Standard Photography charges? How much?
Discussion
Hi everyone. I have been offered some regular photography work doing basic shots and very minor photoshop work. I have been asked to provide info on how much I would charge but I haven't got a clue whats the norm?? Here is a quote from the offer so you lot understand it better. How much is reasonable?
"basically we need to agree your fees for the following and discuss you being the offical photo representive for JAGS or how ever you wanna put it.
I have couple of hours work for you in cleck anytime between now and next Tuesday
then i have a job in hull i need you to take some pics of sometime between 18th-end of this month then i neeed you to return to this job 2 weeks later for more photos and possibly return to cleck for some more-
also inbetween this i would like some doing of my son,
and providing we can agree reasonable rates etc i will have you take photos of all our relevent works from now on as our offical corespondent,
most will be for website or client's so dont need em printing or owt just some/most will need you to add your effects to make parts stand out,
also a point you will require is i will need invoiced for the jobs and generally payments are 30 days (chances are it'll be less when possible but our standard is 30 days"
"basically we need to agree your fees for the following and discuss you being the offical photo representive for JAGS or how ever you wanna put it.
I have couple of hours work for you in cleck anytime between now and next Tuesday
then i have a job in hull i need you to take some pics of sometime between 18th-end of this month then i neeed you to return to this job 2 weeks later for more photos and possibly return to cleck for some more-
also inbetween this i would like some doing of my son,
and providing we can agree reasonable rates etc i will have you take photos of all our relevent works from now on as our offical corespondent,
most will be for website or client's so dont need em printing or owt just some/most will need you to add your effects to make parts stand out,
also a point you will require is i will need invoiced for the jobs and generally payments are 30 days (chances are it'll be less when possible but our standard is 30 days"
I'm not sure there is a "norm" for this (unless you want to use NUJ rates), but something in the region of £50.00/hour + expenses (e.g. £0.40/mile for travel etc) would seem reasonable. You can then express everything (shooting, post-processing etc) in terms of time taken, rather than a rate per image used/purchased. This is what I usually propose for work like this, adjusting the hourly rate for the type of client.
If you haven't sorted this already, you'll need to design some paperwork for estimates/invoices/licences etc. I have some (based on AOP guidelines) if you want them for starters/ideas. It's important that both parties are clear regarding how the images are being licensed.
If you haven't sorted this already, you'll need to design some paperwork for estimates/invoices/licences etc. I have some (based on AOP guidelines) if you want them for starters/ideas. It's important that both parties are clear regarding how the images are being licensed.
It's not just money, you're taking on responsibility and also risk. Some of the wording in that makes me think he's after a cheap job; you have to decide if it's worth it. You also need to decide if you are going to do it on an hourly or daily rate basis.
My commercial rate is £350pd (sadly if it's any higher they get the marketing assistant to do it for free, he's quite keen on photography you know...). For location work I work on either a day or half day basis. For studio work at base I don't mind cutting it into hours, 75ph inc processing.
You also have to think about what usage you will give him - many small businesses think that because they've paid you to take the photo it's theirs to do whatever they like with. Not so; unless agreed otherwise you own the copyright so it's up to you to negotiate terms.
Don't forget travelling costs and time behind the wheel too. A 'one hour' job can easily a day by the time you've got there and back and processed the images.
My commercial rate is £350pd (sadly if it's any higher they get the marketing assistant to do it for free, he's quite keen on photography you know...). For location work I work on either a day or half day basis. For studio work at base I don't mind cutting it into hours, 75ph inc processing.
You also have to think about what usage you will give him - many small businesses think that because they've paid you to take the photo it's theirs to do whatever they like with. Not so; unless agreed otherwise you own the copyright so it's up to you to negotiate terms.
Don't forget travelling costs and time behind the wheel too. A 'one hour' job can easily a day by the time you've got there and back and processed the images.
I'm assuming photography isn't your living (at the moment) so you're doing this in your spare time?
If so, then you can charge anything you like as the money part probably isn't important to you. However, this will also set an expectation with your client(s) and they will then expect you to do more work at the same rate in the future perhaps.
A more serious approach would be for you to work out the cost of your time. i.e. if this was your main job, what do you need to earn to keep afloat, then add a markup of at least 50% to that (to represent your profit) and then you have an hourly/daily rate you can use for the labour part of your work.
In addition to that, you need to charge for the usage of the images you supply, or an all-inclusive charge for signing the copyright over to your client. That's going to vary, based on what they'll be using them for and for how long. Could be £10 per image or £1000. Often this figure will be a bit of a punt based on what you think they can afford or are prepared to pay. Always a good idea to ask upfront "what's your budget for this work" as it will flush out those who want something for nothing.
