What do you charge for photo shoots?

[OldBoy]

Originally Posted by Angelhales

Ok so Ive put this in here as the description did say "earning money from photography" so I hope my logic here is ok.

I've been building my portfolio up all year and people are now telling me that they feel like they should be paying now as they feel I'm good enough, and I've heard this quite a bit now. But I have no idea what an earth prices are for charging?!

Now I dont want to get into the whole printing thing and would rather do a "You can buy a disc of X amount of images" etc. Which I would rather include in the price as well if possible.

What do others charge for various services and how long have you been a photographer etc? I'm not looking to earn megabucks but dont want to undercharge so much that people are suspicious.

If you check this site below of the NUJ it give a list of prices you should charge for your work. Just click on the Day/base rate to give you a idea. Also, check out the other infomation on the site about contracts and you rights to retain copyright for the images. Good luck with your endeavours.

http://www.londonfreelance.org/feesg...on=Photography

[Angelhales]

Thank you very much for that link OldBoy! Much appreciated.

Thanks for the advice guys. At the end of the day I'm not looking t make a career out of this and to be honest I'm not even looking to make money. I do this because I enjoy it, not because of finances.

[Angelhales]

Thank you very much for that link OldBoy! Much appreciated.

Thanks for the advice guys. At the end of the day I'm not looking t make a career out of this and to be honest I'm not even looking to make money. I do this because I enjoy it, not because of finances.

[GeoffWessex]

OK, so not "as a profession", but you could still sell your work.... find cafes, restaurants, shops, anywhere that might like a bit of good photography to decorate its walls. I don't think you'll find many business owners that will actually pay you for them - but if you put a price tag on the picture - and contact details (even if it's "Ask at the counter") you may well sell some. The owner of the business might like a commission for any sale (although you've decorated their business for nothing so I think you're 'quits' and I don't really agree that they should take a cut).
I was in a cafe yesterday morning that always has some good art on its walls. This time it was a collection of some very nice photographs of Venice. Not snapshots or postcard views, though, these were very artistic and printed to a very high quality, about 30" x 20" prints, matted and framed. $1850 each (about 1000 UK Pounds).
Strange thing though, photographic arts and prints.... the most appreciative audience for a photograph is, I think, another photographer. And when I see a great photograph, framed or not, I don't think "Oh that will look nice on the living room wall"..... I think, "Now then, how was that done, how would I go about doing a similar shot".

[OldBoy]

Originally Posted by Angelhales

Thank you very much for that link OldBoy! Much appreciated.

Thanks for the advice guys. At the end of the day I'm not looking t make a career out of this and to be honest I'm not even looking to make money. I do this because I enjoy it, not because of finances.

Look at it as a chance to buy better lenses and update cameras.

[GeoffWessex]

Rewind a moment..... first it was,
"What do others charge for various services and how long have you been a photographer etc? I'm not looking to earn megabucks but dont want to undercharge so much that people are suspicious."
and now it's
"to be honest I'm not even looking to make money. I do this because I enjoy it, not because of finances."

Fair enough - it's very difficult to actually make money in photography and the most successful (apart from the occasional 'born lucky' ones) have studied for years, done the art school and university thing, fine arts etc.

You should carry on taking your pictures - there are some good ones on your blog but only two here - and if a situation arises that calls for your photographic skills try to get some kind of recompense, even if it's just for friends (they probably won't mind if you say you're saving up for such and such a lens or filter or lights etc). You never know, the right opportunity might come along and suddenly you'll be looking at a new career (different to whatever it is you do now to earn your daily crust).

[KeithT]

I'm with Geoff on this really. But the amateur photographer prepared to give work away is the pro's worst nightmare. It's a bit like amateur photographers sending in their work to the BBC just in the hope of seeing it on the screen. Think of all those pros who could easily have supplied images and need to charge in order to feed their families. Of course, the Beeb, as other corporations, want as much for nothing as the next guy or gal.

Appropriate recompense for work carried out is well in order, and anyone offering work should not feel they need to give it away for nothing just to curry favour. Just my view of course. Others may differ in theirs.

[GeoffWessex]

Like giving your friends a lift to the airport (a common occurrence)..... you'd expect something to at least cover the fuel costs.