I've done a few jobs where a company has hired me to take 1 particular shot. For that one, unedited shot they paid about 600USD to 800USD. It's used in a book or ebook and the size is usually less than a quarter page. Easy money IMO.
However, in recent months I've been asked to do more work for individual portraits. I've seen that some give digital stills on a CD or DVD and have the customer make their own prints and then I see others who ask for a standard one-time fee plus fees for prints in the sizes and quantities they want, not offering the digital stills. I wonder if I'm not reading something right or if people simply prefer one over the other. Not providing digital stills seems kind of pointless at this time since I know I could just take the one photo I liked and scan it. No need to order in quantity. Or am I missing something here again?
I have 1 client who has asked for 5 profile shots for her website. This includes studio shots (At my place with my new studio) and out and about for some urban shots. I promised that we'd take the day getting a good assortment. I would then choose the 10 best from which she would pick 5 for me to edit. I would edit and supply her the high res version on a DVD. My price: 600USD. It paid for some new lighting. For this particular deal, I looked at my schedule for the day and I have nothing happening. Make some money or not.
All that being said, I've been getting questions from friends to do their weddings (Photography and cinema). I'm happy doing a wedding for nothing for a friend so long as nothing GRAND was expected of me (A few beers and some tequila and I'm sure the camera will stay in the bag). The first wedding I'm doing for a friend that's paid (I've done my share of freebies for friends and friends of friends for practice) I'm asking for 1200USD for the day. He's very happy with making his own album etc but wants me there FOR photography. He'll get high res photos on a DVD and that's about it. However, with future weddings coming up it seems like this is going to be a real side business and with students (I'm a teacher) and friends from church (I'm a wedding minister as well) getting married or having baseball team pictures taken, I've got to set a standard price list. I will start with what I know and that is my prices (In comparison with what other studios offer vs. quality). I guess I'm asking "How do you give your clients their photos?" |
