Working an hourly quote

Putting together a quote for 22 corporate headshots. The subjects will be coming in from different offices across the city over a 3 or 4 hour period -- I think I should be able to get them done.

I bill this customer on an hourly basis, but I am having difficulty estimating my time. I am guessing about 8 hours for shooting, post, travel (its 15 minutes from my home) and setup.

Sound reasonable?

Invoice could read...

Travel.... $100
Equipment rental... $100
Film.... $100 (hehe)
Time... $100/hr, estimate of four hours based on co-operation and timely arrival of subjects.

etc

I think that I'd just quote them based on a day rate as you are not going to be able to book anything else in on that day are you?

What are you doing about licensing?

tim wrote in post #12473433
Invoice could read...

Travel.... $100
Equipment rental... $100
Film.... $100 (hehe)
Time... $100/hr, estimate of four hours based on co-operation and timely arrival of subjects.

etc

Thanks Tim. The film was a nice touch.

Nightstalker wrote in post #12474636
I think that I'd just quote them based on a day rate as you are not going to be able to book anything else in on that day are you?

What are you doing about licensing?

Its an "after hours" shoot. 6-9 pm.

Licensing -- unlimited rights for use in the scope of their business practices. No resale or use by 3rd parties without payin the man again.

I avoid charging by the hour as much as I can. If it stretches out, it looks like you are padding the bill. Does not matter if it is your fault or not. Not a good thing. And what if they all come at once, and you are done in 15 Minutes. Now all of a sudden the bill is not what you need to cover your costs. Also not a good thing.

I would have it be a flat rate. Estimate how long it will take, then make it a flat rate. If it takes less time you are ahead. If it takes longer you are down. But you cant be accused of padding the bill. And you include this possibility when you come up with your flat rate.

Mark1 wrote in post #12475463
I avoid charging by the hour as much as I can. If it stretches out, it looks like you are padding the bill. Does not matter if it is your fault or not. Not a good thing. And what if they all come at once, and you are done in 15 Minutes. Now all of a sudden the bill is not what you need to cover your costs. Also not a good thing.

I would have it be a flat rate. Estimate how long it will take, then make it a flat rate. If it takes less time you are ahead. If it takes longer you are down. But you cant be accused of padding the bill. And you include this possibility when you come up with your flat rate.

I actually quoted it as a flat rate, based on x hours at x dollars. Since its a "come and go" shoot, at the appointed hour, I pick up and leave.

mattograph wrote in post #12475436
Its an "after hours" shoot. 6-9 pm.

Licensing -- unlimited rights for use in the scope of their business practices. No resale or use by 3rd parties without payin the man again.

I actually meant what are you charging them for licensing!

For a corporate thing like this I would usually look to quote time + expenses + licensing; or I would quote them a price per head - at a very reasonable (low) rate of $50 per head that equates to $1100 for this job - for that I'd include the licenses.

This is why quoting by the hour is not a great thing to do as you are potentially leaving money on the table as I could see them baulking at a $300+ per hour rate.

mattograph wrote in post #12475483
I actually quoted it as a flat rate, based on x hours at x dollars. Since its a "come and go" shoot, at the appointed hour, I pick up and leave.

So if one person is late and they ask you to hang around a little while what will you do - stay or go?

Nightstalker wrote in post #12476024
So if one person is late and they ask you to hang around a little while what will you do - stay or go?

Depends on how much they are paying. And if I want to work with that company ever again.

Did you include this possibility in your fee?
If not, is it worth sitting around for free for an hour and a half if they hire you again?

People being late is why I suggested an estimate with conditions attached.

tim wrote in post #12478574
People being late is why I suggested an estimate with conditions attached.

Which is what I did. I quoted 4 hours shooting -- two hour periods over two days. Once the two hour period is up, if they want me to stay, they pay. Thats why I quoted a flat fee based on my hourly rate.

Which, is not $300 an hour -- yet!

mattograph wrote in post #12472581
Putting together a quote for 22 corporate headshots. The subjects will be coming in from different offices across the city over a 3 or 4 hour period -- I think I should be able to get them done.

I bill this customer on an hourly basis, but I am having difficulty estimating my time. I am guessing about 8 hours for shooting, post, travel (its 15 minutes from my home) and setup.

Sound reasonable?

You also said 6-9 pm. That's half a day and working late evenings is worth an additional 25-50% premium right there. As others have mentioned, billing hourly has some inherent problems considering you're actually working to complete a specific task--22 headshots--not just doing production.

RDKirk wrote in post #12486628
You also said 6-9 pm. That's half a day and working late evenings is worth an additional 25-50% premium right there. As others have mentioned, billing hourly has some inherent problems considering you're actually working to complete a specific task--22 headshots--not just doing production.

I bumped it back to 6 - 8, 2 nights. I billed setup and teardown for two nights as well.

I wanted them to be used to my hourly rate, so I quoted it that way.

I didn't charge a premium for the evenings on this go round, as it was the only opening I had and I want this party as a long term client. That was my "discount" -- evening work for not markup.

I also had a 10 percent variance , to all of my contracts just so they know that there is some wiggle room .and that is plus or minus