What price to charge for a shoot?

mervifwdc

Hi,
I've been asked to shoot a band in action, and provide a number of photo's to a regional paper. What would be a normal / reasonable price for this?

I'm guessing it will be about 2 hours at the gig, and another 2 to 3 hours on PP and captioning etc.

Less than 12 finished pictures in all.

I dont want to come over too cheap, but dont want to push the boat out either.

Any tips most welcome!

Merv.

Morlar

So these are publicity shots to be paid for by the band ?

Have you done this sort of work before ? I think you should charge based on what you bring to the table (Experience and ability wise - what level of quality are you offering them) - also taking into consideration their ability to pay.

Comrade ! - (just read that back and it did sound a bit communistic there !).

mervifwdc

Nope, to be paid for by the Paper. They aproached me after seeing some other band stuff I did:

http://www.quest.ie/merv/jw1

http://www.quest.ie/merv/jw2

This is a local band in a pub, not a large gig. I dont want to charging 50 euro for the night, if the normal rates are 200 euro, or whatever.

As to quality level, I guess they are pretty ok, but could be better. But I guess i've a biased view :-)

Merv.

Morlar

I think the quality level of those is fine.

I had guessed it was the band - if its the paper well in that case I would say it depends on what the paper normally pay their staff photographers or freelancers for whatever amount of space they are going to give the shoot (sounds like at least a page).

€200 for one freelance job of gig photos for a local paper sounds ambitious to me. I guess its going to depend on the paper though. Post the results back though - I would be interested to know what arrangement you come to with them.

mervifwdc

I agree, I think about 80 euro would be about right, for non-exclusive rights to the images. I'll run that up the flagpole, and see what happens. I'll watch this thread in case anyone else has anything to add.......

Merv.

Jagera

80 quid is fairly safe, but let it be known it's mates rates.

I'd be specific about their usage though. Make sure you're happy with who can do what with your shots!

mervifwdc

As in, 80 is cheapish for this type of thing?

I was going to state the images are for the Papers use only. If the band want copies, I'll do a deal with them seperatly - as in, they can pay me, not the paper. Does that sound reasonable when the paper set this up?

Merv.

Beano

Just emphasis they are paying for the right to print the photos once and not for the photos themselves and you should be fine. Better still, get it in writing.

Fajitas!

Even it off to a hundred, sorted

Extra twenty is for a taxi each way or something!

Start out too cheap and you'll always be seen as a cheap photographer!

FinoBlad

Have a look at this as a guide;

http://www.londonfreelance.org/feesguide/phnatrat.html

Morlar

FinoBlad wrote:

Have a look at this as a guide;

http://www.londonfreelance.org/feesguide/phnatrat.html

I think london prices are going to be different from dublin ones - plus a regional/local are not in the same league as a national (especially uk) newspaper. If only those rates applied across the boards ! I would own an L seies lens kit by now

FinoBlad

Morlar wrote:

I think london prices are going to be different from dublin ones - plus a regional/local are not in the same league as a national (especially uk) newspaper.

I posted the wrong page it should have been this one;
http://www.londonfreelance.org/feesguide/phregrat.html

Of course London prices will be different, use some common sense and come up with a price relevant to your scenario.

Personally I would charge €80 - €100 to the paper, getting your name or website as a credit also, I would also offer the band copies of the photos for a fee or unlimited use of them for a higher fee. Try to recover €80-100 per hour spent on this job from all combined.

Jagera

mervifwdc wrote:

As in, 80 is cheapish for this type of thing?

I do think that 80 euro is a bit low... But like someone else said earlier, it depends on what the paper are willing to pay. I think 100 is a fair price. Defo agree with fajitas, don't start off underselling yourself.

And yeah, get a deal going with the band and flog a few prints to them.

Enjoy, and good luck with it.