Another What to Charge Post -- Travel Shoot

I have gone through the forum and didn't find exactly what I was looking for. I do have a book that talks about fees but was interested in getting some feedback from some of the people on this board.

I was asked to travel to cover a 3 day cycling event next week.

Before I entered into any agreement I needed to know what sort of things I should be charging for and what should be understood.

Natually, I'd like my travel/lodging expenses paid....but what would be a fair price. I don't want to stay in a $39/night 'short stay' motel but natually a 5 star hotel would be out of the question. I guess I could see what they are paying to put their team up in.

Do I do a working fee? per day? and then what to charge for the photos or is that included in the day.

I am just starting out and really haven't done anything like this before so I was hoping to get some advice from the 'experts' that have done something like this before.

Thanks if advance.

If there IS a post with this information, if you can guide me to it that would be awesome!

I found this thread interesting when I was looking around on a similar subject a few weeks ago:

Live Entertainment: Pricing for "Flying in for a Concert"
https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=112382&page=2

See post #21 by IndyJeff for a nice breakdown.


Best of luck!

THANKS!!!

Man this site has proved to be one of the best finds I have ever stumbled across.

OK, so here is the deal.

A pro cycling team contact me to puchase a few photo. From our emails back and forth, the asked if I was intested in traveling to the Redlands Cycling Classic. For me it's about a 6 hour drive and 4 days of shooting.

Break down as followed:
Day 1 2-3 hours of work
Day 2 3-4 hours of work
Day 3 2 hours
Day 4 3-4 hours

This is shooting time regarding how long the races last. Natually I get there earlier and stay after it's over.

I LOVE cycling and this is a fantasic opportunity for myself.

They request:

a guarantee of around 10-20 quality lo res images to use on the website, and
from which we can also select 2 or 3 h ires images per stage all in set fee.

A standard practice we're trying to work with for all shooters.

Pls. feel free to throw me a quote for this.

I was thinking, I emphasize thinking, $2500-2800 for the job.

I have a hotel that's costing me $150 for the 3 days, $75 for gas and $100 for food and misc.

Am I selling myself crazy short? am I in the ballpark? According the the post I read above (#21) it seems that I am in the ball park.

I want to do it, I could use the money, experience and get my name out for future work not to mention that I would have shots that I could potentially get out there for another site.

Again, it's a cycling team, it's well known that it's not the best paying work from the standpoint of cyclist and everyone involved.

I'd love to hear what people think.

Readthe book, ASMP Professional Business Practices in Photography Published by the American Society of MEdia Photographers. You do not have to be a member to get the book. It covers how to figure out and charge for expenses, The right way to present it on an invoice or quote.