Out of State - On Location - Photo Shoot ---- Pricing Question?

[zso]

I have a coworker that has been asked to fly out of state to shoot product shots for a manufacturer. They (the manufacturer) will pay for the flight, lodging, and meals. It will be a 1-2 day shoot that will probably last for a days worth of shooting each day. My coworker will probably shoot around 1000-1500 shots per day and providing them with full resolution digital media of the keeper shots (not necessarily all 1000-1500 shots), which they will have full access to do with what they like.

Question is, how much should be charged for the shoot? My first thought was around $1500 per day for the shoot and the digital media. Does this seem reasonable, too low, too high?

Bare in mind that my coworker does not typically look for work, the work looks for him, and he has some sizable accounts that he handles.

[tim]

Change his standard day rate, $1500 sounds reasonable for a professional. If there's file preparation time include that too.

[sfaust]

I'm surprised that he doesn't know what to charge based on the fact you stated he already has some sizable accounts (unless you are asking because you are curious).

With that said, $1,500 is very low considering the travel and unlimited usage if compared to the rates in my area. It would be more consistent with local shooting where travel is not required, and even then usage would still be a separate fee on top of that. Travel shoots might double the creative fee for shooting days, and maybe 1/2 rate for travel days. Travel expenses are usually paid by the client, or billed as part of the fee with a 15%-20% or so markup. And then there are the pre-production and post-production day rates for the non-shooting days.

Then again, it all hinges on his experience level, what market he is in, and what type of products he is shooting. Ie, $6K a day for a national high demand shooter is not unreasonable or uncommon, with more added based on usage. And then there are those newbies that charge $50 an hour day and give everything away. Kind of a crap shoot if we are trying to guess what he charged, or should have charged, with limited information.

[zso]

I'm surprised that he doesn't know what to charge based on the fact you stated he already has some sizable accounts (unless you are asking because you are curious).

I am asking for him, not because I am curious. Neither of us have done outside the state shoots and primarily shoot at the studio for catalog / product work. So, though he is in very high demand, he has not had to figure out these expenses yet.

Thanks to all who have provided their feedback thus far. All help is greatly appreciated.

[sfaust]

I am asking for him, not because I am curious. Neither of us have done outside the state shoots and primarily shoot at the studio for catalog / product work. So, though he is in very high demand, he has not had to figure out these expenses yet.

Thanks to all who have provided their feedback thus far. All help is greatly appreciated.


Gotcha.... From my experience, most people tend to charge a bit more than their normal rate to account for the hassle of travel, being away from their family, etc. I hear increases of 50% to doubling their fees. Charging a reduced rate for the days spend traveling and not shooting is also common.

I hope that helps.