Ugh, I think I just sold myself short :(

[StellerCrys]

I had done some (payed) photography a few years ago, some portraits, graduations, and a wedding.
Then I took some time off to be with our newborn son.
So I've been a little out of the loop and wanting to get back into photographing again now.

So fasttrack to today. I have a website up, a facebook site and word of mouth.
I get a call today (came up on caller id as Unknown).
*I don't have a seperate business line yet because I'm JUST getting back into things*

Anyways, the man asks if its "my name" and I say yes, then he tells me who he is and says that he has a few people in my town (he's from a city about 3 hrs away) that he needs photographed in front of their homes for a photo in his company magazine.
He askes what my rates are, and stupid me, I'm still frazzled by tge unexpected call, I have a head cold, and its still early in the morning. So I throw out a number $20 per person (including a digital image of the photo, no prints).

CRAP

I just totally undersold myself! I didn't even get more details about the job to give a proper rate quote.

So I know I screwed up there. But I'm wondering, how bad was it?

Anyone know what a ballpark figure I should have charged?
It will require me to go "on location" to both persons homes and take a few photos of them infront of the home. Then a little processing of the photos and send the digital image to the company. (I'm still dazed from the call, I think it was some kind of medical thing. Maybe a university type thing, I don't even know, lol).
Man, what a bad morning for him to call, lol.

[ChrisRabior]

First off, yeah.. sounds like a lot of work for not a lot of compensation.
Check out google.com/voice for a business line. May save you from having this kind of thing happen again.

[Todd Lambert]

Why not call him back, and "remind" him, that the $20 is just for the actual photographing, there is a "location" charge of course, and "processing" fee... just make it sound like you wanted to make sure "he knew that" up front (sort of like it was assumed)?

[Alleh]

haha hope you get some gas money to. I would have charged around $2000 sense that's my day rate anyway but then again i wouldn't even take a job like that as it's not my style. For an amateur around $200 per person would have been reasonable. It's actually going to cost you money and a bunch of time at $20 per person. Better off saving face and telling him you wont be available any longer. He probably wont hire you again but hey he expects it for $20 so no loss their and you wont look like a douche telling him you quoted the same amount of money it cost for 2 people to eat lunch at a crappy restaurant rather than a real fee.

haha $20!! That's lunch expenses.

[Alleh]

No matter what your excuse is if the phone rings and you don't recognize the number always answer as your business.

[blackshadow]

Sounds like you sold yourself short but I hopefully it will prove to be a valuable lesson.

Instead of issuing a verbal quote - make some enquiries about the job and the intended usage. Is it one off, where the shots will be used, print runs, web use etc

Tell the prospective client you will put together a written estimate and email it to them.

In your estimate break it down to include things like

Location scouting
The actual photography
Find a way of factoring in the use of $x worth of equipment
Post Processing and the use of $x worth of computers and software
Any incidental costs
And a license fee

Not all will be applicable and there might be others that apply but it shows any potential client what actually goes into the production of professional photos.

[ryant35]

^^+1 I always like to review what I want to charge unless it's something on my current price list, I usually email a quote to the customer. I hate talking on the phone, and hate being put on the spot for pricing. I sold myself short once when I was asked for a price in person for some digital files and I still think about it often.

[sfaust]

Yes, you sold yourself very shot. Changes are if they are looking for a professional, once you mentioned $20 per person he mentally already moved on.

A typical fee for that type of job, which you think is editorial, would be in the $650 or so per day plus usage, expenses, etc. You could gross around $1,000 or so depending on the magazine and usage. If it was a university, the day rate and usage is typically less, and on the other end, if it was a large national magazine, the rate/usage would be higher.

Black Shadows advise is right on. Get all the details, and tell them you will call back or send them a written estimate. This gives you time to make sure you have everything covered, do some research on the client and usage, and come up with a reasonable estimate. I prefer a written estimate as well since it covers all my standard policies, terms, etc. Nothing left unsaid.

If they call back, just give them some availability dates that are outside what they need, and you'll gracefully get out of a full day of work for $40 ;) It would be hard to go from $50 to say $600, so I wouldn't even try.

[Scooter650]

haha hope you get some gas money to. I would have charged around $2000 sense that's my day rate anyway but then again i wouldn't even take a job like that as it's not my style. For an amateur around $200 per person would have been reasonable. It's actually going to cost you money and a bunch of time at $20 per person. Better off saving face and telling him you wont be available any longer. He probably wont hire you again but hey he expects it for $20 so no loss their and you wont look like a douche telling him you quoted the same amount of money it cost for 2 people to eat lunch at a crappy restaurant rather than a real fee.

haha $20!! That's lunch expenses.

Wow, just what I am sure the OP wanted, someone to ridicule him!:mad:

[RDKirk]

So fasttrack to today. I have a website up, a facebook site and word of mouth.
I get a call today (came up on caller id as Unknown).
*I don't have a seperate business line yet because I'm JUST getting back into things*

No matter what your excuse is if the phone rings and you don't recognize the number always answer as your business.

I don't know why they don't have two-line cell phones yet. Heck, they're small enough now to put two completely separate phone circuits in a single case.

[RDKirk]

Why not call him back, and "remind" him, that the $20 is just for the actual photographing, there is a "location" charge of course, and "processing" fee... just make it sound like you wanted to make sure "he knew that" up front (sort of like it was assumed)?

Yes, that would be a way to recover.

[jms_uk]

I don't know why they don't have two-line cell phones yet.
Nokia "business" mobiles had them for years [network dependant]