Rates advice for beginning freelancer?

[RonnaBlaze]

Hi guys, here's the deal:

I'm a beginner, photography has been a passion and one of creative outlets for me along with illustration and graphic design, I am still studying and hoping to eventually turn it into career.

For now I've been doing free assignments (mainly for my photography class) just to build up my portfolio (which isn't huge yet!) which also allowed me to try a variety of different scenarios and techniques, but after sharing one of the photoshoots I did with a friend with him, one of my model's friends expressed interest in employing me to do a photoshoot for her with her partner.

This is the very first photography job for me and it's pretty exciting, but after doing some research I'm struggling to come up with appropriate rates.

I don't have a studio or lightning equipment available and the shoot would probably take place in the subject's home, so I'm slightly worried about lightning conditions - although I could look into hiring a studio if they wanted to do the shots there (also, the only lens I will have available at the time will be 50-200mm zoom lens so I'm wondering if that might affect it at all).

I've also spoken with the friend who modelled for me and he suggested £40-50 per hour for the shoot as it's my first job.

I've exchanged a few emails with the client and she seems pretty aware of the procedures so I'm guessing she's employed freelancers before.

She also has a pretty clear idea of what she wants out of the shoot, which is helpful, though I'm planning to research some photography to get some additional ideas.

Another issue is that she wanted joint copyright so that they could print the photos.

Lastly, from what I've gathered this shoot is of a highly personal value, they want some of the images to be more intimate (just for the two of them) and some more family-appropriate ones.

So considering the circumstances, could anyone advice me on what rates should I offer (and should I charge per hour or per day)? As well as the joint-copyright issue.

Also, in case it helps, I'm based in London, UK.

Here's some of the shots I've taken in case it helps you come up with something for me:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ronnasakowska/

Thanks!

Ronna

P.S.
When I do deliver the photos, should they be SOOC, processed, both, either? They want them on a CD - any advice on that? As in, size, resolution, number of photos on the disk, type of disk...

[NicolaB]

Hi Ronna

Happy New Year.

I am in a similar situation ie jso and have done my first shoot. Here is some of the lessons I have learnt:

I am all for honesty and didn't want to look a plonker. I therefore let my client know that I was jso so that they didn't expect a totally polished photographer.

That was my first mistake. Knowing that I am new, they have sent me a link to a printers (I have quoted a reduced price of £80 for a 12" x12" print) ; they are now trying to get me to print their photos on £13 canvasses to save them money.

If your clients are asking you to take photographs of them (esp a model who has plenty of experience with photographers) then they like your work. You know more than you think so do not undersell yourself. You may me a student today, but you have a skill that people are prepared to pay for. This job could be the start of your new career.

Think very hard about where you are going to place yourself in the market, because this job may spin into others and your pricing will be expected to be repeated. If you are too cheap, you will get the cheapie client and work your butt off for tupence.

I spent about 40 hours on my shoot and will be lucky to get £100. Would you be happy with £2.50 per hour - before expenses?

Don't be rushed. Look up other photographers doing the same kind of shoots and call for pricing. Work out your expenses - studio, hire lighting and lens hire, petrol, approximate pp time etc, then you can come up with a rate you would be happy to work for. Think photographer - not student!

If you need to hire a studio and lenses would £40/£50 cover it? You know this stuff, it is just hard to apply it to your skill right? If you feel confident enough that you will get good images, think about charging a minimum order for a package deal - ie shoots start from....

Of course your client wants joint copy right. Thant way they get a professional service at a greatly reduced cost. If you are going to give them copyright then be prepared that you images can be printed on cheap canvasses, sold or used for what ever purpose they have in mind. Price them high if you are going to provide a disc.

Personally I pp all mine as I want all my work to be seen in its best form.

Finally to reinforce the message - don't undersell yourself! Good luck.

[RonnaBlaze]

That's pretty helpful! Thanks a lot, I'll have to do some research on photographers then...