Photography work: How much to charge?

[Mad Dave]

I've been asked to take some photographs for a catalogue; fireplaces. Apparently the company took digital photographs themselves but the quality wasnt good enough (presumably 72dpi instead of 300). Anyway, i've been asked to go along on two evenings, take the photographs and then supply on CD. I've known this company for years and whilst they're not close friends, I do feel I should do them a good deal - it may also lead to further work.

So, what do I charge? A token £50 for my time would seem reasonable, or I could supply a CD of low res images for free, which they could then order 300DPI TIFFs from, at a charge of, say, £10 each. This approach would certainly seem more professional.

Any thoughts?

[simpo two]

It depends how far you can go before they say 'sod it, don't bother'. If you're spending two evenings I'd have thought up to £100 is fair, as long as you behave like a pro and make it look like you know what you're doing (and take some Pringles tubes sprayed black to look like expensive lenses )
I would give them all files on CD (JPG Large Fine is perfectly good given the budget) and they can play with them as much as they like. Simple and everybody's happy.

[Mad Dave]

Thanks John, i'll bear that in mind. They need these shots for a catalogue they are producing, and are installing the fires especially for these shots - so they evidently want them! I don't want to take the p*ss though, but don't want to end up doing it for free!

Surely TIFF's look more professional than JPEGs and would also differentiate the kit I use from their digital compacts?!

[FourWheelDrift]

You should try to get one of these cases to take along to look really professional...........



..........as you'll need somewhere to keep your sandwiches

[cliff123]

I work for a design studio and hence handle professionally supplied photographs on a regular basis. The photographers usually ask what format we would like them supplied in jpeg, tiff etc and also RGB/CMYK. Sometimes if the photographer is really nice they supply high res cmyk tiff files and low res rgb jpegs for quick reference with contact sheets of all the photos for visual reference. I guess you can make a choice how you supply yours but high res rgb would be fine I'd think. I'd also think that £50 per night minimum (mate rate) would be reasonable. If they were to commission a fulltime professional photographer it could cost them anything from £30ph - £250ph. And you’re bound to end up spending more time than you expect on these jobs! Good Luck

[FunkyNige]

Dare ya to walk in with a just disposable camera

[_Dobbo_]

The big camera bag and lenses should differentiate you from the compacts.

All IMHO, ultimately I think it's the quality of your shots that will make the difference rather than the file type.

Remember they tried to do this themselves and failed, and care enough to setup a special display just for this purpose. As such, they should care enough to pay you to produce the work they need, and I don't think asking for £100 or more is unreasonable.

[te51cle]

I'd suggest you consider the background carefully. Will they want them set up in a home style surrounding (thye may have that in their shop display) or do they want to show them on a neutral background ?

[Phil S]

Personally for a days work I would do it for around £100 (+ expenses?) as it is your first job. This means they should be happy with the price, and hopefully use you again where you can charge them a more professional rate.

For me this is right as you are still getting enough to make it worth your time (presuming you enjoy photography anyway) and you will have work in your portfolio for future jobs.

For this kind of work the experience itself if more valuable than what you get paid for the job, just a token amount will suffice.

Just make sure they don't think thyey can pay you peanuts and you use regularly!

P.S. This advice is based from what fellow PHers gave me in a similar thread the other week, i've got my first photography job this weekend!

>> Edited by Phil S on Tuesday 15th February 17:18

[Phil S]

In addition I have been asked to supply RAW files to the publishers for this job!

[Mad Dave]

Thanks guys. I can supply a contact sheet, plus high and low res versions. Ill save them as RGB as the graphics people can convert, and CMYK images usually look a bit odd on screen.

Thanks for the advice guys.

[simpo two]

Phil S said:

In addition I have been asked to supply RAW files to the publishers for this job!

