 William Jacobs |
Pricing photo services I am a serious amatuer with good Nikon equipment. I have done some work for friends and family for the practice. I have been asked about doing a simple outdoor wedding and some still life for a person that sells crafts. I would like to do this but I am not sure how to quote pricing or put a value on my work. Any ideas/ Thanks so much
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Karrie Smith |
I the same as you am a serious amatuer. When I started pricing my work I tried to be competitive with other local photographers. When doing wedding I am sure I under charge I Charge half of professional photographers mostly due to lack of confidence. I always get really nervous when taking weddings, these are the only photographs you cannot retake. Karrie Smith
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William Jacobs |
Thanks for the input. I have done weddings for friends at cost for film and processing. Most of the time I just trust my meter in the camera. When in doubt I will ask them to hold for one more shot and bracket one way. Use the best film you can, eg.Portra and good common sense. I have had good luck doing this. Hope this helps in your endeavors also. Thanks again. Bill J.
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Robert A. Simpson |
this is a difficult questions for many photgraphers statring this. I would cahrge a shoot fee of say $30-$50 to shoot the event. In the beginning you cant really charge to much until they are satisfied and confident with your work. Some will say dont charge at all for the first couple of events. I disagree here, if you have good equipment and the confidence to do the shot than cahrge atleast an event fee and hopefully you will make some qulity phots and sell some good prints. be confident and go for it. I did and I have no regrets.
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Robert A. Simpson |
Sorry for the billion type o's. Hopefully you get my drift. Good Luck!
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anonymous |
Will My recommendation: If they are friends of yours, then just do it for cost or maybe say $40 per roll including developing and you may make $10 per roll etc. If you are doing for someone who has heard about you then I would charge $150 for yourself and time and then on a per roll basis of about $30 per roll. Or $350 for your time and include 6 rolls in the fee any more (which I am sure there will be) charge $30 per roll. Hope this helps. PS - metering off your camera - it works for me too! I have tried the grey card thing, and tried metering of the ground etc, and all my photos turn out overexposed! Obviously doing something wrong, but not sure. I get too nervous to ignore the meter and do my own thing, cause it never bloody works! LOL
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David J. Hartley |
Charge for both your time and your expenses. You may only consider yourself an amateur but if you're shooting a wedding there is no reason why you can't charge the going rate. Work out your hourly fee based upon your wage (you do deserve one), travel, insurance, equipment etc and I'd be surprised if you come out at less than $100/hour. Add the price of your printing plus a profit percentage (remember travel, editing time etc)put it all together and thats your price and try and stick to it. Put it all onto an advertising flyer (final price and what they get for it) and give it to your clients to view. Also put together maybe 3 packages for varying services and costs. I also think it's better to add more "free" prints or services than drop your price - maybe add a "special" of say a 16 x 20 wallprint to encourage them to sign on the dotted line. Hope this helps.
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William Jacobs |
Thanks to everyone for your input. I really appreciate it. Bill J. Just curious, any other photographers that have taken any classes at the Maine Photo Workshops ?
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Diane Dupuis |
If you plan on selling your photos and services in the future, may I suggest you research the prices of local photographers in your area, then set up a price guide for yourself... I've done that but am giving my 10 first customers a discount for being my guinea pigs... Obviously you can give your friends a discount also. Just don't sell yourself short. Your time is worth money!
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Aaron Reyes |
just did my first paid wedding. had only done for friends before. I invested a lot of $ in my gear (as i'm sure you have). I spent a lot of time going over books and internet tips for wedding shoots. I went to the location before the wedding and scouted out good locations at roughly the same time of day. the actual wedding was only 4.5 hours for me but I probably spent a good 10 or 11 hours on it not including reading up (includes some photoshop fun time for myself). it'll only get easier as I had my own crash course, but your first will be a lot of time. don't just consider the time of the actual shooting. I also suggest that you get a down payment of maybe $100 and a check for the final amount the day of the wedding so that you can be sure it clears before handing over the prints/film/files. get a clear contract as well...
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