Fair Pay

[robie]

I just got asked what I think a fair salary is for shooting the Bell Capital Cup here in Ottawa on December 30th, 31st and January 1st. I am not too sure what a fair wage will be. What do you think is good for doing 3 days worth of Hockey?

[Karl Johnston]

Depends, what are you doing and who is it for exactly? Newspaper? Stock photos? Advertising? Personal client?

If you were asked for salary....instead of a pricing quote...then I assume it would involve a type of reoccurring licensing for the photos, right?

salary definition

sala·ry (sal′ə rē, sal′rē)

noun pl. salaries -·ries
a fixed payment at regular intervals for services, esp. when clerical or professional

Need more info.

[robie]

Depends, what are you doing and who is it for exactly? Newspaper? Stock photos? Advertising? Personal client?

If you were asked for salary....instead of a pricing quote...then I assume it would involve a type of reoccurring licensing for the photos, right?



Need more info. I just got an email from my college asking for help and the people emailed me back with $14 per hour on an 8-10 hours day. That is kind of a rip off. My friends are here from Vancouver anyways so I wouldn't want to be at the rink all day.

[ChrisRabior]

$14/hr for 10 hours? Let me guess, they want to keep the rights to the images too?

As mentioned, depends on what it's for. Editorial, there's not really a need to be there the entire tournament, just for the important parts. Then it's likely on a per image basis. If it's a client, I'm assuming they want some generous usage privileges, and in that case their offer is a lowball.

Colleges typically do one of two things for images: Hire a staff photographer for events, or squeeze images out of their students in exchange for a meager payment, recognition, print credit, etc.

Sounds like they want coverage of their team for their own use, be it internal, advertising for the hockey program, the school.. whatever. They're no different than any other client. A reasonable price should include travel, lodging (if you need to stay the full duration), food.. basic expenses just to allow you to be there. Then figure out your day rate. That should include your time setting up (if you're strobing), your time shooting, and your time processing.

Personally, I'd turn it down. It's not worth $140 to spend 10 hours shooting at an ice rink. Add a zero, and that's still below a lot of people's rates for half a day. You'd be more likely to get $150 per game by offering to shoot the youth leagues at your local rink, and then not have to worry as much about travel/food/lodging costs.

[Karl Johnston]

Do you have a portfolio? It's difficult to suggest..though, chances are they're trying to pawn expenses by getting an inexperienced college kid (no offense, without looking at your portfolio i don't know if you have exp in this yet or not).

[robie]

Do you have a portfolio? It's difficult to suggest..though, chances are they're trying to pawn expenses by getting an inexperienced college kid (no offense, without looking at your portfolio i don't know if you have exp in this yet or not). I do have a portfolio and have shot a lot of hockey. I am shooting basketball right now for ottawahoops.com and getting paid for that.

The people who want photos for the Bell Capital Cup want photos for the whole tournament so that is more than one team and they probably do want the rights. I turned them down because I can't do it those day anyways since friends are visiting from Vancouver.

[Stealthy Ninja]

I'd do the day for about $900USD (sorry don't know what that would be In CAD).

Seriously, that would be my "events" price for a 10 hour event. That would be split amongst my partner and me though. So I'd be doing it for $450USD. Which amounts to $45 per hour. Which is more than reasonable IMHO.

Wedding are more because you have to move about more and it's more stressful.

Hope that helps.