Please help me determine fees

[colemanimages]

Hello, I just finished an online portfolio and sent the link to about 20 businesses yesterday. I already received a few replies asking what my fees are. Problem is, I don't know what to tell them. I've done a fair amount of photography for $100 per hour in the past but I don't know if that is affordable for local Las Vegas magazines.
I'm willing to work for less just to see my images published and get some exposure.
I would be required to photograph all things Vegas, hotels, people, architecture, lifestyles and more. Should I provide an hourly rate or a per published image rate or a per photoset rate?
I also have extensive experience with photoshop and may be required to use some of those skills.
Any advice from experienced photographers who've done work for magazines would be greatly appreciated. And the sooner the better. People are waiting to hear my rates.

Thank you in advance.
Jeff
Coleman Images

[IndyJeff]

Problem is, I don't know what to tell them. I've done a fair amount of photography for $100 per hour in the past but I don't know if that is affordable for local Las Vegas magazines.
I'm willing to work for less just to see my images published and get some exposure.

Well you have put your horse before the cart and now you have a problem. Don't feel bad, I have done the same thing a couple of times, as I am sure some others on here have too.

Problem: You have someone wanting to use your services but don't know what to charge.
Solution: Find out first what they want you to do, exactly. Then say you will figure a quote and will get back to them tomorrow morning. If you haven't already got a price finder, like fotoqoute, get it. It will probably pay for itself pretty quickly.

If I am a mechanic and you call me up and ask how much to work on your car, my first question is what do you want me to do to it.

Problem #2: Your willing to work for less to get the exposure.

Result: You may get the work but, you will be stuck at those wages and it will be hard to convince them to pay you more.

Solution: Charge them the going rate for the work they require. They don't need to know that they are your first job or your 1000th.

[Red]

I've no experience in this myself, and will probably be asking about it soon too, but one thing I would say is set yourself a target and bottom price. Don't let the bottom be too low you won't be able to go back to your target price once the work is coming.

Then phone them with your quote. If it sounds like you're loosing the job, negotiate, but don't go below that bottom price.

Any pros think this is a good or bad idea?

[Mike Panic]

find out what they will be used for, in what matter, how big and how many pieces in circulation or if its not a print mag or flyer, how many people they estimate will see it - like a banner in a hotel or something.

don't work off an hourly rate - some clients will expect 150 shots / hour - others will expect 500 shots / hour

YOU retain all copyrights and rights to the photograph. only give them rights to use them for 1 year, 2 if they get pushy.

only give them rights to use the photograph in one item - so if they want to use a photograph in a 1/4 page writeup, give them a quote on that... should they want to use the photo for say, a bar coaster to be given to every hotel on the strip, quote them another fee for usage rights on that

http://www.iphotoforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3754

check that out as well

[robertwgross]

Pricing always gets messy when there is a gray area of confusion around a product versus a service. A photographer needs to offer his shooting time as a service, but sometimes the end product is the photo file or photo print.

Often it is best to keep a firm/fixed price on a product and try not to let competition undercut the price much. However, if that fails, then the trick is to maintain the fixed product price, but "throw in" some free service or freebie item. Later, if competition eases off, you can discontinue your freebie and still claim that your product price is fixed and always has been. An example might be a freebie mat on a photo print.

If we turn the tables around and talk about selling a service, then keep a firm/fixed price on the service, and if competition hits you, then give away a freebie product. An example might be a freebie print for each hour of shooting service. Then you can drop that freebie when you want to.

Doing it this way muddies the water for the consumer/client, and it keeps them from trying to make a direct apples to apples comparison on price alone.

---Bob Gross---

[Vegas Poboy]

You're getting into a Big Market, being a local and still going to school they teach us to never sell yourself cheap. With digital photography growing the way it is these hotels will use you & discard you mainly if you have no sense of the business part of photography. They're many photographers who have the same ideas as you and go broke or can't get work do to mishandling of the product & services. Mike has it right on the nose of the baics with rights & pricing.
Best bet is get your Name & Lic. Hotels don't like dealing with overnighters.
Come up with an general commercial hourly rate
ALWAYS ask what is the photo going to be used for & copyrights. Charge concerning the usage, Most likely they'll use it for advertisement & marketing which is big $$$
You'll never get every job but never sell yourself short just to work word gets out and it'll be hard to recover. They want a product or service you can provide if the quality & $$ is market level most likely you'll get the job.

This is just to scratch the surface & yes I know this due to the college Professors still work in the daily market. They don't mind teaching us newbees since it helps keep the profession @ a high standard and good market value.