What would you charge - DPChallenge Forums

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR

07/01/2014 12:44:30 AM · #1

I just got an email from someone who wants me to do a photo shoot for his daughter, a three hour one, not sure why he wants that long btw, and he wants a copy of all the photos on a cd, and wants to know how much I should charge!

I wrote back and told him I sell my photos in packages, and also that it's hard to know how many I will have.

I got severely ripped off a while ago, and don't want to do that again, not that I do this to make a lot of money, but neither do I want people to take advantage of me.

What would you charge?

Session is $100.00 ph

Message edited by author 2014-07-01 00:45:04.

Revecca

Nikon D5000

07/01/2014 02:44:06 AM · #2

I've never done any paid work like this, but here's my 2 cents FWIW.

I'd charge your flat hourly fee, and with it including a pre-set number of images (that will be professionally edited, etc).

3 hours is a long time for a shoot (in my opinion) and you'll probably end up shooting way too many pictures, lots of which will most likely be discarded anyway so there's no sense in a) editing all the pictures just because and/or b) giving a client pictures that you wouldn't normally just because he wants them all.

Sorry I can't be of more help, I'm sure other DPC'ers that actually do this for a living will probably have a better insight.

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

07/01/2014 02:55:41 AM · #3

Originally posted by Revecca:

Thanks Revecca, I'll see what others have to say, but the hourly fee was what I was going to charge less $50.00 :) + the photos, but not sure how much for the photos.

Art Roflmao

Canon EOS-6D Mark II

07/01/2014 03:23:51 AM · #4

I've done several paid family and individual shoots lately - mostly for friends & family. I've charged fees ranging from free (VERY close friends or family who cannot afford to hire a photog) to $500. I've charged non-F&F up to $700. That is for the session and editing of about 20-30 finished photos on CD with full rights to print what they want.

Still, I always struggle with what to charge because most of the work comes down to editing and you never know how many good shots you'll get - too many GOOD shots makes it hard to decide which ones to eject. The last F&F shoot I did, I looked up the website of the previous photog they used and checked her pricing and charged half of that. Bottom line for me is how important the client is to me, how much trouble the shoot will be, the editing time and how much I think they are willing to pay for ME to shoot them. So, for a stranger that seems to want ME to shoot them, I would figure out the absolute minimum I would be happy to do the shoot for and double it.

Not sure if that helps or not.

eta: 3 hours is a ridiculous amount of time to shoot one person. If he insists on shooting for 3 hours, triple whatever you were thinking of charging.

Message edited by author 2014-07-01 03:25:10.

Tamron SP 24-70mm f/2.8 Di VC USD Canon Mount

07/01/2014 03:40:48 AM · #5

Thanks Art!

I have NO idea why he wants 3 hrs, and do you think I can get him to call me!! Why do people not want to call. I asked him to call me or I can call him but he won't give me his phone number. I find that happens with quite a few of my clients, they would rather send 30 squillion emails back and forth, but pick up that phone, NO - must not do that, gack!!

Mike

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

07/01/2014 08:06:42 AM · #6

how old is his daughter? if she is less than a teen, no way. far too long, older than that, im guessing hes thinking of a few locations like a senior shoot with some outfit changes?

3 hrs with a cd is easily $450-$500 if not more...

07/01/2014 08:32:41 AM · #7

Originally posted by Mike:

I have no idea yet how old she is, he's a man of little of words. But the price is about right.