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05/07/2010 06:09:59 PM · #1 |
Hey folks, I need some help with something. I have been approached by the campaign manager for a candidate for mayor in my city. They want me to take a few photos of him once per week in action on the campain trail, interacting with the people he is talking to. These photos would be used on their website and advertising. There would also be one formal shot taken at the very start for his official portrait for the campaign. I would be given photo credits and a banner advertisement on the website and photo credit on all photos when used in print.
The question is how much $ should I charge for this project? It would likely be about one hour per week of shooting and then about the same in editing/sorting and burning the best 10 or so shots from that weeks event to a cd for them to use as they please. The campaign is 15 weeks long.
Have any of you done anything like this? I have no idea what ballpark even to quote in. I live in a city of 75,000 people in Ontario Canada and we have limits on how much our municipal candidates can spend on their campaigns, just as an fyi.
thanks.
Ernie |
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05/07/2010 06:51:00 PM · #2 |
I guess I would charge based on my political position relative to the candidate's position... Maybe just work for some special consideration ;).
Then again (yeah seriously this time...), you know what time it's going to take, so simply set a fair rate, and charge that.. |
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05/11/2010 08:46:31 AM · #3 |
these are tough, because politicos all plead poor. the fact that they're talking to you is good. they key to getting the business and being paid fairly is for them to realize that you are the best value, that you will reliably provide them with imagery that they would be hard-pressed to come by otherwise...and that really means consistently producing images that don't look like just anyone with a camera could have taken them.
you will also need a licensing agreement that spells out your copyright retention, your right to display the images in your portfolio and their right to use the images exclusively for the current campaign. you must also spell out your right to license the images editorially after the campaign is over.
depending on conditions, you should ask for $100-$150/hr shooting (and that includes post-production and delivery - you have to be efficient, getting it right in camera, and you have to use a decent batch processing tool).
to keep things simple, you'll need to come up with an acceptable licensing fee that covers whatever you deliver to them. what you might do is use one of the online calculators to come up with license fees for three or four different types of usages, add them together, then cut that down to a number that will work for the campaign.
once you come to terms on what they will pay you, you will have to get some money up front and you'll have to be paid weekly. campaigns are NOTORIOUS for not paying their bills!
this can be a lot of fun, and it can be decent money, AND this type of work is very visible. the key, though, is making sure they understand and appreciate what you're doing for them and that you are paid.
good luck! |
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05/11/2010 10:07:54 AM · #4 |
 Skip's suggestions are very informative and insightful. I don't disagree with them at all, but I think that it is also very important to consider what this experience and exposure can do for you down the road. To add this work experience to your resume is a tremendous value by itself, especially if you don't have much of a resume to show to future clients (I have no idea what your experience is right now).
While you should certainly get paid for your work, I would consider ensuring that you do whatever it takes to secure the value of the credibility that you will gain and not lose this opportunity. |
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05/11/2010 12:43:53 PM · #5 |
In a Campaign, there are many volunteers, a few poorly paid staff, and a very few well paid staff who run the show. The higher up the food chain you are, the better your treatment and access.
If you love this candidate and really believe in his cause you might think about working for close to free, but I would advise against it. You will be valued by how much you are costing the campaign, if your time is free, it will be wasted. Better to get paid and kick some of the money back in the form of a contribution than to work cheap. Besides that way if you are called in to work for post election Mr. Mayor, he will be used to paying you a normal rate. |
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05/11/2010 01:35:04 PM · #6 |
Always nice to have someone in office who owes you a few favours.. if you catch my drift.. ;o)
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05/11/2010 01:37:06 PM · #7 |
| Maybe do like everyone else and charge them $10 million ... if you're going to get involved in politics you need to start thinking in terms of "real money" ... ;-) |
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05/11/2010 04:01:10 PM · #8 |
| Thank you to all of you for your well thought out suggestions. :) |
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