What to charge? First Job

mobileblog

Got a call to take a few pics tomorrow night of a couple of people before they head out to a dinner party. Ball gown and make-up thing.
I have been told that i’ll be getting paid but there has been no talk on the rate yet.
It will be an hours work, and they are looking for about 7 pictures at the end of it.

As this is one of my first jobs (non family) i was wondering what would you say would be an acceptable fee i was thinking possibly E70 - 100 (then prints on top of that)


Or can you recommend any links

sunny2004

I would say 70 plus prints..

AnCatDubh

The last 'pro' session that I paid for cost €90 - probably wouldn't have taken an hour. Maybe 30-40 minutes. That was probably about 2 years ago.

Hope that helps.

Tactical

Depends.

Do you have to travel? How far, how long?

What equipment do you need to lug with you?

How long to set up?

How long for editing, tidying up the shots?

Are you printing at home or lab? How get there?

Are you mounting the shots?

What to charge is question many people wonder about and the best thing is to decide what your time is worth (i.e. can you charge a high rate because you are good enough) and always factor in your overheads.

If you're good then a client will pay what you're worth. If they argue the rate (that you can justify) then let them get someone who is prepared to work at that rate. If you lower your prices to get the job than you need to make sure you are doing a little more than breaking even, its not unbreasonable to expect to make a modest profit from a job. After all, that's why a photographer will take a job... to make money. If you're not charging then you're doing it for the love of taking photographs, if you charge then you need to be certian you're good enough to charge what you'll be charging and its not wrong to expect a small return.

mobileblog

Thanks for the input guys. I’ll give you an update about the payment when it happens,
‘moneybags” wasn’t present when i arrived.
Tonight actually turned out to be a leaving cert (debs) party. A couple of the other girls ended up at different house. So i was only working with one couple, took a few pics and i’m happy with what i got, there was a few mistakes (my shadow being in some of the pics).But I was blessed by the weather. Still working on some at the moment,
Uploaded this to flickr, noticed the color difference from lightroom and adjusted it in flickr. not really happy with the armpit ( but it could be the fake tan).

I’ll post an update once i get paid.

Tactical

Yes, its funny how this seems to happen. :mad:

Make sure you get paid BEFORE parting with the prints... I know it might sound obvious but it does happen.

Be interested in seeing the results when they're ready.

AnimalRights

Very dear to hire out Photographers these days.:eek:

sunny2004

AnimalRights wrote: »

Very dear to hire out Photographers these days.:eek:

Is that a joke ?

AnimalRights

No, I'm just a soft touch, I photographed a mates christening last week and accepted booze for pay.

sunny2004

I agree, I have done a number of weddings professionally completely free..

But the OP hasnt stated its for friends..

Tactical

AnimalRights wrote: »

Very dear to hire out Photographers these days.:eek:

That depends on what value you put on the work being performed and what you regard as dear. If you're hiring a professional than expect to pay professional rates and expect a professional job. If you're hiring an amateur then expect to pay considerably less but also consider that you may potentially get a result that isn't as good as it could be. Now maybe the amateur is every bit as good as the pro, in which case you're getting a real bargin.

The equipment is expensive, if a photographer is traveling then that has to be paid for also. Photographers have overheads like every other person in business.

If you go to a resturant you wouldn't tell the waiter that you've forgetten your wallet and that you'll pay some other time when you've the money on you. Likewise when buying fuel for a vehicle, you've got to pay at the point of purchase. Its only fair to pay someone you've hired to do a job.

Out of curiosity, define "dear"

AnimalRights

Champagne....Cider is like affordable, Champers be dear.
Cereal.

0utpost31

AnimalRights wrote: »

No, I'm just a soft touch, I photographed a mates christening last week and accepted booze for pay.

HAHA! Good man!