My first professional job.... NO IDEA how much $$

Canon EF 300mm f/2.8L IS USM

01/18/2007 02:10:23 PM · #1

I just got hired by my friends Racing Company to take a couple pictures of their booth/exhibit at the Washington Auto Show. Seeing as how its my first pro. job I have absolutely no idea how much to charge. Since I was planning on attending the Auto Show myself I didn't want to charge hourly, just so I can go see other exhibits too.

I was thinking more of a $/Photograph type of pay plan (I charge them $x.00 for every photograph they pick after production). Has anyone done that kind of billing? and if so, how much is a good price to start out as.
The Company has mentioned staying on board and doing some Track/Race Days and Photoshoots with them, so I dont want to scare them away with an Insane price.

Is $25.00 per photograph (not printed) good?

Here are some of my Automotive Photographs since I got my 30D (Click to enlarge)

And here are some a couple months B.C. (Before Canon) with my very lame Point-and-Shoot

So any help would be appreciated!
Thanks DPC!

Skip

Canon EOS-1D X

01/18/2007 02:21:15 PM · #2

you do nice enough work, and this is a light enough assignment that you shouldn't have much to stress out about. your best bet would be hourly. why don't you ask them how much they've budgeted for the assignment, then decide if it's worth it. if they have no budget figure, ask them how much they usually pay for stuff like this. if they have no idea, then i'd probably tell them i'm looking for a couple hundred to cover everything except prints, and that i could get them a pretty good deal on prints if they didn't want the hassle of doing that themselves.

fotomann_forever

01/18/2007 02:23:45 PM · #3

$25 per photo sounds reasonable. There is some quality work here.

Just curious: How big is this racing organization and how many photos are we talking about?

Bear_Music

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

01/18/2007 02:32:01 PM · #4

Ask for one of their exhibitor's badges so you have free access to the show. Then just settle on a fixed figure they are willing to pay, exclusive of any prints ordered, and you are good to go. $250 + pass seems like a good start to me.

R.

fotomann_forever

01/18/2007 02:33:24 PM · #5

Originally posted by Bear_Music:

Yeah, that would be more of the approach I'd take.

Skip

Canon EOS-1D X

Canon EF 300mm f/2.8L IS USM

01/18/2007 02:39:38 PM · #6

Originally posted by Shakalaka:

Just curious: How big is this racing organization and how many photos are we talking about?

that's the whole problem with item-based pricing: it makes the job a 'spec' job, with no guarantee. rather than over-think it, keep it simple.

what the client wants
a handful of decent photos of their booth.

why?
maybe to document that their booth was there.
maybe to document how their booth was set up.
maybe to use for marketing colateral, in print and/or on the web.
maybe to make prints to hang on their walls.

what are their options?
grab some themselves.
hire someone to do better than they could themselves.

what does this mean to the shooter?
show up, spend about 15-25 minutes shooting the booth from every possible angle, getting as many interesting shots as possible, especially those that show off not just the booth, but also the customer engaging people that are stopping by their booth. you might have to come and go a few times, depending on booth traffic. all in all, you should be able to grab 50-100 shots. do quick edits, size them both large and small, burn them to a cd, then deliver the cd with an invoice, get paid, and you're done until they call you again. it's that simple.

as to pricing, the $250+badge sounds spot on.

Message edited by author 2007-01-18 14:40:36.

01/18/2007 02:45:43 PM · #7

The company has been featured in 5 or 6 car magazines (Mainly "Modified Mag"). over the past 2 years. Tickets to the show are only $10/day but I'll bring up that price plan to them, Sounds like a very reasonable approach.

Another question since we're talking about flat rates. Should I just give them the edited and finalized pictures, or the edited and all originals.

Or maybe I can do 250 gets you 10 Edited and finalized pictures, then each extra would be 5 for original and 10 for edited.

Taken from their website. Credit to Modified Mag.

Nikon AF Zoom-Nikkor 18-135mm f/3.5- 5.6G ED DX

01/18/2007 02:48:06 PM · #8

Originally posted by skiprow:

what are their options?
grab some themselves.

Thats exactly why im asking, because if i have a pricing that is just above what they are looking for then they would just end up taking some themselves.

Rebecca

Nikon D80

01/18/2007 02:49:42 PM · #9

I wouldn't give them the unedited versions. Most non-camera folks can't tell a standard corrections-only photo has been post-processed. You want them to think you're fantastic straight out of camera and worth the money!

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

01/18/2007 02:50:57 PM · #10

Originally posted by karmabreeze:

Very good point.
Thanks again everyone, looks like I'll go ahead with the 250+Badge

fotomann_forever

01/18/2007 02:56:05 PM · #11

Originally posted by karmabreeze:

I agree completely. BTW, as you get respect, reputation you can ask more and more. I would ask that publication include your name be credited, if possible.

Message edited by author 2007-01-18 14:57:53.

Telehubbie

Canon EOS-40D

01/18/2007 02:59:15 PM · #12

I just checked out their site. Tell them you'll give them a discount if you can do some shots of those "Modified Girls." That would be nice! :-)