How much am I worth?

[GrandMan]

I have been taking photos of people for a while now and have been recently getting alot of positive feedback. People outside my circle of friends have started to ask me to do photos of them, asking me how much I charge per hour etc, questions to which I have no answers. My post processing varies from 1 to 5+ hours. I need money (enough said). I am an honest man and do not want to overcharge for my services.

Some of my works



http://fc04.deviantart.com/fs16/f/2007/132/1/5/Marcel_by_laurencecc.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/216/480444351_0c39a3a047_o.jpg

http://fc03.deviantart.com/fs16/f/2007/132/0/7/Maximus_by_laurencecc.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/206/506990295_a7e1ab456f_o.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/194/490274484_b3bb865ffd_o.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1232/703599989_324cc8d57c_o.jpg

P.S. I am 18 if that has any relevance.

[Mom2Twins]

Asking how much you are worth is not a question that can be answered easily. Where you live makes a huge difference in pricing. I think you have some awesome images here, but I think you need to look at the competition in your area and at least use that as a starting point. Don't undercharge...thats almost worst than overcharging, b/c you will give the impression that you aren't worth as much as you probably really are. Also, note that being able to capture a great shot is only half the battle...the business side can be more work than the actual photography.

And, I'm not crazy about the posing of the girl...she kinda looks like she has a floating head, kwim?

[Dchemist]

Nice images. Do you ever shoot from below a subject?

I figure you are worth the same as a local tradesman - say a plumber. Where I live my plumber company (likely not the plumber himself) charges me $107/hr - so I figure, depending on the nature and desireablility of the job - $50-$100/hr would be fair. That is likely cheap relative to a make-a-living from photography photographer but you have to start somewhere. Good luck, Dennis

[*Mike*]

Depends on where you live... Great stuff, and you should be able to make some good money. I'd say better than a plumber - since I doubt that a client could get the same result you'd offer from anyone else. Your stuff is uniquely your own, so that makes it a real commodity.

Now, if you happen to live anywhere near central Texas, then forget everything I've said. Practice for a few more years. In the meantime just send those prospective clients my way and I'll take care of it for ya. ;o)

Seriously... I charge $275 for a session with 10 digital proofs. The session itself is about 1-2 hours. I don't see why you'd have to charge any less than I do. But, remember, so much of it is presenting yourself - marketing yourself - as worth whatever you're asking.

[00silvergt]

I would say you being 18 is irrelevant, however with people being people, that may be a crutch you will have to live with for another 10 years or less... But you do great work so I think this may not be that important, make sure you make one helluva portfolio, that way they will overlook the age factor.

[HoRnYTuRbO]

check ur local photog's website's for prices and adjust to that

[Ebwly]

Well judging by your name maybe 1000 per hour?

[Pierceclothier]

Well judging by your name maybe 1000 per hour?

words taken right out of my mouth haha

[nonameowns]

codb - cost of doing business

+

value

=

profit

[zagiace]

codb - cost of doing business

+

value

=

profit
this...
Judging how much you are worth has a lot to do with creating a business plan and figuring out how much you are going to need to stay in the black.

If you are just in it for beer money then charge whatever you feel comfortable with.

If you intend on doing this for a living you really need to think about this. You will need money for advertising, equipment, equipment repairs, insurance, license, printing, savings, rent, marketing, utilities, association fees, contracts and other paperwork. There is much more.

Starting out with creating a marketing plan is key. Where will your clients come from, how will they find you, how many can you get in a year? How much money will it take you to get them in your door?
Once you figure that out you will have a starting point.

Figuring out how much equipment you will need to accomplish the work you want to do and how much it will cost to maintain it is also important. You don't have to run out and buy everything you need but you may have to pass on rental fees to your client.

Starting a business right can be expensive. Starting it off wrong can be a waste of time. It is easy to fall into the thought that if you charge money you are going to make money. More often than not, photographers do not make it into the black and either lose money in the long run or would make more at the local McDonalds.

[scorpio_e]

You have a look to your work that not everyone will like..Of course this is based on what you posted. I'm not saying it's bad bad but I think it might have limited audience.

How much are your worth? Depends on how much clients are willing to pay you. If you quote to high and get too many rejections then you are pricing to high.

Good luck:)

[RDKirk]

Your stuff is uniquely your own, so that makes it a real commodity.

That makes it not a commodity. A commodity is like a barrel of crude oil--one barrel is like another with price being the only significant difference.

Some photographic services fall squarely into the "commodity" category, such as passport photos. A lot of other work seems like "commodities" when the photographers fail to produce work that displays artistic differentiation.

But work that is uniquely artistic or requires a high degree of competence or specialization to accomplish is not a "commodity"--and its value to clients is a matter of many factors.

I have a buddy who is a welder--a very common trade. However, he knows how to weld exotic materials under field conditions, which makes him one of a minority of welders who can repair oil drill bits in the field. Oil companies don't dicker fees when they call him. Their only question is, "Can we send a helicopter for you right now?"

That's what we mean by differentiating yourself.

[ZXDrew]

Do you have any other shots that people just looking up with a dark background and a light face?

[TeleFragger]

People outside my circle of friends have started to ask me to do photos of them, asking me how much I charge per hour etc, questions to which I have no answers.


i think this is key.. i myself will never charge friends... i take MANY pics of a baby that our best friends have.. and they love the pics.. i enjoy it...

so since you say "Outside my Circle"... and they are asking "how much per hr" they are expecting to pay via time and not flat rate.... so this can work for you...

i enjoy this as a hobby and i commend you for looking into this side of it.. yes my skills are horrid but everyone i know dont understand when im saying.. fuzzy, OOF, CRAP!!! and stuff.. they are like.. are you crazy?!?!?!? as im deleting them...


you got skills for 18.. keep with it... id check what other locals are charging and come in par with them... get that portfolio going!!!!!!
eventually if your good enough you dont need to advertise.. i know someone that shoots weddings, bdays and stuff.. he does $0 in advertising.. all word of mouth.. he asks me when am i going to do weddings and i laugh. he says he really likes my shots.. as i also look for those oddball pics and the sort..

GOOD LUCK!!!!!

[Red Tie Photography]

The original post was created 4 years ago, I wonder how Grandman is doing.

[scorpio_e]

Who brought this back from the dead*LOL*

Interesting question Bryan:)