How and How Much to Charge?

[p360]

Hi all

I expect to land my first paid photo assignment in a week or so. Nothing major. I will be shooting portraits of 4 year-old twin boys, as well as, perhaps, some family portraits. The session, I think, should last 2-3 hours at the most.

Should I charge by hour or by session? And how much? Any other tips would be welcome.

[tim]

You should've worked it out before you agreed to do the photography. No standard charge = expectation you're free. Given the lack of experience I think the main thing you'll gain is experience, not money, but set your prices so as not to be taken advantage of.

[p360]

Thanks, Tim. I agree, I am not looking to make money here; the mother of the twins works with my wife. Experience is the big thing for me right now.

And the shoot isn't even confirmed; I just think it's forthcoming. When she calls to confirm it, I'll mention prices. I just wanted to get a general idea of how to charge for such a shoot.

Thank you for replying.

[tim]

Sounds like a favor to me. The only question is who is doing who the favor.

[Uhland]

Get prices of the same thing from a local photog.
Chop that price in half. Let her know the price you are giving her is 50% off of the going rate as a favor.

[p360]

Sounds like a favor to me. The only question is who is doing who the favor.


It's not a favor. She knows that. To answer your question, I think we're both doing favor to each other.

[p360]

Get prices of the same thing from a local photog.
Chop that price in half. Let her know the price you are giving her is 50% off of the going rate as a favor.


Good idea.

[chris1965]

2-3 hours is way to much time, try an hour or less, or else the whole family will be worn out and irritable and the whole shoot will go sour. Its best to have an idea of what poses you are going to use and go through them as quick as getting good shots that it takes. You can do what you want to do but I have been shooting portaits for quite awhile and I know from experiance that there is no family that wants to spen 2-3 hours posing.

good luck!

[Darkmist]

2-3 hours is way to much time, try an hour or less, or else the whole family will be worn out and irritable and the whole shoot will go sour. Its best to have an idea of what poses you are going to use and go through them as quick as getting good shots that it takes. You can do what you want to do but I have been shooting portaits for quite awhile and I know from experiance that there is no family that wants to spen 2-3 hours posing.

good luck!


I agree, usually they need about 10 mins to warm up and get relax, around the 35~45 mins mark are where the pictures are the best. After an hour, unless you are traveling to a different location, they will feel tired. Maybe try 2 session of 1 hour (which is more like 50 mins).

[p360]

2-3 hours is way to much time, try an hour or less, or else the whole family will be worn out and irritable and the whole shoot will go sour. Its best to have an idea of what poses you are going to use and go through them as quick as getting good shots that it takes. You can do what you want to do but I have been shooting portaits for quite awhile and I know from experiance that there is no family that wants to spen 2-3 hours posing.

good luck!


Point well taken. Thanks.

[p360]

I agree, usually they need about 10 mins to warm up and get relax, around the 35~45 mins mark are where the pictures are the best. After an hour, unless you are traveling to a different location, they will feel tired. Maybe try 2 session of 1 hour (which is more like 50 mins).


That's exactly what I am thinking, shooting in two sessions, provided they agree. May be one indoor and one outdoor.

Thanks, mate.

[sarah0001]

Hi there. Congratulations on landing your first paid job :) When I first started to do photoshoots I spoke to a photographer who has had years of experience. I asked her the same question you are asking. She suggested that I charge around $50 for photoshoots for the first 6 months or so until I had more experience and then after that I can think about charging $75 etc etc This is just an idea of what someone has told me. You may also want to compare prices with other local photographers and charge less then that as you are starting out.

Also...like many of the other people have said, it is probably best not to have such a long photoshoot for 2 4 year old twins. This is because kids get bored and irritated quickly, so you dont want to keep them there for too long. 30 mins - 1 hour should be plenty of time to get some great shots.

Hope this helps. Good luck with your first assignment!!

Sarah :)

[Alleh]

I would think a sessions with 4 year olds would be more like a 20 min thing?? I don't know I don't shoot anything of the sort. Why not just charge for prints?

[Darkmist]

I would think a sessions with 4 year olds would be more like a 20 min thing?? I don't know I don't shoot anything of the sort. Why not just charge for prints?