What you need to ask yourself in all cases is how your client will profit from the images you supply. It's fine if they say they just want a few pictures of their products to put on their website, but if that website is the main way they market themselves, then your images are effectively making them money and as you created them you should be entitled to a fair usage fee in return.
All of this is based on how it should work in a perfect world and I realise it's very difficult these days for photogs to make a living, but that's all the more reason that anyone doing casual work like this should try and charge a fair rate for their work, otherwise everyone expects it for next to nothing.
HTH
If so, then you can charge anything you like as the money part probably isn't important to you. However, this will also set an expectation with your client(s) and they will then expect you to do more work at the same rate in the future perhaps.
A more serious approach would be for you to work out the cost of your time. i.e. if this was your main job, what do you need to earn to keep afloat, then add a markup of at least 50% to that (to represent your profit) and then you have an hourly/daily rate you can use for the labour part of your work.
In addition to that, you need to charge for the usage of the images you supply, or an all-inclusive charge for signing the copyright over to your client. That's going to vary, based on what they'll be using them for and for how long. Could be £10 per image or £1000. Often this figure will be a bit of a punt based on what you think they can afford or are prepared to pay. Always a good idea to ask upfront "what's your budget for this work" as it will flush out those who want something for nothing.
What you need to ask yourself in all cases is how your client will profit from the images you supply. It's fine if they say they just want a few pictures of their products to put on their website, but if that website is the main way they market themselves, then your images are effectively making them money and as you created them you should be entitled to a fair usage fee in return.
All of this is based on how it should work in a perfect world and I realise it's very difficult these days for photogs to make a living, but that's all the more reason that anyone doing casual work like this should try and charge a fair rate for their work, otherwise everyone expects it for next to nothing.
HTH
bramley said:
Granted I do very little commercial work but I'm £600 a day and I thought that's fairly cheap.
To be fair most of my work is weddings so my portfolio of commercial work is relatively small, more of a bonus than a mainstay. I didn't set out to specialise in any one area, that's just the way it worked out!Some can charge £10k per day and get plenty of work, some can't get work at £50 per day.
It's the same in a lot of other professions. It's not what you know, but who you know and what your reputation is.
I don't envy anyone trying to start up a photography business from cold these days. It must be very tough indeed.
It's the same in a lot of other professions. It's not what you know, but who you know and what your reputation is.
I don't envy anyone trying to start up a photography business from cold these days. It must be very tough indeed.
Simpo Two said:
bramley said:
Granted I do very little commercial work but I'm £600 a day and I thought that's fairly cheap.
To be fair most of my work is weddings so my portfolio of commercial work is relatively small, more of a bonus than a mainstay. I didn't set out to specialise in any one area, that's just the way it worked out!If it helps, I pay 600 euros a day for local studio work here (good sized studio with 6m ceiling) or in our plant (Germany-industrial product shots) and own all reproduction rights to the product photos. The studio offers half day rates at 50%. As part of the package they provide a dvd with minimum editing usually done immediately at the end of the shoot.
Back when I did it full time I charged a minimum of £100 ph for mags but anything from £100 - £450 for a portfolio shoot.
What exactly would you be shooting? How good are your photos?
ETA: I'd be worried about working with anyone who uses "owt" in an email offering you work.
What exactly would you be shooting? How good are your photos?
ETA: I'd be worried about working with anyone who uses "owt" in an email offering you work.
Edited by dave-therave on Friday 9th July 06:26
dave-therave said:
Back when I did it full time I charged a minimum of £100 ph for mags but anything from £100 - £450 for a portfolio shoot.
What exactly would you be shooting? How good are your photos?
ETA: I'd be worried about working with anyone who uses "owt" in an email offering you work.
Must agree. Unfortunately the whole “tone” of the enquiry sounds a bit “non professional”What exactly would you be shooting? How good are your photos?
ETA: I'd be worried about working with anyone who uses "owt" in an email offering you work.
Edited by dave-therave on Friday 9th July 06:26
I may be doing the guy a disservice as I know there are many (successful) one man band type outfits who do a very good job, but are not necessarily “businessmen” if you know what I mean
covboy said:
dave-therave said:
Back when I did it full time I charged a minimum of £100 ph for mags but anything from £100 - £450 for a portfolio shoot.
What exactly would you be shooting? How good are your photos?
ETA: I'd be worried about working with anyone who uses "owt" in an email offering you work.
Must agree. Unfortunately the whole “tone” of the enquiry sounds a bit “non professional”What exactly would you be shooting? How good are your photos?
ETA: I'd be worried about working with anyone who uses "owt" in an email offering you work.
Edited by dave-therave on Friday 9th July 06:26
I may be doing the guy a disservice as I know there are many (successful) one man band type outfits who do a very good job, but are not necessarily “businessmen” if you know what I mean
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