Freelance Fees?

[416bw]

Yet another freelance question. Thought I'd go ahead and post it, while at the same time I'm reading some search results on the topic.

I replied to an ad looking for freelance photographers...

"...Magazine will be selecting a few freelance photographers as regular contributors"

...stating that while not a professional photographer (probably a mistake) I do in fact take lots of pictures of the magazine subject matter. I included one sample, with watermark.

I received this reply...

"If you have a few samples of your helicopter photos we'd love to take a look. We are looking specifically for -------- photos. We have two print and digital publications... We are interested in your rates and fees expected for special assignments."

Sending samples is not a problem, it's the 'special assignments' part that I'm not familiar with. I understand the concept of being sent to take pictures of something. ;) I just never considered that aspect of selling images. I was thinking more along the lines of simply selling images I had already taken.

I've got a job schedule that allows me several weeks off at a time, so I could travel if the dates work out.

What would be a good response to the 'rates and fees' question? Is there an industry standard for "all travel costs, plus per diem, plus a daily fee" ?

Sorry for the ambiguous post. I'll do some more reading here, and try to firm up some questions.

[MJPhotos24]

Depends on the size of the magazine and what they want, I know some that charge $250, others $500, others a few thousand depending on several aspects (cover shot, inside shot, basic day rate, work for hire, etc).

[416bw]

I think they're pretty small. It's a helicopter industry magazine.

How about charging for travel costs (airfare, rental car, hotel, per diem) plus $500 a day sound? My daily rate could vary, depending on location.

[Karl Johnston]

All depends on you, the only standard is you, some charge 500/hour, some charge 150/hour some charge 250/hour. Depends on if its ads, video, editorial, assignment, stock.

On location, account for your fees and expenses...budget it out and submit, hope for the best, know your client.

Depends on what you do. Just ask for a budget and see what you can do to work around it. 500/day is pretty low to me, I may not even be able to do half a day for that rate off the top of my head (yeah I probably wouldn't come to think). I wouldn't consider anything under a XXXX/day but I'm really unique, probably one of the most unique on this forum, so numbers are useless. I could not afford to work under that, though..I don't have a day job to back it up and live in one of the most expensive areas in the country.

That is all that defines your scope...try looking for photographers doing the same thing in your area, see what they charge. Don't use this as a be all end all, though, because primarily you should take care of what you can afford. If that's 500, and still make a profit enough to live off and float your costs...so be it, charge 500. At no point should you do it for free, or worse...take out costs out of your own pocket.

If you're doing magazine work, this is a great piece of software to help you learn to negotiate and establish a guideline (just a guideline) of what to charge for your photos.
www.fotoquote.com

Like with anything, it largely depends on what you can afford...can you do it for 80/hour, or perhaps maybe only 30 an hour is all your client can afford to pay...so you negotiate, and depending on how well you do and how much they can afford to pay you ultimately decides what you're going to have to ask yourself if you can do.

Sorry that wasn't very conclusive. Just like any other trade...mechanic in Alaska will have a different hourly rate than a Mechanic in Utah, most likely, depends on the area...operational costs...tax...whatever else.