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05/21/2009 12:14:01 AM · #1 |
I was shooting with friends the other day and was approached by a guy in a band who is looking for a photographer to take some press shots. I shot for almost two years for a company that shot live music shows, so I said I'd like to do the job. We've been emailing, but I wanted to ask you guys for some pricing advice before I gave him any numbers.
Back in NYC, I got $80/shoot. All the shoots were during live performances, so I didn't have assistants, didn't need to deal with lighting, didn't have extensive pre-production stuff, etc. I was also paid by my company, not the band I shot for, so I don't know if those numbers will translate.
Now I'm in Santa Barbara, California. The band is about a 30-45 minute drive away, depending on traffic. They want a few different shots to use as press photos, as well as some headshots to use in their up-coming CD. The band is signed, but I don't know how large the label is. If the label has a few bands, there might be a possibility for more shoots in the future, so I don't want to undersell myself, but I don't want to make myself too expensive either.
I will probably bring along two assistants for the shoot. I could probably do the shoot completely on my own, but one of the assistants is a friend and she was present when I met the guy and got offered the job. The other assistant (also a friend) has a car that would fit all of the equipment that I'd need. What would be fair percentages to give them? Again, I don't want to give them too much since I'd probably be doing most of the work myself anyway, but they are friends and I don't want to gyp them.
I've done a few similar shoots to this one, but they were all for friends, so I didn't charge them.
Here's what I've been thinking so far:
- Probably around $200 for all the shots. This should cover gas, my time shooting, my time processing, my assistant's time, and the rights to use the photos in the CD. (Is that too low for my time and the rights? Is that too high for my reputation and their popularity/budget?)
- 40% to me and 30% to each of my assistants. (Is that unfair to any party? Should it be closer to 50-25-25?)
Thanks in advance for your help! |
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05/21/2009 12:35:39 AM · #2 |
Underselling yourself!
Definitely factor in some time for shoot duration and editting. |
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05/21/2009 01:34:21 AM · #3 |
| Thanks for the response -- So how much would you recommend I charge? |
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05/21/2009 08:58:04 AM · #4 |
Several things to consider...
this borders on commercial, so you charge a creative fee for yourself plus any extra items you need at their cost plus markup (for your effort to arrange for them). That would be location rentals, permits for shooting, assistants, gear rental, etc. Some commercial photogs have two companies - one is them, the other is the gear and they rent the gear to themselves (in effect anyway). Clean and simple that way.
Then you have the photos themselves. You will be selling them files with rights for usage. Fotoquote I think is the site that can help you with prices. A local band that is just starting will be charged a lower license fee than day, Springsteen. It's basically a matter of how many eyes will see the work - the bigger the potential audience the more you charge.
My experience in this is local bands have no money, and will pay jack shit for photography. As in you can quote them $75 and they'll think that's too much.
If they've signed then you need to talk with their agent/manager and likely the record label. At the bar level a band can have any image they want, but once a label is involved they have a plan, an image they want to project, and will want input if not total control over the look of the images.
I'd start with $100 to 150 an hour for you (min 2 hours), including drive time at 1/2 price, plus your assistants at $25 to $50 per hour (again, including drive time from your studio and back if they ride with you - once they report to work they're 'at work' and deserve to be paid). If you have them meet you at the shoot then their pay starts then (no commute time included). I'd figure 1/2 day to shoot - 4 hours. Where your time gets eaten up is in planning (phone calls, etc), and to some extent editing, but they'll want to see the proofs, and pic one or more and perhaps have you edit more, then pick again...it can be an hour for every meeting.
So the 2 hour shoot turns into 3 meetings, 2 editing sessions, an hour getting things set up - 8 to 10 hours easy. And you want to charge $200 and give 1/3 of that to your assistants?
Each image can be worth $1000 or more- think about it - they'll want a cover image, some interior shots, something for a poster, and all that for teh web as well - 7 images easy. And they'll be using these images to sell their work and make money. How about 25 cents for each image on the cd, per cd sold - that's $1.75 per cd times maybe 2500 CDs...$4300! Now I don't think they'll pay $1.75 a CD, but I don't want to sell my images for 25c a piece, do you? And at your rates they'll be a penny an image. That's not enough money to make getting out of bed worthwhile.
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05/22/2009 12:56:59 AM · #5 |
Thanks for your reply Prof! You always have such great information!
Fotoquote looks like a great program, but it's a little outside my budget at the moment. It's getting put on the list of things I'll need once my income becomes a bit more steady : )
I've sent out a few emails and waiting to hear back. Hopefully this all works out! |
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