question on rates for a part time photog

[izatt82]

basically, i found a part time opening i am thinking of applying for and they ask what hourly rate i would need? well since i really don't know the rates in my area central IL then i don't know. it is a broadcasting agency and i guess i really don't know what what my time or photos are worth because i have not sold any thing. I don't know if you guys have looked at anything i have shot but i will put up a couple if it helps. I am not a pro by any means, but I see photos of the same quality in my opinion in news papers and advertisement around the area. and as far as my gear goes I am pretty sure I will use all my own equipment so i am trying to take that in as over head, it is not that detailed. thanks guys let me know what you think of it and what you would charge as an up and comer. thanks again guys as this might be my first step into photo business well besides photographers direct accepting me.

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a140/izatt82/pitcher2.jpg

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a140/izatt82/IMG_7976.jpg

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a140/izatt82/IMG_6930.jpg

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a140/izatt82/IMG_6704.jpg

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a140/izatt82/IMG_6734.jpg

[bigjon0107]

What will your job description be? Like what responsibilities would you have and what would you have to cover?

[izatt82]

this is what they have almost sounds more like a PJ, but they have it listed as photography "looking to hire a highly proficient part-time Photographer. Photographer's responsibilities include: shooting and editing news stories and newsgathering. This job requires working flexible hours that will include weekends. A clean driving record is required. We're looking for someone with sharp news judgement, excellent technical skills and the ability to work well with others."

thanks for the reply

[Mike R]

All newspapers in my area supply the gear to their photographers. I wold ask them for more details. I would think that most companies will say the rate they will pay. If they are asking you, they may be looking to get off cheap. BTW, I love the red barn shot. At first glance it almost looks like selective coloring until you look again.

[izatt82]

All newspapers in my area supply the gear to their photographers. I wold ask them for more details. I would think that most companies will say the rate they will pay. If they are asking you, they may be looking to get off cheap. BTW, I love the red barn shot. At first glance it almost looks like selective coloring until you look again.

thanks a lot on the picture yeah it took several to get what i was looking for. i will ask for more details thanks for that.

[izatt82]

well sent them an email hopefully i will get something back. If they do provide equipment what do you think a fare wage would be?

[izatt82]

okay guys i got a reply, i would use there equipment and transportation. so what do you think?

[airfrogusmc]

What would Chesty do? :lol::lol:

See what they're offering. Since they're supplying gear it might not be allot but the connections and experience could be invaluable.

S/F

[izatt82]

hahaha chesty would tell um how it is. well in the application they want me to put down what i want, but like you said i think just doing it would be great. at the same time like so many of you say "don't sell yourself short" so i am trying to ride that fire line i am just not for sure what to put for and hour rate.

Semper Fi

[airfrogusmc]

Bro sometime papers really don't pay all that well. Allot of the photographers are salary.

Found this

Earnings
Median annual earnings of salaried photographers were $26,080 in May 2004. The middle 50 percent earned between $18,380 and $37,370. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $15,000, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $54,180. Median annual earnings in the industries employing the largest numbers of salaried photographers were $32,800 for newspapers and periodicals and $23,100 for other professional, scientific, and technical services.

Also this

http://www.adigitaldreamer.com/articles/photography-salary.htm

S/F
Allen

[izatt82]

dang, thanks for that

Semper Fi Chris

[EOS_JD]

Izat sorry if this sounds harsh but if the above images are your best portfolio shots, I don't think they work very well. None really tell any sort of story and are uninteresting and are pretty much central in composition.

To shoot news stories you need different angles and a good understanding of composition. Maybe you have better than these?

this is obviously just my opinion but in my area the guys are very professional and their photography is very good.

[izatt82]

no don't get me wrong i do not claim to be a pro. I know i have tons of room to improve, but the reason I started looking at this stuff is I see pictures just like the ones i take in newspapers. Now Some of these papers are not very big so that could be part of that. and no i just put these up for comparison and I am still trying to build a okay portfolio. We all have to start somewhere. I do like your honesty and trust me i am trying to find a pro photog that will let me assist or second shoot or anything. Nothing so far so i keep trying to improve and expand post up here and read books.

thanks for your honesty really, better now than some other time

[EOS_JD]

We are all doing that izatt. I'm no master of photography and learn something new every time I shoot. Keep looking at the news images in national and local newspapers and you will lear what sells. ead headlines and stories to see that the images tie in too.

Always a god idea t look for training. I'd have liked that.

[izatt82]

yeah i would like to take some course's but i go to college full time so that keeps me buzy, but good news is i am shooting for my colleges news paper should be good. i do find that shooting news is tough, right place right time with the camera to your eye when it happens. it is a new challenge for me for sure and the PJ route may not be the one i take my degree will be in computer science, but i think it would be great to try it. I do need to improve my portfolio, some of the pictures i see on this site blow my mind. one day maybe.

[airfrogusmc]

Keep at it bro and a part time gig at a small newspaper is a great place to get allot of good experience.

[izatt82]

plus the way i see it, all they can tell me is nope sorry. like i haven't heard that before. hahahaha "you can not fail if you do not try"

[FlyingPhotog]

this is what they have almost sounds more like a PJ, but they have it listed as photography "looking to hire a highly proficient part-time Photographer. Photographer's responsibilities include: shooting and editing news stories and newsgathering. This job requires working flexible hours that will include weekends. A clean driving record is required. We're looking for someone with sharp news judgement, excellent technical skills and the ability to work well with others."

thanks for the reply

You mentioned they're a broadcast operation, right?

Have you actually spoken to anyone there and are you absolutely certain they're looking for a still photographer?

I don't mean to be a wet blanket but this job descripiton reads (to me) like they want a videographer who has his/her own camera and something like Final Cut or Premiere on a laptop and can deliver finished, air ready video news stories.

[izatt82]

yeah it is a broadcast, i don't know i would use there equipment and it says part time photographer. so i hope they don't mean video oh well if they do i guess. thanks for pointing that out though. i really don't know my head from a hole when it comes to video.

[FlyingPhotog]

yeah it is a broadcast, i don't know i would use there equipment and it says part time photographer. so i hope they don't mean video oh well if they do i guess. thanks for pointing that out though. i really don't know my head from a hole when it comes to video.

At some point over the last few years, the broadcast industry began referring to videographers as "Photographers."

Not sure why.

To me they'll always be Camera Operators or "Those Who Have Not Yet Learned To Walk Upright..."

(FWIW, I'm a 20+ year veteran of TV Sports production...)

[izatt82]

haha well thanks for the info i would have never known the difference

that is weird though. and i kind of thought why would a broad cast want a photog? oh well i guess either way