have soft focus and more often than not the highlights are blown out and other things. I know every image isn't going to be technically perfect everytime but geesh I think I could take better shots than some of what I see.
The only logical explanation I can give myself for this is I guess in real world situations there isn't always time to stop and think about how to set-up your camera and compose a shot or a lot of good and not-so-good photographers get paid some good jack for crappy photos.
|
|
|
|
12/12/2006 12:13:31 PM · #4 |
| Pfft I would have done it for $40 000 and if I shot 7000 photos I'd have 15 good ones too( mostly by accident and with the help of PS ). Who do I call? |
|
|
|
12/12/2006 12:16:54 PM · #5 |
Very possibly people want softer photo's with some blown out highlights. There is no perfect photo, as much as DPC has put requirements on what that perfect photo is, it is all still very subjective, and not universal. I have found that outside of DPC, some people like my lower scoring images better than the higher ones.
I love DPC and have learned so much, but high scoring images here will not always fare well in the real world. The key to a career in photography, from what I have gathered through various resources, is to learn to adapt to your audience. My friend who took a communication course in College, has drilled it into my head, audience audience audience. Know your audience.
Sorry for the little rant, I just hate the belief here sometimes that DPC's "perfect picture" is the right one.
(I know I am not an expert on the photography career world, so if anyone with experience in it wants to disagree, then they are probably more right than I am.)
|
|
|
|
12/12/2006 12:24:23 PM · #6 |
key is marketing! and know if others are charging $80,000/day, you charge $80,000 for the whole thing ...and than market yourself!
|
|
|
|
12/12/2006 12:24:49 PM · #7 |
Originally posted by LERtastic:
Sorry for the little rant, I just hate the belief here sometimes that DPC's "perfect picture" is the right one. |
Yup, you are right, the perfect picture is the one that keeps the client happy, sells the product and gets you more work. Are the client's advertising to photographers ?
|
|
|
|
12/12/2006 12:26:44 PM · #8 |
Originally posted by Wildcard:
Pfft I would have done it for $40 000 and if I shot 7000 photos I'd have 15 good ones too( mostly by accident and with the help of PS ). Who do I call? |
:-)
|
|
|
|
12/12/2006 01:27:01 PM · #9 |
| Very interesting! Thanks for the info! |
|
|
|
12/12/2006 02:02:06 PM · #10 |
Originally posted by Wildcard:
Pfft I would have done it for $40 000 and if I shot 7000 photos I'd have 15 good ones too( mostly by accident and with the help of PS ). Who do I call? |
LMAO!
ME too! |
|
|
|
12/12/2006 02:07:04 PM · #11 |
Originally posted by magenmarie:
Originally posted by Wildcard:
Pfft I would have done it for $40 000 and if I shot 7000 photos I'd have 15 good ones too( mostly by accident and with the help of PS ). Who do I call? |
LMAO!
ME too! |
You must think you are a whole lot better than the photographer mentioned then, if you are willing to charge $2667 per usable shot and they are charging $28.5 per usable shot.
|
|
|
|
12/12/2006 02:09:31 PM · #12 |
Originally posted by Gordon:
Originally posted by magenmarie:
Originally posted by Wildcard:
Pfft I would have done it for $40 000 and if I shot 7000 photos I'd have 15 good ones too( mostly by accident and with the help of PS ). Who do I call? |
LMAO!
ME too! |
You must think you are a whole lot better than the photographer mentioned then, if you are willing to charge $2667 per usable shot and they are charging $28.5 per usable shot. |
The client only chose 15 :D |
|
|
|
12/12/2006 02:16:42 PM · #13 |
Originally posted by Gordon:
Originally posted by magenmarie:
Originally posted by Wildcard:
Pfft I would have done it for $40 000 and if I shot 7000 photos I'd have 15 good ones too( mostly by accident and with the help of PS ). Who do I call? |
LMAO!
