How much to charge?

[metric_photography]

I do a lot of band photography. Just local bands, no one who will "make it big". How much do you think I should charge them for a live performance (45 minute set) at a bar and they get a cd of all the good images? I have no problem giving disks as most bands want digital images for facebook/ myspace etc. Thanks!

[nickbedford]

You might want to have shoot fee, a processing fee then a charge per shot in full resolution that they ask for. Guarantees you a minimum but also allows them to keep purchasing photos from you. Discount the photo cost for large groups of photos to give more incentive to buy more.

Say $100 for the 45 minute shoot, $50 for processing then $15 per photo with processing or something like that.

For five high resolution images $225, and if they want to buy a bulk set you can charge a little less per image for more images.

For a full shoot of say 20 photos you could charge a flat fee with a set time fee. $100/hour + $200 for a full shoot and processing.

My first guess as to how I might charge. I suppose the one thing to remember is that local bands are often poor. I should know, I'm in one!

[faeriegodess612]

I'm no pro,...but I sort of agree with Nick.

$100 sounds good for one hour,...and if they want prints,charge per print. Charge them whatever the lab that you take them to charges you, or with a lil mark up on them to make a profit off each print. Do up a contract and have them sign it saying that they agree to the terms,..payment amount, time spent, etc....include that you own the rights to each and all photos, but if they want they can buy these rights. If you sell them a CD, include a set price for the rights to the photos within the price of the CD. That way it allows them to do whatever they wish with the photos.

I'm going by my experiences with other photographers on this one, combined with what I'd do if it were me.

but thats just my CC's

[nickbedford]

My band did a shoot around the city for about an hour (not a gig) and we paid $250 AUD for I think around 20 photos. As a rough example.

[funcrunch]

Originally Posted by faeriegodess612

Do up a contract and have them sign it saying that they agree to the terms,..payment amount, time spent, etc....include that you own the rights to each and all photos, but if they want they can buy these rights.

Be very careful about this; normally you never want to surrender the copyrights to your photos. If you're talking about allowing them royalty-free use of the photos in perpetuity then that's one choice, but you should still maintain the copyright on your work.

[Jim Bryant]

Really, give a band the copyright to your images and you won't get a single penny if they make the cover of a CD or the front cover of Rolling Stone magazine.

[metric_photography]

I have been charging an hourly rate and that just included the disk. I do have them sign a 1 page contract stating that I still own the pics and can use them for self-promotion etc. Sometimes I feel that I don't charge enough. My pics are clear and crisp and I edit them in photoshop. However, I was at a show a few weekends ago and there was a hobbyist there who charged the band $40 for pics. He didn't edit them and just posted them on facebook. The band could grab them off of there (that is his mode of delivery). Even if my pics are better, bands on a budget might opt for the cheaper option!

[metric_photography]

Also to nick and faerie-- how should I show the bands the proofs so that they can decide which ones they want? I have posted with watermarks on a gallery for one band before and on myspace for another band. Is there an easier/ quicker way?

[faeriegodess612]

Originally Posted by funcrunch

Be very careful about this; normally you never want to surrender the copyrights to your photos. If you're talking about allowing them royalty-free use of the photos in perpetuity then that's one choice, but you should still maintain the copyright on your work.

Yeah! Thats what I meant. lol I just know that when my wedding photographer was telling me about the price of a CD, she said something about the rights,... thats probably what she meant.

To Nick: I'm no pro, nor do I take pictures for monetary gain right now. So I really wouldnt know what to tell you. My suggestion would be what I've read from other DPS members. Print them out in 4x6 at some place thats fairly cheap, but wont try to "enhance" your photos and overexpose them. Then let them choose which prints they want, and those can go on a CD. You could charge them for the prints, so if they want to keep them, they can. Then if they want a CD charge extra.

Like I said, these are just my ideas/suggestions. I wouldnt really know, considering I havent gotten that far into my photography yet.