What to Charge

I have been freelancing for a few years now and doing short shoots, but I feel like I am under-charging my clients.

This month I did my first big job. I shot the team photos and player portraits at my sister's Division 1 college (for basketball). I drove 2 hours to the college and 2 hours back. Between set-up, shooting, and breaking down, I shot about 2.5 hours. I took about 300 photos, and I'm giving the coach about 100 edited photos on a disc to print and use in publications (which have taken me probably a total of 8 hours to do)

I was under the assumption she was just going to give me a certain amount of money (aka the same amount she paid the photographer last year) but instead she asked me to "send her a bill." I had not named my price beforehand because I was also using the experience as a boost for my portfolio and exposure.

What would you charge, give the situation? As a reminder, this is my sister's team, so it is sort of like a family/friend situation. My sister thinks I should just ask for a small amount, and be paid the rest in team gear so when I shoot the through the season, I can be dressed like them (the gear is worth a good amount of money, all Nike stuff).

Just some thoughts please! I am new to the business aspect!

You create an awkward situation when you dont agree to a price before the work begins. If you bill more than they expect or have budgeted for its a problem, conversely if you short yourself thats money out of your pocket. Nobody here can tell you what the client was expecting, only their market rate. Take a shot and do whatever you think and talk price before you start next time.

Go in with a price first. Tell them what your rates are. Set a bar. Really in this situation, you messed up. BUT it may be recoverable. Pick a price, be confident and invoice the coach. DO NOT ask him what he wants to pay. The college has the money to pay and will either pay what you say r come back and negotiate with you. YOU need to pick your price though.

Simple. What is your daily rate. I'd send an account of $1,500, one day at $1,500/day...but that's me and $1,500 IS mates rates. Its not important but it works out to $15.00 per image....that's a CHEAP shoot.

And get a contract EVERY time, it saves a lot of hassells.

What you have already learned is very valuable. Continue the learning process, the money comes later.

In other words dont be afraid to give them a good deal. Charge them something, take the gear, book another shoot from them, tell them you want the designation as team photographer. Next time use contracts because you're now a professional.

Post some samples and I'm sure you can get an actual price. If they are crap $0

I really hope you didn't hand over the photos already...

As said above. Show a few inages

IMO
1. No free work when it comes to shooting a professional organization.
2. Contacts
3. Invoice and Deposits

Oh dear.

missjenniferrae wrote in post #15161137
I am new to the business aspect!

The key thing in any business (photography or otherwise) is managing your client's expectations.

As it stands you haven't done that at all so I don't expect this will end particularly well...you'll either get paid well below what your effort was worth, or not at all.

As others say you definitely need to name a price...but in the future;

• Go into jobs having agreed on a price before you start work
  
• Work out what you need to charge before quoting

I have read everything.

Using my sister as a go-between, and because the coach has seen the images, but doesn't have them in hand, I know that she loves them. I also used my sister to find out what the lady last year got paid. Based on the fact that I did more work, and she likes my work more, I am going to be paid $300 and receive some of the team gear, as well as get a media pass for the season.

With that being said, I explained to everyone that I was NEW to the business thing, and a lot of you were VERY harsh. Luckily, things DID turn out well for me. Honestly, I was just trying to build my portfolio and get experience, and she is insisting on giving me money. The experience alone was worth it, in my opinion. I am NOT trying to be one of those photographers that starts charging before I feel my work is ready to

I just reread the thread. Please show me the posts that were very harsh?

Nope, you are apparently one of the ones willing to work for free on a paying job that another photographer that tries to feed their family and pay their bills, but now has one less job to help make ends meet.

$300 for ~15+ hours of work and you think that is fair? Spend some more time in the industry, then wonder why it is so hard to make it professionally, and this is your reason.


If your work isn't where you consider it ready, contact other photographers and try to assist them. There is no better experience than learning from someone that already knows what they are doing.

I always shoot for around $50/hr. After taxes and all other business expenses you need to be charging that or more to make it worth while.