Event Photography Project Rates

[Jemuel Stephenson]

I am composing a proposal to photograph a summer teen internship program for the insurance company John Hancock.
This 7 week program employes over 600 teens across greater Boston in 20+ sub-programs, working 25 or more hours per week.
I would travel to a different program every day, shooting 4-6 hours. I would then post process at least 20 images from each day, and write all images on CD-ROM. and deliver the photos to them weekly.

How much should I charge? Should I charge per hour, or by day? taking into account shooting time, travel expenses, and also post processing time.

Any recommendations?

[Jemuel Stephenson]

Anyone have any Ideas?

[35mmNewbie]

Gear wear+Time+Travel+food&snacks+cost of dvd+editing time+hourly rate for shooting the event would be a start.

[Trey T]

40buck food per day
.61 per mile
do lump sum for your photo work

[Park Street]

What rights are you granting?
Think Creative Fee + Expenses + License
Did John Hancock give you an idea of budget?
Did you ask?

[Simonthephotoman]

I would charge per person plus travel plus food plus anything other than that

[Jemuel Stephenson]

I have been previously involved with them, but now I am sending them the proposal as an entrepreneur. They have not sent me a budget, I asked, still waiting for the reply. but hey, they are a big insurance company, I bet they could afford big bucks.

Most good photographers charge $125 or more per hour, but since this would be a ongoing project, not a one time event, it seems that there could be changes....?
Or would it be alright to charge at that rate, or more?? If I were to work a 25 hour week, working 4 days a week at $125 an hour, I would be making about $781 per day, which would be a half day(4 hrs), plus 2.5 hrs of post processing.
An average wedding goes for about 2-4k for 8 hours and post processing, and prints, to give a basis.

[Jemuel Stephenson]

What would be a reasonable rate?

[jra]

Considering that this would be an ongoing project for some time, I would consider $500 a day plus mileage quite reasonable for the photography work. I would negotiate a separate deal to license the images depending on how they want to use them.

[downhillnews]

Originally Posted by jra

Considering that this would be an ongoing project for some time, I would consider $500 a day plus mileage quite reasonable for the photography work. I would negotiate a separate deal to license the images depending on how they want to use them.

Yeah I would suggest a day rate as well. Seems pretty standard.

[Jemuel Stephenson]

Yeahh, would $750 be alot, or not enough?
Thats like 4-6 hours of shooting, and a couple hours of post processing, transportation and food included

[jra]

Originally Posted by Jemuel Stephenson

Yeahh, would $750 be alot, or not enough?
Thats like 4-6 hours of shooting, and a couple hours of post processing, transportation and food included

I would certainly consider $750 in the range of fair. The only reason I may cut them a break (as I did in my previous suggestion of $500/day) is that this will be an ongoing project for a rather long time period. In effect, they would be buying in bulk and you would have some security for at least a couple of months. You may also need to negotiate your price if/when another skilled photographer steps up and offers to do it for less if they are considering other offers.

Edit: I guess a part of the equation we don't know....how much gear/set-up will each job require? Will you be supplying lighting equipment, creating sets or be using assistants?

[Jemuel Stephenson]

I would probably need about $9,000 in equipment to comfortably do the job, but I need $13,000 to complete all the equipment I would want to use... I have skill, but I don't have high quality equipment, so I am looking for a way to jump-start myself...

[Jemuel Stephenson]

I would probably rent a camera for the first week, and then use the money from that week to buy one

[PhotosGuy]

Originally Posted by Jemuel Stephenson

I would probably rent a camera for the first week, and then use the money from that week to buy one

Corporations, especially large ones, aren't going to pay you in a week. Probably not in a month, either. See if you can get expenses & partial payment up front, but since you don't already have a working relationship with them, I wouldn't "bank" on that.