But what if they don't print :lol:

[tim]

But what if they don't print :lol:

Then they won't see any photos. Also for portrait sessions you NEVER put images online, otherwise people just do screen grabs and print the low quality watermarked images, even if they look terrible. People don't care if it's free.

[p360]

Thank you all. This being my first "paid" assignment, I don't know exactly what to expect.

All of your points are well taken. I realize 2 hour session is way too long. I guess I failed to realize just how many photos can be taken in that span. Perhaps I was including the consultation time in there as well, I don't know. But 20-30 min session is more realistic, and more productive.

I spoke with a friend who is a local pro, and he suggested something around $50-75 for the entire package. That would not include prints. I am going to try to stay away from prints if I can. At least initially. Let them have the digital photos and print what they like and where they like.

[tim]

$75 for a session including digital files? That's ridiculous. From a pro you'd often pay $100 or more session fee, then 6x4" prints often start at $50 or $100, with framed enlargements anywhere from $500 to $1000. A local pro who's been in business for 20 years has an average sale of $2000 and a best sale of $12,000.

[ultra big al]

$75 for a session including digital files? That's ridiculous. From a pro you'd often pay $100 or more session fee, then 6x4" prints often start at $50 or $100, with framed enlargements anywhere from $500 to $1000. A local pro who's been in business for 20 years has an average sale of $2000 and a best sale of $12,000.Tim what kind of session would a local pro with 20 years experience be doing to command a $12,000 fee?
Alan

[alabama1980]

$75 for a session including digital files? That's ridiculous. From a pro you'd often pay $100 or more session fee, then 6x4" prints often start at $50 or $100, with framed enlargements anywhere from $500 to $1000. A local pro who's been in business for 20 years has an average sale of $2000 and a best sale of $12,000.

If someone were (trying) to charge $50-$100 for a 6x4 around here they would be out of business in no time, and possibly hauled off by men in white coats. That's not even in the realm of realistic around here. I may need to move to Wellington...haha.

[tim]

Tim what kind of session would a local pro with 20 years experience be doing to command a $12,000 fee?

LOTS of products.

[p360]

$75 for a session including digital files? That's ridiculous. From a pro you'd often pay $100 or more session fee, then 6x4" prints often start at $50 or $100, with framed enlargements anywhere from $500 to $1000. A local pro who's been in business for 20 years has an average sale of $2000 and a best sale of $12,000.


That does sound quite a bit, even when you consider the exchange rate. NZ$12,000 is about US$6,700. That's still a lot for a portrait session around here.

Besides, I am not a pro, not even close. I am just looking to gain experience more than anything else.

[tim]

The NZD varies between US$0.48 and US$0.80, so NZD$12K is US$6700 to about US$9500. That's VERY high end, but his average sale is NZ$2K.

My point was to make you think more about your proposed prices.

[JEC]

LOTS of products.

LoL..

Everyone knows someone that knows someone who's work commands tens of thousands of dollars for even a few minutes of their photo skills and prowess, but.....I think with 2000.00 to 12,000.00 prices for a photoshoot of a couple of kids here in Smalltown, USA the aforementioned legendary photographer will be pushing the limits, soon starving, and get a harsh lesson on the meaning of "what the market will bear".

[tim]

He's not even an amazing photographer, just solid with a good reputation. If you want to see an amazing portrait photographer check out Tania Niwa in Australia. She's even more expensive, but she's worth it.

[JEC]

He's not even an amazing photographer, just solid with a good reputation. If you want to see an amazing portrait photographer check out Tania Niwa in Australia. She's even more expensive, but she's worth it.

I have no doubt Tania Niwa in Austrailia is even more expensive, but whether she's "worth it" isn't up to me, you, or her.
It's up to those Smalltown, USA people that probably represent 95 to 98 percent of those buying kids portraits every few months or so.

[tim]

Value is in the eye of the beholder. Her target market are the executives who earn six figures, the kind of person who doesn't much care what the photos cost so long as they're good. From memory of a presentation she did a couple of years ago a framed 5x7 for a desk was about $300.

That won't fly in many markets, but she's doing very well.

[JEC]

"Value is in the eye of the beholder."

That's the point of my responses to you.
Now, how about letting this thread get back on a more realistic track?
If I recall correctly, isn't wasn't about pimping expensive photographers, but a fairly new photographer looking for a bit of realistic advice on a here in the good ol' USA.