No problem, as long as your camera can shoot RAW. But make sure it's clear who's processing them, as you're entering a whole new arena. Sounds like the publishers want to do their own processing, which is fine and saves you the task. Burn that CD and run

[Phil S]

simpo two said:

Phil S said: In addition I have been asked to supply RAW files to the publishers for this job! No problem, as long as your camera can shoot RAW. But make sure it's clear who's processing them, as you're entering a whole new arena. Sounds like the publishers want to do their own processing, which is fine and saves you the task. Burn that CD and run

I'm more than happy - 2.5gb of CF cards and 40gb on the portable storage = a lot of photos for them process

[Bacardi]

Mad Dave said:

I do feel I should do them a good deal - it may also lead to further work.

Bit of a catch 22. If you want to start doing some photography for money then there is a temptation to go in cheap to get your foot in the door. Trouble is, it's difficult to put your prices up if they come back for more work so you may find yourself slogging your guts out for peanuts in the future.

As Cliff has already said, there's a large price range for professional photography so it will depend how professional you feel. If you turned up with a ton of kit and lighting, they should appreciate that you can't buy and maintain the kit for nothing and should expect to pay an appropriate fee. On the other hand if you turn up with just a DSLR and a tripod, they are not going to want to pay much. The usual format of supplied files destined for repro is CMYK TIF.

Good luck

[Mad Dave]

Thanks Bacardi. The fireplaces are set up in their showroom, and i'm hoping theyre after nice ambient shots of the fires, so no lighting will be required They didn't really know what they wanted so I simply said that I would produce a load a shots and if they didn't like them, there would be no charge.

[Bacardi]

Mad Dave said:

They didn't really know what they wanted so I simply said that I would produce a load a shots and if they didn't like them, there would be no charge.

Good Idea. Although if they don't like what you've done and still want them, they must be worth something to them?

I've done something similar in the past, on risky, high cost, shots when the client gets a little nervy about the budget. I tell them I'll shoot the job on my time and risk, and if they don't like it they don't have to pay...... they can't have the shot, but at least they haven't spent the money. If they like the shot and want it, they pay full price. They've always paid up

Another way, is to shoot the job and if you're unsure, ask them what the pics are worth to them. If they are pleased with the job they may offer more than you were going to charge.

[Scooby_snax]

Always a difficult one and Barcardi talks a lot of sense. I guess it depends on where you want to position yourself if you are thinking of going semi pro. Personally I would charge close to 'full time pro rate' the rationale being hopefully you will produce images of professional quality so why charge a cut price rate and as has already been stated it is difficult to justify doubling your prices as you progress.

[Mad Dave]

Hi Guys,

Upon further research, it would appear that they are after images for property developers to use in their catalogues - not so much to sell the fire itself, but various surrounds etc, so the ambient lighting angle won't suffice, as the fire surround wont be well enough lit. I obviously dont have a full studio lighting setup, but hopefully the showroom spotlights will throw enough light down, and careful use of a reflector should focus it. If necessary i'll drop the lights down a bit to get a long exposure and use a handheld flash gun to 'paint with light'. I'll give it a whirl and see what happens - if they don't like the shots, they wont have to pay for them!

Thanks chaps,

Dave

[bilko2]

Just a small thing.

YOU are a professional which is why they called you in. Obviously they wanted to or thought they could do it on the cheap which is why they tried themselves.

I would have a look at some web images and any catalogues you can find for inspiration ( not that you need it ). But at least you will have an idea of their expectations. Got to be better than going to a cold shoot and trying to look creative

As they are for a catalogue i can't imagine them wanting your services any time soon unless they update it every 6 months or so. As such i would go with the £100 introduction offer and sale or return.

As for format etc, well i can't advise. But i would personally shoot in RAW as it allready has the embedded jpeg and added benefits which i'm sure you are more than conversant with

Finally, good luck and enjoy.
Ohh, have you got a light meter ( i know you don't need it ) but it looks soo professional

[Scooby_snax]

Dave
Why not use a couple of slave flashes along with your prime flash gun that should give you all the lighting you need. If you are shooting digital then it doesnt cost anything if you ahve a few duds. Alternatively it wouldnt do much harm to shoot deliberately slightly underexposed then play with the images in Photoshop