passion for fashion !

[d1d215]

Hi guys !

Are there any fashion photographers here ?
I just wanted to ask couple of questions if you don't mind !



cheers,
D

[Ed_P]

If there aren't any here, does it mean that we'll never get to know your questions? That's really tantalising!

[d1d215]

yeeaaas !!



but seriously - well - it was about clients & prices & stuff. Just can't figure out what I'm doing wrong etc. where should I advertise myself, how many potential clients become real clients - that sort of thing.

[Simpo Two]

d1d215 said:

how many potential clients become real clients

I once had a Christmas Card from a supplier that said on the back in small print: 'Printed from recycled estimates'... how true!

What you can charge is what the market will pay for what you do (see marketing). Then you have to get the sale (see sales). Unfortunately a poor product marketed and sold well will be more successful than a brilliant product marketed and sold badly.

Edited by Simpo Two on Wednesday 7th April 14:50

[d1d215]

Simpo Two said:

d1d215 said:

how many potential clients become real clients

I once had a Christmas Card from a supplier that said on the back in small print: 'Printed from recycled estimates'... how true!

What you can charge is what the market will pay for what you do (see marketing). Then you have to get the sale (see sales). Unfortunately a poor product marketed and sold well will be more successful than a brilliant product marketed and sold badly.

Edited by Simpo Two on Wednesday 7th April 14:50

marketing yeah I sort of know it - greatest examples - cola and cigaretes, amazing marketing and one of the crapiest products in the universe.
sales - been there.

Photography business is something new for me. At one point I wanted to do automotive photography as well, but I think it would look stupid to do cars and fashion.

[d1d215]

what is ok price for 2hr session outdoors - excluding model, make-up. just the basic price ? oh ! including editing, cd and stuff.

Edited by d1d215 on Wednesday 7th April 20:05

[Scho]

d1d215 said:

what is ok price for 2hr session outdoors - excluding model, make-up. just the basic price ? oh ! including editing, cd and stuff.

Edited by d1d215 on Wednesday 7th April 20:05

I'd be looking to charge around £500 for that, if it's a small business/designer.

Tell us about your client and what they want to use the images for.

[d1d215]

Scho said:

d1d215 said:

what is ok price for 2hr session outdoors - excluding model, make-up. just the basic price ? oh ! including editing, cd and stuff.

Edited by d1d215 on Wednesday 7th April 20:05

I'd be looking to charge around £500 for that, if it's a small business/designer.

Tell us about your client and what they want to use the images for.

clients - mostly students and new designers. images - magazine, web. What I realized today is that I need to reread what I write.

I guess next time I post an ad, I'll put phone number instead as email seems unserious for first time client.

thanks for the info Scho.

[Scho]

d1d215 said:

Scho said:

d1d215 said:

what is ok price for 2hr session outdoors - excluding model, make-up. just the basic price ? oh ! including editing, cd and stuff.

Edited by d1d215 on Wednesday 7th April 20:05

I'd be looking to charge around £500 for that, if it's a small business/designer.

Tell us about your client and what they want to use the images for.

clients - mostly students and new designers. images - magazine, web. What I realized today is that I need to reread what I write.

I guess next time I post an ad, I'll put phone number instead as email seems unserious for first time client.

thanks for the info Scho.

You'd be lucky to get £300 a day off new designers and students have bugger all money.

You got any stuff online?

[nick_bbb]

d1d215 said:

clients - mostly students and new designers.

I don't think this is a good target market, neither will be cash rich and both of these groups expect work for free in my experience. They will promise that it will eventually lead to paid work, you may as well bet on a horse on the grounds that it might lead to a win.

[nick_bbb]

Too slow!

[d1d215]

Scho said:

d1d215 said:

Scho said:

d1d215 said:

what is ok price for 2hr session outdoors - excluding model, make-up. just the basic price ? oh ! including editing, cd and stuff.

Edited by d1d215 on Wednesday 7th April 20:05

I'd be looking to charge around £500 for that, if it's a small business/designer.

Tell us about your client and what they want to use the images for.

clients - mostly students and new designers. images - magazine, web. What I realized today is that I need to reread what I write.

I guess next time I post an ad, I'll put phone number instead as email seems unserious for first time client.

thanks for the info Scho.

You'd be lucky to get £300 a day off new designers and students have bugger all money.

You got any stuff online?

I'm working on my portfolio (I guess I will never be happy enough). I have a lot of pictures but they are not the maximum I can do, so I won't put them in my website, do I show them to students/ new designers - yes. I will have a nice photoshoot in couple of weeks and will let you see them.
I guess I shouldn't be bothered about the students etc then. That really helped me.

[d1d215]

nick_bbb said:

d1d215 said:

clients - mostly students and new designers.

I don't think this is a good target market, neither will be cash rich and both of these groups expect work for free in my experience. They will promise that it will eventually lead to paid work, you may as well bet on a horse on the grounds that it might lead to a win.

yeah ! will keep that in mind. I knew it but now it hit me really hard. there is no point worrying about them.

[Ed_P]

d1d215 said:

Photography business is something new for me. At one point I wanted to do automotive photography as well, but I think it would look stupid to do cars and fashion.

If this is a new venture, you might be placing unreasonable limits on your opportunities if you opt for just automotive and/or fashion. It's sensible to have a clear objective as to your longer-term aspirations, but it might be more sensible if you're building the business, to take on any work you can. It can be quite exciting; takes you out of your comfort zone and provides a great learning opportunity.

Back to your original point. If you mean "automotive" rather than "motorsport", I could see that linking quite well with fashion. I imagine too, that you would need similar sort of kit for both.

(I'm speaking as someone who does very little fashion and automotive photography!).

[d1d215]

I'm not focusing on that, but yes, I might do some car shoots as well. what are the usual prices ?(Lets say 4locations, 30 very good pics in CD ) I've done a couple of car photoshoots but never for money.

[Ed_P]

d1d215 said:

... what are the usual prices?

I don't think there's a formula for pricing really, unless you're going structly NUJ-rates and your clients are used to paying that. I think that all freelance 'togs need to set their own rates, based on their skill/experience, client expectation and the geographical location.

I'm based in the Midlands and for most "commercial" work, would provide an estimate based on a Commission Fee (at around £50.00/hour); a Pre/Post Production Fee (based on the same hourly rate) plus Expenses. Expenses would include travel (@ £0.40/mile) and any other incurred costs. If there was some uncertainty over the level of work required, I'd also provide a Contingency Cost, based on a percentage of the total Estimate. For all of this this, there would be an agreed "deliverable", discussed prior to providing the Estimate.

Like many (I suspect), these prices vary wildly. I'll often agreed to attend for the shoot FoC, but then sell prints etc via our website. I'm also happy to have some "lost leaders", that may lead on to some paid repeat business in the future. I'm not relying on photography alone for my income though, so this obviously affects my pricing decisions.

[d1d215]

sounds good. thanks for the info ! . I guess I'll have to advertise that genre as well. I must say that I most certainly love cars and shooting them. I'll start with the free photoshoot I promised

[Simpo Two]

nick_bbb said:

you may as well bet on a horse on the grounds that it might lead to a win.

I thought that was how it worked!

[d1d215]

why do you O/T in my topic ?

[Simpo Two]

The first reply attempted to answer your question in broad terms. The second was simply banter, apologies (though this is a jocular forum and if it didn't have any banter it would be like Nikonians)

Perhaps I'm confused because your profile says you are a photographer but you don't seem to have the first idea about it...?