I have NO idea what to charge for this...

[AdamLewis]

I have a company that wants to re-hire to shoot something for them. It involves no editing and no printing. All I have to do is cover an event, sort through the pictures, and them submit them all of the ones that I decided to "keep".

Heres the deal

This event would require travel. It is over 600 miles away from where I currently live.
The event runs all day for 9 days.
Im trying to come up with a reasonable price to ask for with regards to my time shooting, the quality of pictures Im providing, and the work Ill have to do afterwards.

I guess what Im trying to ask is, if you had to go 600 miles away from your home for 8 days to shoot for 9 days straight, how much would you ask for?

[Palladium]

What are the plans for the images - resale or print?

I'm guessing resale - go high you can always neogate lower.

Also take into account the wear -n-tear on your gear..

9 days @ let's say 3 thousand images per day is 27,000 or almost 1/10 of the camera's shutter life

- I would only do something like that for people I could trust and get a percentage of the sales...

1 or 2 days, I'd be OK with a flat fee...

[AdamLewis]

Well Im being hired by a producer of a particular event. Its a large event that runs nationally and even internationally with professional players. The producers use the images to help promote themselves and the event as a whole.
Ill be hired to cover everything from individual players to shots of the entire venue.

Does that help?

[mattograph]

$75 an hour plus expenses.

[AdamLewis]

$75 an hour plus expenses.

Haha how sweet would that be! Im not kidding when I say all day.

[cdifoto]

I'd do it for about 6 grand but no less. Lots of travel, lots of shooting, lots of images to cull...long days. I'd include travel in that 6 grand, unless hotels in the area are insanely expensive (ie more than $200 a night). Or say 4K and let them cover all your accommodations - travel, food, hotel, etc.

[AdamLewis]

Wow. 4k?

I was planning on telling them a flat rate for me and then theyll need to pay for me to get there and to stay there on top of that.

[mattograph]

8 hrs a day at $75 $600 a day
9 days $5400

CDI and I are close. Go with CDI. Let them sweat the expenses. Tell them you want a VENUE hotel. None of this Holiday Inn Express crap 40 miles from the event.

Tell them you will where a photo vest. They all dig the photo vest!

[AdamLewis]

8 hrs a day at $75 $600 a day
9 days $5400

CDI and I are close. Go with CDI. Let them sweat the expenses. Tell them you want a VENUE hotel. None of this Holiday Inn Express crap 40 miles from the event.

Tell them you will where a photo vest. They all dig the photo vest!

Haha call me naive, but I just didnt think I had the weight to throw around to ask for that kind of money..

[cdifoto]

You already have one leg up in the fact that they asked you...you didn't approach them. $6,000 for nearly two business weeks' worth of work (5+4) isn't really that much. It's not like you'll just be serving soft drinks at some stand under an umbrella.

[mattograph]

Naive.

You asked.

Can you afford not to ask for that money?

Let me ask you this -- how much is being away from your beautiful fiance for 9 days worth? How much is giving up two weeks of your summer worth with school on the horizon? How much is it worth to give up your regular job for that time?

Hell, I have zero talent and I wouldn't do it for less than that.

They won't know what you are worth until you tell them.

[Zonieart]

$4K + Expenses is really very reasonable. Just remember that the average 6-8 hour wedding runs a minimum of $2K, and quite a bit more for an experienced pro. But make sure you give them an honest day's work for that amount. If you want, use the old marketing ploy and say $3999 + expenses.

[AdamLewis]

Haha you guys are the best

[Palladium]

I'll be the "Deputy Downer" - Good luck getting the money upfront.

[cdifoto]

I would take 50/50. 50% before packing the gear, 50% upon delivery of images...assuming they're paying expenses. If not, I'd need every penny up front. Otherwise I wouldn't even get on the plane.

[tim]

I agree that you should be asking for a reasoanble hourly rate - $75 sounds reasonable, but for such a long assignment you have to decide what's reasonable yourself. It's a LOT of shooting time, add in processing time (probably a few days I guess), and remember equipment costs and everything wearing out.

[breal101]

Don't set the price for the first day which will be exciting. Set the price at what it will take to get you out of bed on the last day when you will be tired and ready to go home.

[sbressler]

So Adam, what are you leaning toward? And how many hours a day do you mean by "all day?"

[PhotosGuy]

Anything less than $600/day would be my "walk away" price. $1,200 would be more like it for a specified # of hours a day. Any more is extra.
I'd ask for more as there's really nothing else you can do with your time while you're there.
Don't forget the "pain & suffering" traveling on airlines, either. DO NOT drive it. The trip back would be a bear. (Or at least charge 1/2 day per driving day + mileage.)
Bill them expenses separately, BUT get an advance to cover what you think the total will be + 20%. You can always refund the extra.I was planning on telling them a flat rate for me Do you think you'll like getting a call at 2AM to take some "Bar Buddy" pics? What are the plans for the images - resale or print? Good question.

[AdamLewis]

Anything less than $600/day would be my "walk away" price. $1,200 would be more like it for a specified # of hours a day. Any more is extra.
I'd ask for more as there's really nothing else you can do with your time while you're there.
Don't forget the "pain & suffering" traveling on airlines, either. DO NOT drive it. The trip back would be a bear. (Or at least charge 1/2 day per driving day + mileage.)
Bill them expenses separately, BUT get an advance to cover what you think the total will be + 20%. You can always refund the extra. Do you think you'll like getting a call at 2AM to take some "Bar Buddy" pics? Good question.

Wow. $600 a day? I mean...Its a large company but I just dont know if I have the weight to throw around something like that. I personally feel that the quality of pictures I take is decently high but...I just dont know.

Chances are high that I may very well have to go shoot come corporate get together and grab a couple grip/gin shots.

Im 99% sure the pictures are not for resale and that theyre only used in advertising to help promote upcoming events.

Thanks a ton for all the advice guys.

[Zonieart]

Thanks a ton for all the advice guys.


PLEASE - Let us know the final outcome.

[Skrim17]

If they are re-hiring what have you charged in the past? $600 bux a day for ALL DAY is dirt cheap IMO.

[DDCSD]

Sounds like you really need to get some more info and get a contract written up before worrying too much about what to charge. Just tell them that there is no way you can figure a price without knowing what is expected of you and what the terms are exactly.

[johnms88]

Wow. $600 a day? I mean...Its a large company but I just dont know if I have the weight to throw around something like that. I personally feel that the quality of pictures I take is decently high but...I just dont know.

Chances are high that I may very well have to go shoot come corporate get together and grab a couple grip/gin shots.

Im 99% sure the pictures are not for resale and that theyre only used in advertising to help promote upcoming events.

Thanks a ton for all the advice guys.

Then don't do it. That is a lot of work, and a lot of serious work. If you dont think you can do it for what the work is worth, then pass it to someone who will. There's nothing worse than giving a quote and hearing "yup..sure". You will do nothing but ask yourself what you COULD have gotten for your time, effort, and equipment.

Like what was said before, you were approached for this. This gives you the upper hand. Negotiation cant be done if they jump on the first price.

BUT
Judging by your demeanor, you probably didn't charge very much (if anything) for the last shoot you did so they probably are going to expect the same thing this time.

[tcphoto1]

Fifteen years ago, I shot events for Record Labels at $125 an hour and no Advertising licensing or post production. Why would you do it for anything less than that rate? How much time and money are you going to spend on gas, wear and tear on vehicle, gear and computer to process the images? Get specifics on use of images and hours anticipated to cover the event and get half up front and the balance in 30 days or when you deliver images if you feel bold. You must be good if they want you to travel all that way.