Charging for Shooting Sports Pictures

I've been asked by some parents to shoot some pictures of their daughter playing basketball.

I'm not a professional nor do I want to be, but I do not want to be undercutting professional by giving it away or doing it for free.

I'll make some profit if they order prints through my Zenfolio Premium, but shouldn't I charge a flat fee for going and shooting?

Thanks!

Nic

I might in that case, but have you considered that you had better be able to deliver great stuff for whatever price you charge?
Might be better to take some of the pressure off & let them buy prints of the ones that they like.

Need help with what to charge in order to make this worth my time...

You've got to be kidding me! (Re: Picture prices)

Encouraging online Sales?

Agree with PhotosGuy, if you're going to be charging a flat fee you BEST BE ABLE TO DELIVER GREAT IMAGES! (Please note how it says great, and not good, because I've noticed way to often lately that good enough is not good enough). If you know for a fact you can, then maybe but personally I think you allow them to pick and choose what they want online. Ask them if they can/will order online (some parents won't). If not, then maybe they can view online and order direct from you.

Personally a little more information would be helpful.

Did they happen to see you at a game and ask you?
Did they see your work and ask you?
Were they referred to you by someone who you have worked for before?


I shoot for parents on my son's team on a regular basis however when coaches/parents from other teams ask me to shoot their team/kids, we talk time and money.

Their daughter is a friend of mine and I shot her picture last year voluntarily. (I found that shooting basketball over the winter helped me develop a whole new skill set and learn about my camera and digital photography in ways that scenics alone did not).

So yes, they know I shoot and have seen my work and that's the reason they asked.

I might charge them IF I was asked to shoot her exclusively. Otherwise, probably not.
They're going to buy, so I'd charge whatever your standard price is & you'll make out OK.

PhotosGuy wrote in post #4490472
I might charge them IF I was asked to shoot her exclusively. Otherwise, probably not.
They're going to buy, so I'd charge whatever your standard price is & you'll make out OK.

I completely agree with this. They wouldn't have asked if they didn't intend to purchase. When I charge a "flat" fee what I do is provide a cd of the game I shot to the purchasing coach/parents. To make it worth my time to be there, I tell them the minimum order is 5 discs (depending on the sport/# players) at $10/disc. Additional discs can be purchased if other parents are interested. This ensures I get a min. for being there and is good value for them as they get unlimited prints and the ability to send images on email. It might not max out the $ but in the end, it's easier on the parents and the photog. imo. When doing this, I often shoot the other team as well and stop the coach post game to give him/her a card with my site where I'll always have samples.

I know that you (OP) said you didn't want to be a pro but if you catch the bug to do it, this might be worth considering.

namasste wrote in post #4491672
I tell them the minimum order is 5 discs (depending on the sport/# players) at $10/disc. Additional discs can be purchased if other parents are interested.

min 5 disc's @ $10 each is $50! That seems WAY low for your time shooting a game, sorting through the shots, some PP, burning 5 discs, mail or delivery, and I know I'm missing some other requirements. Are these pics on the disc low res and they can order prints from your web site?

I re-read your post: they can print unlimited prints! I don't see how you are making much return on your time by doing this stragety. Has it been working out for you?

tomd wrote in post #4491763
min 5 disc's @ $10 each is $50! That seems WAY low for your time shooting a game, sorting through the shots, some PP, burning 5 discs, mail or delivery, and I know I'm missing some other requirements. Are these pics on the disc low res and they can order prints from your web site?

I re-read your post: they can print unlimited prints! I don't see how you are making much return on your time by doing this stragety. Has it been working out for you?

I know it's a bit low but it seems to be what the market will bear around here. I don't seem to get many direct print orders which is why I went this route. The upside is that the lemming mentality kicks in and when one parent hears Mrs. So and So is buying a disc for $10, they buy one too. I am more than open to suggestions though.

My standard rate for doing such an assignment is a flat $125. For that I guarentee at least 30 images and no more than 50. One condition that I also list is the kid must play enough to get enough images. If the kid has a bad game and you don't get her hitting a basket, well thats not your fault. You can only shoot what happens.
To be on the safe side I also make sure I get a few sideline shots of the kid too. Get em during a timeout, or when there is a dead ball. You can usually get a good sportrait with a great expression if you watch close enough.

I did this for a 7th grade football player who was supposed to be a pretty decent player. Well that game he was anything but a great player. No tackles, no interceptions and as a running back he only carried the ball 1 time and that was the first series of downs. I had one shot of him heading into the line and the rest was only legs until he was tackled.
I did however have several good shots of him chasing down a runner while on defense, a couple of sideline shots, and 3 or 4 of him during halftime when the team all took a knee in the endzone as the coach talked to them. One of those shots he was looking dead at me and had one eyebrow raised. His mom loved that one. As a finish I did 2 shots of him and his mom after the game with the lights and field in the background. She was happy and I think she had 40 images to choose from.
During the 2nd quarter a dad approached me and asked about my services. His son played on the 8th grade team which immedaiately followed. He asked how much I would charge to shoot his son, who was a lineman. I told him $125 and he asked if a check was ok. Between the games he came back and handed me a check for $125.
Total time, about 3.5 hours.

Hmmm, I do like the sound of that.. Like I mentioned though, if you have 15 players on a team, chances are I get 10 takers putting me around a c-note (but no less than $50) I've never gone to shoot just one kid so I never thought about pricing that. I did have one parent ask me repeatedly during a season to focus on her kid. I got some images that I am truly proud of of her son (and Im my own worst critic). Any guesses on how many images she's bought to date. Hint: between zero and none!