Commercial Arcitecture Photography - How much to charge?

My husband's company is looking to update their website and they have asked me to do pictures of about 10 of their completed buildings (plus details). I have absolutely no idea what I should charge for this? There would be travel, but they are all within about an hour of each other. I have zero experience in this sector, so I definitely don't want to charge full price... I'm happy just to get my foot in the door and gain some experience.

So, per building pricing... maybe $100-150? Is that reasonable?

The cost depends on how long it will take you to shoot + costs + usage fees (based on how long and where the images will be used).

How long the job takes will depend on what it is you are actually shooting and how quick you are. We don't know either of those things so can't advise you on whether your suggested price is reasonable. Given that you have no experience in this sector you won't be able to spec the job properly so also wont be able to work out what the correct fees are. Going forward you have two options...

1. Go off and do a load of research to learn what the key issues and problems involved in Archtectural photography are (keystoning, exposure balancing (flash/strobe lighting vs HDR), what shots work/don't, what equipment you need etc.
2. Turn up, wing it, use the job to learn.

If you are taking the first option then your photos should be of a marketable quality and you should charge the going rate. If you take the second option and use this as a learning exercise then you should do it for free.

Personally I would do it for free or even better not at all. I have turned down several requests from my other half's employer because these sort of projects have a bad habit of going sour. Your husbands company is asking you, instead of hiring an experienced professional, almost certainly because they want it done of the cheap - or they have no idea what is involved and think just anyone can shoot great architectural shots (they almost certainly will want great shots like the ones the Directors have seen on the Interwebz).

Cheapskate customers are almost always more demanding and more trouble than those willing to pay for quality work. Ignorant customers result in poorly specced jobs that often over-run or don't meet their unrealistic expectations. This isn't too much of a problem for you because, if it all goes wrong you can walk away. Your husband on the other hand will be stuck working with these people - the phrase "don't sh!t it your own nest" applies here. At least if you do it for free and make clear up front that you don't do this sort of work then any splash back will hopefully be limited if anything goes wrong.

Contrary to common perception, all architects are not necessarily well off financially.

FWIW, I'm an architectural photographer and my day rate is ~ $800. I'd charge my day rate for a job like this. And no way on Earth I'd be able to do 10 buildings in a day: it'd take at least half a day (rate of $450)... per building.

**Rates do not include usage rights, although I sometimes bundle them with it: it all depends on the final use.

Also keep in mind that there is a limited window each day/week/month in which you can do photos so that the buildings can be seen in the best light. Depending on where you live, this time of year may be the absolute worst in which to capture any photos that have a positive look to them. When I've seen people doing outside shots of buildings, they are normally done on weekends when there are no cars in the lot and you can get a clear photo. They are normally done after the landscaers have done a weekly or spring cleanup and mulch has been applied. Every little detail matters.

Inside details can also be light of day sensitive as well depending on how the architects wanted the detail to appear. The lobby at my office building for example would never be able to be photographed in the afternoon because of the harsh afternoon light. (it is REALLY bad)

For sure this will not be a one or one and a half hour per site project.

Thank you all for the input.

My husband is just below the owner of his company, and they're good friends... so, I feel comfortable attempting this. If it doesn't work out, no harm no foul. They also have plenty of money and aren't trying to "cheapskate" it, just giving me the opportunity to gain some experience.

Initially, we were talking just 3-4 buildings... so, the expansion to 10 did catch me off guard a bit. I figure I'll know by the first day if I'm absolutely awful and they'll have time to hire someone else. I've asked for a list of all the buildings so that I can get a feel for their positioning and which time of day will be best. I know several are in San Francisco, and that's both incredibly intimidating and exciting. ha.

Weekends, for sure, and I'm definitely researching and practicing a bit on local buildings. I'm the type that likes a challenge, so I would do it for experience alone... but, they won't let me. They'll insist on paying me.

After I get the list, I think I'll have a better idea of how many days it will take and go from there. Thank you all again!

Alveric wrote in post #17370094
FWIW, I'm an architectural photographer and my day rate is ~ $800. I'd charge my day rate for a job like this. And no way on Earth I'd be able to do 10 buildings in a day: it'd take at least half a day (rate of $450)... per building.

**Rates do not include usage rights, although I sometimes bundle them with it: it all depends on the final use.

Hey Alveric. Would you be willing to send me some examples of your work? I primarily focus in real-estate but architecture is something I would really like to get into.

njstacker22 wrote in post #17383747
Hey Alveric. Would you be willing to send me some examples of your work? I primarily focus in real-estate but architecture is something I would really like to get into.

Gladly:

http://diamantstudios.​ca …s/CH_NovAD2014/​index.html