5k pricing question

I've been approached by a company that puts on 5k, 10k, marathons and such, in regards to providing services for the races they promote. This is a different medium for me to shoot. I'm having trouble coming to a conclusion pricing myself for this type of journalistic type of shoot. I'm currently considering basing it off of my rate that I use for standard one hour sessions. And using running the events as shooting by the hour. Beings a 5k takes about an hour to shoot. The promoter would be offering my services to the event organizers they are promoting for. The ones putting the race on ultimately would end up with the images.

One rate for disc of images in my opinion. No one wants to buy these except for the winners. No kne likes seeing themselves running a 5k, the majority if runners are fun runners not pros.

There's not much opportunity for print sales in these runs/marathons. Most of the time, people screen grab with watermarks anyways, so be sure to get your desired rate up front. Also, with events and vendors like these, there is ZERO loyalty to promote you or keep you in mind for future events. Typically they just want the cheapest photographer at the last minute.

Price the event out just like you would anything else, taking into account your time, travel, editing (if any), taxes, and equipment. Best of luck!

also lots of post time in tagging with bib numbers and such as you wont sell anything if people cant find their images.

I Gotchya. What we were looking at was to just offer it to the ones putting the races on. And just giving the images on disc. Just for them to post on their Facebook pages and websites. I'm not planning on tagging tjem out individually off of bib numbers or anything.

Your portrait session rate is probably subsidized by your portrait sales. Besides the 1 hour of the run, there is certainly more time spent planing and meeting with the client and processing and delivering the photos to the client. I don't accept any gig with less than a 2 hour rate. In my market, event shooters that provide event images for distribution to participants, sponsors, and advertising for future events work for $100-300 an hour. Any travel or other expenses are charged directly to the client.

sspellman wrote in post #16692291
Your portrait session rate is probably subsidized by your portrait sales. Besides the 1 hour of the run, there is certainly more time spent planing and meeting with the client and processing and delivering the photos to the client. I don't accept any gig with less than a 2 hour rate. In my market, event shooters that provide event images for distribution to participants, sponsors, and advertising for future events work for $100-300 an hour. Any travel or other expenses are charged directly to the client.

Sounds good. That's sorta what I am thinking. Like the 150 hour range

I've got a friend who started running about a year ago. He's run in almost any event that he's been able to since. He's bought pictures from every event... just to have, for the memories of doing it.

In the pictures of him finishing his first marathon, he looks terrible. He told me that he felt like he was going to die as his body felt like it was shutting down. It's those pictures that he likes the most, as he remembers the struggle but also the completion.

Price base on # of runners.

Are you being hired to shoot promo/advertising types of photos or to provide course photography for the runners? Two very different business models depending on the answer to those questions.

cory1848 wrote in post #16693709
Are you being hired to shoot promo/advertising types of photos or to provide course photography for the runners? Two very different business models depending on the answer to those questions.

At this stage of it. I am not setup to sell individual prints online and such. So the images would more or less falling into the promo classification.

flipcrab85 wrote in post #16694754
At this stage of it. I am not setup to sell individual prints online and such. So the images would more or less falling into the promo classification.

Ok, then the comments about print sales to the runners don't really apply here. I would charge your standard event rate (thought $150hr you just may price yourself out depending on the size of the event) but I would figure minimum 2 hours possibly 3 for a 5K. The fastest runners finish just over 15 minutes and the walkers an hour and a half. If you want to cover full promo, that includes set up, vendor stations, prerace and postrace candids, any special shout outs during the event, awards, etc. Don't underestimate your time.

cory1848 wrote in post #16695961
Ok, then the comments about print sales to the runners don't really apply here. I would charge your standard event rate (thought $150hr you just may price yourself out depending on the size of the event) but I would figure minimum 2 hours possibly 3 for a 5K. The fastest runners finish just over 15 minutes and the walkers an hour and a half. If you want to cover full promo, that includes set up, vendor stations, prerace and postrace candids, any special shout outs during the event, awards, etc. Don't underestimate your time.

Sounds like a good break down to go with... appreciate the input.