What do I charge?

Elessar

I've been offered a job photographing about 40+ people for a company today after I was in there for a different purpose (I had my DSLR with me though). The manager asked me could I do 4 photos per person and "what would you charge" - I said I'd be happy to do it, but I couldn't give her a price then and there, so I gave her my number and she will get back to me (I might give her a ring instead).

I have no idea how much to charge for the photos. I said a small fee for me plus development costs, but I really don't know. Any ideas?

I don't want to charge too much, but at the same time I don't want to undermine my abilities (and time). Should I charge per person, or per photo? They will be using the photos as advertisements for themselves (actors).

Has anyone any experience with this?

DotOrg

how experienced are you?
do you have proper portrait lighting?
what format do you plan on giving them the photos in? (prints/CD etc)
how much time would you spend editing over 160 photos assuming you take a lot more than 4 shots per person and you have to edit them down to the final 4 after that

how much money do these actors make (tv, film, stage, amateur stage)
what kind of person in what kind of company asked you to do it

Elessar

I've done portraits for other people before though no paid work. I don't have a studio set-up for lighting, I use a flashgun, bounced or diffused. The manager wants me to print the photos myself although I'm not sure yet what size they want (I'm assuming A4/8x10). I'm not sure how long I would spend processing the files altogether, but generally I will go through my raw workflow for each image seperately; I would predict a lot of hours, maybe over a day or two picking the right shots and then giving them the CS2 treatment.

Again I don't know how much money these actors make, it depends on the job, but they use the photos with their CVs as adverts for themselves. I'm not sure if the actors or the place itself will pay for the photos, will that make much of a difference?

FinoBlad

€500 per half day or part thereof;
€800 per full day
plus expenses

plus
€15 per CD
€15 per contact sheet

Elessar

FinoBlad wrote:

€500 per half day or part thereof;
€800 per full day
plus expenses

plus
€15 per CD
€15 per contact sheet

Thanks for the reply but out of interest, where did you get those figures? Are you a professional?

I could charge the actors seperately, if they do pay for it themselves. If not, something like the above would be good, but they seem like pro rates?

FinoBlad

Elessar wrote:

Are you a professional?

???

DotOrg

they would be cheap pro rates, if they went to a pro studio for the same services they could easily pay a lot more

my advice, ask for more than you expect to get and if they say no, you can always lower your prices, if you quote low, you can't increase it if you find out they'd pay a lot more later

FinoBlad

Dont sell yourself short, thats a big project and will take a lot of work. A full time professional will charge a LOT more but that involves vat and income tax etc.

DotOrg is right, go higher. Let them ring around and see the costs. Mine above are as I said minimum.

BTW theres a new studio for hire in O'Connell St, called originally enough Dublin Studio [.com]

40 people, say 20 mins each [ you've to do 4 photos each ] will take you about 2 days. You'll be hard pressed to roll them onto set and off again smoothly.

Will you need to do CDs for each one?
Will you do prints? What size, how many?

Elessar

The info about the shoot I got was sparse at the time, I was basically asked if I would do it and with a bit of suprise I happily said yes. When I was asked how much I was kind of on the spot, didn't know what to say, though I said I'd do it no problem for a small fee for myself plus development costs, which she seemed happy with. I might give her a ring tomorrow and get some more details.

It might not even be 40 people, might only be a small group, or it could be more. I doubt they will use a studio, the premises they have seemed fine when I was in there, although I'll need to find out what type of shots they're looking for, portraits only, body shots etc. so I might hire a background. It all depends on what style of shot they are looking for. Its also highly likely that the people I would be photographing won't be all at the same time.

I doubt they will want CDs but she said she wanted me to do the printing, 4 photos for each. I was thinking if the people are paying for it themselves, I would charge per person (say 40 euro? 10 per shot incl. development and printing I don't think is too unreasonable?) Or if the company is sporting the cost I would ask for between 500 and 800 (depending on no. of people) incl. development? So I would make at the very least 500 - 800 euro?

FinoBlad

Google "actors headshots" and that'll give you an idea whats required and agree this with the client first. Heres one to get u started.
http://www.new-york-headshots.com/headshots/actorheadshots.htm

dublinguy05

Since you have'nt got a studio flash you could hire one from DML near portabello, they have a bowens kit with 2 flash heads, softbox, umbrella, stands and travel battery pack for around 180 a day, not sure on the exact cost, you can also hire a flash meter and back drop. This would be a much better setup, with a little play your portraits would be much more professional. I would charge at least 50 euro per person, this would include 4 shots per person, and 5 euro per photo after that. At that price you would cover the cost of hiring the lightening equipment, your developing costs and your post processing time.

Benster

What's the situation with Model Release forms here? Even though they would be paying you to do the shots, you'd still have the copyright and may want to use the pics for your own purposes in future. Without model releases you might be stuck there.

I'm not in the business so maybe others would comment?

B.