A landscape architect is having me photograph 11 of his gardens around the city (all within 25 miles of my house). I have no idea how much to charge.
Keep in mind that I will be driving to the locations in the day to find good comps, and then returning at sunset/early morning to take the shots. I will also be editing the photos in PS, and then burning them to a disk.
It's the policy of this site (and I agree) specifically not to throw out numbers in order to avoid any potential for antitrust charges. My concerns may go even further, cuzz I wouldn't throw out numbers even if it was allowed. In another career I was on the sidelines of several antitrust investigations and cases, and I don't want to open the smallest crack in that door into our business. It gets really, really ugly.
I'm not putting you off, because in fact there's a much better alternative. Prices vary over a broad range around the country and quoting high prices from my region might shoot you squarely in the foot if accepted or traditional rates in your vicinity are lower.
Living in Santa Rosa, I'd check with commercial sources in two or three cities in your region. Just call and ask about hourly and day rates.
Once you have a feel for what your competition will charge if asked to bid, survey your own costs and needs then establish your own pricing structure in a refinement of locally accepted rates. For example, a photographer 100 miles away might charge driving time and mileage, while you can bypass that or offer a discount since you don't have to drive so far.
With a pricing structure established, then survey the job and estimate how many hours will be involved, and whether to charge a day rate or hourly fee. Also decide if you're going to ask for addtional useage fees over and above the shooting fees, then determine what are reasonable rates for useage if you go that route. I would also determine from your client if extra image processing will be required. If it's expected of us we charge for it, but some photographers suck it up. In our eyes, time is money and if folks want more than simple disc deliveries, we charge. The standard may be different in your arena.
Here's an interesting rule of thumb that seems to hold here and in other regions we shoot. Our hourly fee works out to be very close to local going rates for other professionals such as environmental scientists and technical consultants, while usually about half of what a good attorney charges. Checking those rates in your area may be a useful way to "double check" the fee structure you generate after surveying photographers in your local market.
Posted by Richard Wong on June 19, 2008 at 4:46 PM
I think determining your day rate would be a good start since this seems like a big job. Keep in mind that since this is freelance work, it should be more than what you would make for an equivalent salaried job because there are no benefits involved. The overhead is on you, so it is up to you to charge appropriately for your services. What that overhead is is up to you however.
Also allow for environmental concerns. Rain, wind, overcast etc. If not allowed for, you may be out of pocket if you drive to a location and can't shoot that day.
Discussion
3 repliesKeep in mind that I will be driving to the locations in the day to find good comps, and then returning at sunset/early morning to take the shots. I will also be editing the photos in PS, and then burning them to a disk.
Feel free to throw out some numbers.
Thanks,
Not!
It's the policy of this site (and I agree) specifically not to throw out numbers in order to avoid any potential for antitrust charges. My concerns may go even further, cuzz I wouldn't throw out numbers even if it was allowed. In another career I was on the sidelines of several antitrust investigations and cases, and I don't want to open the smallest crack in that door into our business. It gets really, really ugly.
I'm not putting you off, because in fact there's a much better alternative. Prices vary over a broad range around the country and quoting high prices from my region might shoot you squarely in the foot if accepted or traditional rates in your vicinity are lower.
Living in Santa Rosa, I'd check with commercial sources in two or three cities in your region. Just call and ask about hourly and day rates.
Once you have a feel for what your competition will charge if asked to bid, survey your own costs and needs then establish your own pricing structure in a refinement of locally accepted rates. For example, a photographer 100 miles away might charge driving time and mileage, while you can bypass that or offer a discount since you don't have to drive so far.
With a pricing structure established, then survey the job and estimate how many hours will be involved, and whether to charge a day rate or hourly fee. Also decide if you're going to ask for addtional useage fees over and above the shooting fees, then determine what are reasonable rates for useage if you go that route. I would also determine from your client if extra image processing will be required. If it's expected of us we charge for it, but some photographers suck it up. In our eyes, time is money and if folks want more than simple disc deliveries, we charge. The standard may be different in your arena.
Here's an interesting rule of thumb that seems to hold here and in other regions we shoot. Our hourly fee works out to be very close to local going rates for other professionals such as environmental scientists and technical consultants, while usually about half of what a good attorney charges. Checking those rates in your area may be a useful way to "double check" the fee structure you generate after surveying photographers in your local market.