What do you cost for time and shoots?

[Biomech]

Ok after my research thus far, I realise I am taking a risk at being completely berrated here - but what does everyone charge?

To be a bit more specific -

About Me:
I work full time and enjoy photography as a hobby. I have won many competitions at local and global level and also received a commendation from this years World Photography Awards. I've shot one wedding (my mums) which went ok and I learnt alot and have a second (paid) wedding set for December (Girlfriends cousin). I've also practiced portraiture on my girlfriend using a home light studio kit (Interfit) and have many experimental and travel shots. I live in the UK, in a rural city called Hereford (so no big city pricing here).

What do you charge?
I am looking for what I should be costing a photo shoot and what it includes. So far my research of the local people leads me to £50/hour + prints at £15-£25/each. What do you lot go in for?

Secondly, I have submitted my work to a regional magazine for scrutiny and freelance availability and have been asked by a local college to offer a price list for taking shots that would be used from events and for prospectus' and leaflets.

Specifically:

1.
I have been asked to shoot a portrait of a businessman (our personnel manager). The shoot would last apx 20mins and be on location (no light rigs - although I could take the kit and backdrop). It would comprise of maybe 5 shots in digital form for business networking purposes (magazines "article by" etc)

2.
A per hour rate for covering local events on a freelanced "as required" basis.


I'm sure the question has been asked a million times and looking elsewhere on the net most people seem to be bombared with abuse for asking such a question. All I ask is that you don't think of it as a "how long is a piece of string" question, but rather research into what you all charge so I might work an average/workable figure out.

Thank you very much for your time, it really is appreciated.

Biomech

[Jim Bryant]

Does that include time spent being the computer, gas, driving time to and from, setting up time, shooting time.....you see it all adds up.

I usually charge about $175 an hour.

Good luck!

[BigVinnie]

Jim's rate sounds about right for my area. Every area is going to be a bit different.

There is a bare minimum you need to charge before you even click the shutter. You can count on a 30 minute shoot to take 2 or 3hrs out of your day to shoot. At the rate you quoted £150 should be your base. NOT £50.

In my day job I charge $125 hr. First hour on site costs $300. It is non-negotiable. Since I started doing that things went a lot smoother and filtered out the flakes.

[Biomech]

Originally Posted by Jim Bryant

Does that include time spent being the computer, gas, driving time to and from, setting up time, shooting time.....you see it all adds up.!

Thanks for the replies. This is it you see, do I charge a one flat rate for shooting or 2 rates, shooting and post processing? So far that £50 I calculated would be flat fee per hour. Gas/petrol would be extra as would any hotels and other expediture. I'm thinking that 2 rates would be better that why events could hire my for the shoots and then opt for the post processing.

[Troy_Schwaller]

I'm just clarifying, on your events price you were thinking of giving them unedited photos?

I know many photographers that wont even contemplate that! If you take great shots, but they hire a yokel from somewhere who screws them up, who do you think is getting bad publicity? You or him?

I personally would not let any "raw" photos out with my name attached to them... Too much of a chance that someone is gonna mess em up and make me look bad.

[prince]

Originally Posted by Biomech

Thanks for the replies. This is it you see, do I charge a one flat rate for shooting or 2 rates, shooting and post processing? So far that £50 I calculated would be flat fee per hour. Gas/petrol would be extra as would any hotels and other expediture. I'm thinking that 2 rates would be better that why events could hire my for the shoots and then opt for the post processing.

I wouldn't have a 2nd rate for basic retouching/editing.. if you show them sample of certain special pp you do and they want them than only you might want to go for 2nd rate for pp.

Also, your shoot rate should include min. travel time, organizing and selecting photos, etc. The bare minimum process steps that are needed right from booking the appointment to showing the previews, as well as delivering prints if ordered.

Originally Posted by Troy_Schwaller

I'm just clarifying, on your events price you were thinking of giving them unedited photos?

I know many photographers that wont even contemplate that! If you take great shots, but they hire a yokel from somewhere who screws them up, who do you think is getting bad publicity? You or him?

I personally would not let any "raw" photos out with my name attached to them... Too much of a chance that someone is gonna mess em up and make me look bad.

I 2nd that.

[Biomech]

Originally Posted by prince

I wouldn't have a 2nd rate for basic retouching/editing.

Thank you once again. So it seems the general consensus is that my on location time starts when I get in the car, throughout setup and shoot till I'm back at home. I'd always crop and auto levels the photos, but would you say it's best to factor postprocessing into the flat fee so its say double for the shoot and that would account for PP. Or quote the one fee per hour and say "It's £80/hour and it will be 3 hours for the shoot and 6 hours PP"?

[prince]

Originally Posted by Biomech

Thank you once again. So it seems the general consensus is that my on location time starts when I get in the car, throughout setup and shoot till I'm back at home. I'd always crop and auto levels the photos, but would you say it's best to factor postprocessing into the flat fee so its say double for the shoot and that would account for PP. Or quote the one fee per hour and say "It's £80/hour and it will be 3 hours for the shoot and 6 hours PP"?

Yes, but that's not the only time & effort to factor in your price. As I said, you want factor in your efforts/time to get this client, book the session, pre-session meeting time (phone/personal), travel to the location, setup time and/or location scouting time, actual shooting time, travel back to home/lab, loading photos to your computer, organizing/sorting/selecting, basic touch ups, conversion to jpgs, preparing for preview, followup on orders, delivering the order.

These are general steps.. Don't under price yourself. Compare to the local market, your skills, and your quality.

[cb_miller]

I look at this a little like how I price consulting. I would strongly always having a minimum charge or minimum amount of time that will be billed (1 hr, 1.5 hr). Those need to be hard and fast so your prospective client knows what they will obligated to as a minimum and it also eliminates surprises around fees. It also lends credibility to what you're doing when you have an established fee. People still associate quality with cost even though most of the time it's not a direct correlation.

[Jim Bryant]

I charge $175.00 an hour minimum of four hours.