ME too! |
You must think you are a whole lot better than the photographer mentioned then, if you are willing to charge $2667 per usable shot and they are charging $28.5 per usable shot. |
HA! I WISH i was better. ;) no such luck for meeeeeeeeee. |
|
|
|
12/12/2006 02:16:58 PM · #14 |
Originally posted by Wildcard:
Originally posted by Gordon:
Originally posted by magenmarie:
Originally posted by Wildcard:
Pfft I would have done it for $40 000 and if I shot 7000 photos I'd have 15 good ones too( mostly by accident and with the help of PS ). Who do I call? |
LMAO!
ME too! |
You must think you are a whole lot better than the photographer mentioned then, if you are willing to charge $2667 per usable shot and they are charging $28.5 per usable shot. |
The client only chose 15 :D |
Yeah - they got to choose...
|
|
|
|
12/12/2006 02:21:39 PM · #15 |
| Gordon I was just having fun and a moment of wild dreaming. But hey, who knows another 10 years here and I just might be good enough to charge...a minimal fee ;) |
|
|
|
12/12/2006 02:24:06 PM · #16 |
Originally posted by Wildcard:
Gordon I was just having fun and a moment of wild dreaming. But hey, who knows another 10 years here and I just might be good enough to charge...a minimal fee ;) |
I know you were, I was just pointing out that they didn't pay for 15 photos, they paid for a whole lot more ...
|
|
|
|
12/12/2006 02:27:08 PM · #17 |
Originally posted by Gordon:
Originally posted by Wildcard:
Gordon I was just having fun and a moment of wild dreaming. But hey, who knows another 10 years here and I just might be good enough to charge...a minimal fee ;) |
I know you were, I was just pointing out that they didn't pay for 15 photos, they paid for a whole lot more ... |
Well that just blew my nice momentary fantasy out the window :(
Sorry I've been up for 24 hours and I'm getting a little sloooow. |
|
|
|
12/12/2006 02:30:26 PM · #18 |
Originally posted by LERtastic:
Very possibly people want softer photo's with some blown out highlights. There is no perfect photo..... |
Wrong. There is a perfectly technical photograph. An actualization of both the photographer, the true nature of the scene and the hopes of the finished product. Our eyes and mind perceives beauty of technicals when it is before us. Same goes with imperfection.
Of couse, artistic license excuses the majority of us to use the "no perfect photo" as an out, but deep down we all hope to achieve a notably perfect image. Blown highlights for example are inexcusable to me. Except when it is a highly contrasted b/w. We all live with mistakes, but the faster we deem them "original" or "art", the sooner the responsible world of photography is diminished.
|
|
|
|
12/12/2006 03:40:17 PM · #19 |
| Oh, I forgot to mention, the photographer has only been full-time professional for 5 years. |
|
|
|
12/12/2006 03:42:10 PM · #20 |
Originally posted by digitalknight:
Oh, I forgot to mention, the photographer has only been full-time professional for 5 years. |
Well it isn't like engineering where you need qualifications, or experience. You just need good images.
|
|
|
|
12/12/2006 03:51:37 PM · #21 |
| Was that $80k in the photographers pocket, or did they have to pay the models, make-up, transport etc. out of that? |
|
|
|
12/12/2006 04:00:05 PM · #22 |
Originally posted by jhonan:
Was that $80k in the photographers pocket, or did they have to pay the models, make-up, transport etc. out of that? |
thtas what i want to know |
|
|
|
12/12/2006 04:02:27 PM · #23 |
i would assume they had to pay their overhead out of the $80K...
|
|
|
|
12/12/2006 04:03:16 PM · #24 |
The photographer handled everything for the $80k budget.
Don't forget agent fees too. |
|
|
|
12/12/2006 04:13:08 PM · #25 |
and about a third of any profit going to taxes, and...
|
|
Home -
Challenges -
Community -
League -
Photos -
Cameras -
Lenses -
Learn -
Help -
Terms of Use -
Privacy -
Top ^
DPChallenge, and website content and design, Copyright © 2001-2025 Challenging Technologies, LLC.
All digital photo copyrights belong to the photographers and may not be used without permission.
Current Server Time: 08/01/2025 04:09:38 AM EDT.
