|
| Author | Thread |
|
|
03/06/2008 12:54:27 AM · #1 |
I have really started getting into concert photography. Up until now, it has really been about building my portfolio, and getting some good practice (which is what it will continue to be). I go to local shows, which there are a lot of around where I live) and post the best shots of the evening on my website. Then I go to find the band's myspace page, and tell them that I have pics up.
Recently, a band wrote back complimenting me on the photos I took of them. They want me to come out to another one of their shows. They asked what I charge. Now I am stuck trying to figure this one out. I want to do myself justice and not undercut myself on the price. However, given the venues that smaller bands play in, the lighting conditions can be horrible, which means tougher shots and less qualitative work.
I would really appreciate some advice from somebody who is familiar with this kind of work. Do I charge per image, and if so, what? OR should I charge at an hourly rate, and what could I charge?
I havent found much on local concert photography, so I wouldnt know what "competition" is charging.
Thanks for your suggestions! |
|
|
|
03/06/2008 10:01:18 AM · #2 |
|
|
|
03/06/2008 10:12:04 AM · #3 |
The pricing structure varies by the type of photography - weddings and commercial, portraiture and journalism, for example, are billed very differently.
Bottom line is it's still a business, you need to make money. Rule of thumb is a business need to make $100,000-120,000 in sales to pay for each employee. Since there are only 2000 hours in a hear, that works out to around $50 to $60/hour for labor, plus you need to figure materials, wear and tear on your gear, etc.
I try to shoot for $125 an hour, and as long as I'm above 90 or so I'm satisfied. If the total profit comes in at under $50 I've lost money on the gig. That includes materials/prints/etc, assuming a 20% cost of products (it's usually lower)
So if you have an idea of how long it will take you, what you'll sell and what that product will cost you, just do some math.
|
|
|
|
03/06/2008 10:17:52 AM · #4 |
Hi Jimmy,
A friend was in the same dilemma, and took what I think is a good approach. A small band does not have a lot of cash, but what they do have is potential, and contacts. Charge enough to cover costs, and who knows - they may be the next U2 - wouldn't you like to be the guy they choose for photo's. Word soons spreads and when you have enough work, start to up the prices enough to make it more worthwhile.
Remember, you get to see free gigs, and tend to get better access to take the photo you want.
Best of luck!
Message edited by author 2008-03-06 10:20:14. |
|
|
|
03/06/2008 04:32:03 PM · #5 |
| Thank you guys for the advice. This is a whole new aspect to me in photography, since ive been concentrating on getting the shots. Now its time to learn the marketing. BTW would anybody recommend a book on this? I saw a few on amazon that looked pretty good, but then again, you never know. |
|
|
|
03/06/2008 05:18:18 PM · #6 |
Starting a business is not the same as running a business, as many entrepreneurs find out.
Starting means working 100 hours a week and getting paid nothing, or near nothing. Your satisfaction/reward is in making something from nothing and watching it grow, like a farmer. Running a business is more like the grocery store - fill the shelves, empty the shelves, keep the customers coming, repeat. Umm, boring like any other job out there. And the more successful you are at your business, the more specialized you job becomes, generally more managerial, although if you get big enough you can hire a manager and you can just shoot pics.
In the beginning you do it all. Taking pictures is maybe 25% of what you'll do. You need to track the money, expenses, receipts. You need to evaluate equipment, buy it, maintain it (that includes studio stuff, BGs, lights, backgrounds, sweeping the floor and shoveling the show, watering the plants, dusting...all of it). You need to do the filing and scheduling, marketing from research, to planning, to production/implementation. How about a website? Sample images? Yep, you or you can farm it out, but you'll still pay money, and have to spend some time on managing it. You need to have a computer (color corrected screen), software, a backup plan, and perhaps a backup computer - as well as keeping current on the software, etc. Sales - nothing happens until someone buys something, so you're doing sales whether you want to or not. If you suck at it you're business will fail. You need to do the editing of images for clients and your own promo images, as well as maillings, putting stuff in frames - whatever your output is, you'll do it until you grow enough to hire help.
So what book(s) will help you? You can be the best photog on earth, but you'll still need to manage the money, so Accounting and tax books.
Database issues - for mailing, marketing, client tracking.
Computer - networking, PS, backup, Office (word, excel, etc)
Marketing - guerilla is great, but there is SOOOO much more. Who is your ideal client? How do you find them? What is your product worth? Who is your competition? Is what you want to sell in demand, and is that demand growing or shrinking? DO you market best via email, direct mail, tv, web, phone book, billboards, promotions, door to door type/direct selling, phone banks, newspaper, magazines?
What do you need for collateral? As in biz cards, letterhead, folders, etc? I just looked into folders, nice one but nothing exceptional. In smaller quantities they can run $2 each (like 250/time). Buy 1500 and the're only 80c each. But multiply 80 cents times 1500...yea, it's some $1200. Up front. But if my materials look professional and are memorable, I will sell more.
It takes I'd say $20,000 to $30,000 to be in business working from home, for gear, initial collateral, samples, and some advertising. You can buy it all up front at once and be in-biz tomorrow, or buy some here and some there and take 3 years to be truly in business. It still costs the same.
How seriously do you take yourself, your business? Serious enough to invest that money? If not, then clients won't take you seriously either.
Message edited by author 2008-03-06 17:19:04.
|
|
|
|
03/06/2008 05:30:47 PM · #7 |
| Profs also given a lot of good information here |
|
|
|
03/06/2008 05:46:25 PM · #8 |
Originally posted by tapeworm_jimmy:
.../... BTW would anybody recommend a book on this? I saw a few on amazon that looked pretty good, but then again, you never know. |
Have a look at "High Income Consulting" By Tom Lambert
Whether it may not seem like the right one at first sight, at the end of the day the concepts are the same. Just call yourself a "Photography Consultant" and you're done ;-)
|
|
|
|
Current Server Time: 04/24/2024 09:05:44 PM  |
Home -
Challenges -
Community -
League -
Photos -
Cameras -
Lenses -
Learn -
Prints! -
Help -
Terms of Use -
Privacy -
Top ^
DPChallenge, and website content and design, Copyright © 2001-2024 Challenging Technologies, LLC.
All digital photo copyrights belong to the photographers and may not be used without permission.
Current Server Time: 04/24/2024 09:05:44 PM EDT.
|
