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DPChallenge Forums >> Photography Discussion >> How much to Charge - Navy?
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 09/21/2007 01:09:22 AM · #1
I have an opportunity to take photos of the officers of the Navy and the Navy Reserve. They will be a 3/4 shot of the officer in his uniform. Each officer will need to be photographed separately.

At this point, I don't know if this will be just for a few of them, or if it's an ongoing thing.

Each officer will pay out of his own pocket, then be reimbursed by the Navy.

What on EARTH should I charge them? They are waiting on me to give them prices. Yikes.

HELP!

What would YOU charge?
 09/21/2007 01:11:41 AM · #2
$50
 09/21/2007 02:17:29 AM · #3
VERY cool, Magen!! As for what to charge - you may want to investigate any local studios to see what they charge for a sitting, and for packages of prints. Not sure what you'll be providing to the Navy guys - prints, or just the digital images? Who requested your services? They may be a good source of information for pricing as well. Good luck, and I look forward to seeing some of your work!
 09/21/2007 02:39:31 AM · #4
Don't charge too much. The US Navy's budget comes out of my pocket. :)
 09/21/2007 10:10:48 AM · #5
Are these for their own personal use all at once or ever once in a while? I'm trying to think of what "official" reason they would have for them, the officer data cards are usually full length not 3/4. I guess the individual commands could be using them for something. Usually commands use the Navy photograhers for this stuff cause they have funds that can easily be allocated to it or an agreement on their uses and it ensures money isn't being wasted. Might be different since there isn't really a Navy base in that area...if I may ask, where are you shooting these at?

I assume it will be one payment and not individual but I would try and find out how many you will be shooting and just add it all together. Tough call, good luck on it.
09/21/2007 10:20:44 AM · #6
Since they're officers take the highest amount you can charge them and still sleep at night then add 50%

Good Luck
 09/21/2007 10:25:03 AM · #7
What difference does it make that they're Naval officers? Charge them the same way you would charge for any portrait work. If you normally charge $100/hour and these shots take about 15 minutes each, then charge $25 each for them as long as they're booked back-to-back. If you have to travel/set-up for each seperately at a seperate time, then charge more to cover your time/expenses.

09/21/2007 11:55:12 AM · #8
I just got the official document saying what exactly they need.

"The photograph shall
a) be in color;
b) display a full-length, three-quarter view of the member, left shoulder forward
c) have a plain, flat background to provide sufficient contrast to highlight details of the uniform; and
d) be 4 inches in width and 6 inches in height."

It also says that photographs are required for all officers of the Navy and the Navy Reserve, regardless of status, within 3 months after acceptance of each promotion.

So, that says to me that this may be an ongoing gig. :)

I got offered this by a guy that's in the Navy - he's just waiting on me to give a price.

Thanks for your help...
any more input is always appreciated!!!

:)

Magen
 09/21/2007 12:45:54 PM · #9
It doesn't seem like it will take much time to do. I would charge 50$ for the sitting and the 1 4X6 print(for the Navy) and maybe 1 5X7 (for the officer). Then I would offer packages on top of that.

Questions I would have that would alter that price...Are they coming to you or are you going to them? If so, How far are you traveling? Will this be one picture a day or a bunch of them per day?

Message edited by author 2007-09-21 12:46:36.
 09/21/2007 02:46:51 PM · #10
Just a joke about the officers....I'm a sailor and a lowerdecker, chuckin crap at officers is our god given right
 09/22/2007 08:05:02 PM · #11
Originally posted by magenmarie:
I just got the official document saying what exactly they need.

"The photograph shall
a) be in color;
b) display a full-length, three-quarter view of the member, left shoulder forward
c) have a plain, flat background to provide sufficient contrast to highlight details of the uniform; and
d) be 4 inches in width and 6 inches in height."

It also says that photographs are required for all officers of the Navy and the Navy Reserve, regardless of status, within 3 months after acceptance of each promotion.

So, that says to me that this may be an ongoing gig. :)

I got offered this by a guy that's in the Navy - he's just waiting on me to give a price.

Thanks for your help...
any more input is always appreciated!!!

:)

Magen

yeah that's exactly what I thought they were for, it's their officer data card, I believe the get new ones with every promotion they get too so ths might be a thing you can do for awhile.

Good luck on it, sorry I can't quote you a price, as I said earlier, these are usually taken by a actually military member so pricing isn't usally an issue.
 09/23/2007 06:58:01 AM · #12
a few ideas.

1) ask the guy how much they were paying before, and then determine if that's fair for you, or if you need more. if that doesn't work, try

2) find out how many you can shoot at a time. in norfolk, va, these shots are priced from $10-20 dollars each, depending on the studio. if you are set up to turn these things out like passport photos and you have a bunch of people set up to simply step up to the line, you can shoot them as fast as your lighting can recycle.

in a similar vein, the guys i know that shoot college headshots typically charge about $100 per sport, regardless of the number of players, just because all the have to do is set up a couple lights and have the kids march through.

this work is not a matter of creativity--it's a matter of efficiency. you can make very good money at this in the long run, if you establish a benchmark of being able to get the job done at a fair price, and developing a reputation for being easy to work with.

hope it works out for you!
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