What is everybody charging an hour?

[my2dramaqueens]

just wanted to now a general idea of what people are charging per hour plus prints?? im just starting out (as far as charging is concerned) and people are always asking me and it catches me off guard because I never know what to charge people. what did you charge when you first started?

[Vegas Poboy]

When I first started it was $75.00 hr. I got this from an average of what my photo professors was charging and my skill level. Now I'm up to $100.00 for average work & $150.00 for weddings. At first I thought this was too high but the more I spend on equipment & the knowledge I'm paying for going to college this breaks just above even. I've taken a lot of small jobs that has help increased my skill level also, this price also includes post production time. Prints extra, standard Vegas market pricing. So far I've learned come up with a package deal it's easier to market until you build up your clients.

[NGrinerPhoto]

When I started shooting, I took whatever was offered to me. That was about 10 years ago. Now I charge ...

Shooting Fee, Film:
$100.00/Hour - 2 Hours Minimum
$35.00/Roll - Includes 4x6 Proofs and Negatives

Shooting Fee, Digital:
$100.00/Hour - 2 Hours Minimum
$25.00/CD - Includes All Images on CD
$1.00/4x6 - Printed From Original CD

Reprints and Enlargements:
(2) Wallets: $5.00
3x5: $5.00
4x6: $5.00
5x7: $10.00
8x10: $15.00
11x14: $20.00
12x18: $25.00
16x20: $50.00
20x24: $75.00
20x30: $100.00

Computerized Photo Manipulation and FTP Upload:
$60/Hour

[my2dramaqueens]

if your giving the negative and/or disc why would they come back to you for reprints? just checking?

[Vegas Poboy]

if your giving the negative and/or disc why would they come back to you for reprints? just checking?

They Won't, It's hard to set one price in this part of the county for the CD.
I know some photographers who upload thier hourly price and still charge for the Cd & others just charge flat rate. If it's to be used for major advertisement you don't want to sell a file for $5.00 but if it's a birthday party you could sell the file for $2.00. Some semi Pro events after $100.00 in purchases I sell off all the negs for another $100.00 of the competitor.
I've made friends with a few business minded photographers & one of them charges $250.00 an hour and sell the CD for another $100.00 two hour min. Plus must get photo credits, I'm looking into all options.
This is the part of the business I'm still learning, I currently redoing my price list.

[NGrinerPhoto]

if your giving the negative and/or disc why would they come back to you for reprints? just checking?

People don't have the time, want the hassle or much less understand prints. In my business, I rarly deal with prints anyway. With the saturation of the market and weekend warriors shooting, I have to give up the negs or I won't work. There are tons of photographers out there who are good and are doing the same thing.

-Nick

[davidwegs]

if your giving the negative and/or disc why would they come back to you for reprints? just checking?

IMHO, part of the idea of giving negs/files to the client is that the 'cheap ones' will go away happy and believe they have a great deal. Less time messing about and more time shooting.

The not so 'cheap ones' ask about having prints done through me (and usually do just that) for reasons of their time/effort and the finished quality of product. In htis case I don't mind the time spent as it means $$ earned.

[NGrinerPhoto]

Bloo-

Have you ever thought about a service like Pictures 4 Life (www.pictures4life.com). I use them and never touch a print, yet I still get paid for them.

-Nick

[NGrinerPhoto]

This is how it works...

You give your local lab that works with P4L your negs or disk of images. They upload them. Your customers use their code to view and purchase particular photos. That info goes to the lab, the lab prints the photos and mails them out. The lab charges what they want on top of what you charge for shipping and handling. They also take out the cost of the print. P4L takes 10% of your profit and 3% for credit card charges. P4L then mails you a check. You never have to do anything. Since you create your pricing scale, just charge a little more to cover what P4L is taking.

Harman will be in contact with you. It's not an instantaneous process. I don't have any affiliation with them other than being one of the first customers.

-Nick

[FlipsidE]

WOW! That is really wonderful. I'll have to recheck the response.

Thanks for the info!

Bloo Dog

I agree!! That sounds like an excellent idea!! I'll definitely keep that in mind if I ever do a pay shoot.

FlipsidE

[Vegas Poboy]

WWW.printroom.com
& some others out work under the same principles.

[csondagar]

I know that this thread is about chargeout rate so please excuse me for for asking a off-side question. How many of you make money from photography on part-time basis (ie, whilst working in another full-time job/profession)?

[NGrinerPhoto]

I work fulltime as a photographer for ACBJ … mostly environmental portraits. I also shoot corporate portraits and events on the side.

[Vegas Poboy]

I started my own partime company this year, by mid next year I feel everything will be on a roll with portraits & sporting events. I'm currently working in an area that should at least make me a car note.

[Vegas Poboy]

I started my own partime company this year, it makes enough to pay on the credit card :) , by mid next year I feel everything will be on a roll with portraits & sporting events. I'm currently working in an area that should at least make my house note.

The prior post is wrong :?

[Vegas Poboy]

VP:

I've been to Vegas a few times. It seems that you could advertise yourself as a convention photographer in the Yellow Pages. You could market yourself to organizations scheduled to convene there. Most convention centers have a calendar of upcoming events and a list of general contacts. You might want to look into something like that.

I know that Vegas is a union town. I wonder if there's some sort of union you'd have to join to go pro. Hmmmm...

Yes, I have and plan on doing that (conventions) but I have a few loose ends to tie up first. Insurance coverage, Onsite printing and not over extending myself. My day Job is and will be my primary source of income for the next 17 years. Unless Photography takes me over the $60,000 + K range overnite.

I work and deal with other full time pros here weekly and the market has its ups and downs. As far as I know there is no Photographers union only stage hands for the shows.

[JCK]

I am a waiter at a plush resort restaurant, so my income is decent. I've made a little money selling sports (surfing) shots to my friends, and I have a couple weddings lined up, so this is still a pipe dream, but having a lot of fun doing it. Not expecting to turn pro overnight, or making it my full time job, and I will go as far as IT takes me.

[PhotosGuy]

Wish I could remember where I read this:
If you are charging by the hour, every time you become more efficient, every time you upgrade equipment, you are losing money!

[my2dramaqueens]

well GREAT... I'll have to charge $10,000 a wedding :D im high maintenance and would love to lead a lavish lifestyle ...lol. Now if I could only produce work to justify 10K :wink: