Let's estimate

[ShaneKislack]

Captain Tom and I were discussing various costs of doing a job in another thread...and it was really informational. So let's estimate some jobs. I'll put one forth first. By the way, these are fictional jobs, just go with the info you have or ask any relative questions about the job.

Job 1: Shoot an event (could be wedding). An hour away from your home. No prints are going to be bought, only a disc of images. 8 hours of your time.

Go.

[ngoduyviet]

2k if I like you, 3k if I kinda like you, "you can't afford me" if I don't like you. That's how I estimate and I'm sticking to it

[CaptainTom]

My commercial day rate is only $1500 plus expenses (tolls/parking/out of pocket). That's for ten hours including travel.
I MIGHT do a wedding for this if I was otherwise underbooked, but weddings are priced higher because of the extra logistics of meetings,etc.

Corporate $1500 plus expenses
Wedding $2500 ( I ask to be fed what the guests eat).

p.s. I usually pay for a second photographer for a wedding.


I am forced to price according to what the market will bear. My rate is low for full time commercial photographers who charge a day rate. I'm trying to compete in a world of high tech/high energy photographers. If I truly broke it down to an hourly cost I'd likely go get a day job that doesn't have the month to month volatility that I encounter. Some months I'm asking " where can I invest all this cash?" and other months I'm asking " should I apply for that door greeter job at WalMart?"

Any time I can keep the out of pocket expenses down I am increasing my profit.

Sorry to disappoint !

EDIT: I'll do small jobs for a lot less if I otherwise would be sitting here in the office participating in these sorts of discussions..
Need a photog? I'm available today.

[ShaneKislack]

So far so good, but I'd also like to know how you come to those numbers. I don't want it to turn into a "you're more expensive than me" discussion but rather an "oh, I didn't think of that" one.

[David Whatley]

For something like that it would be 1200.00 or 150 an hour. I assume no retouching of the images?

[Tom]

Originally Posted by ShaneKislack

So far so good, but I'd also like to know how you come to those numbers. I don't want it to turn into a "you're more expensive than me" discussion but rather an "oh, I didn't think of that" one.

You need to figure out all your expenses.

Studio Rent.
Wear on your vehicle.
Gas.
Second Shooter.
Cameras, lenses and all gear.
Software.
Hard Drive Space.
Print costs.
Computer costs.
Website costs.
Office Supplies.
Cost to meet with couple (buy dinner/driving/time)
Cost to print up samples to shot couple (brochures, albums, etc)

Of course, you need to make money for yourself on top of all that. So you need to factor in an hourly wage.

[CaptainTom]

Originally Posted by Thomas Campbell

You need to figure out all your expenses.

Studio Rent.
Wear on your vehicle.
Gas.
Second Shooter.
Cameras, lenses and all gear.
Software.
Hard Drive Space.
Print costs.
Computer costs.
Website costs.
Office Supplies.
Cost to meet with couple (buy dinner/driving/time)
Cost to print up samples to shot couple (brochures, albums, etc)

Of course, you need to make money for yourself on top of all that. So you need to factor in an hourly wage.

I've done all that and I end up making $1.50/hr.
So I prefer to look at it my way and keep from going suicidal.

[CaptainTom]

dupe my bad

I'll mention health insurance.

[csa]

Seriously, David, no retouching? Could you really just let go of your images without any retouching at all? So yeah, the time adds up with post-production, plus the pre-event planning and set-up time. I kinda go with Tom about it's hard to think in terms of what you make per hour minus all the costs Thomas listed. It's like being a teacher-"Oh, how nice you work such short hours with the summers off." And I never admit such, but I'm with Viet as to the price depends on so many things including who you are. Hopefully no one I have bid for reads this.

[kamari]

Afternon folks. Carried over from the original thread...
(and yes, I found someone)

I've always been a party guy. Been partying since before AT&T stopped making rotary phones. When I got into photography I had the wonderful opportunity to merge work and pleasure and began by charging $100 to shoot for 4 hours. In 2009 I booked 32 of these $100 events on Friday and Saturday nights. Over the last 3 years, these types of events have led to additional shoots and extended networking with
Mark Cuban
Terrell Owens
Jamie Foxx
Terrence Newman
Michael Blackson (african king of comedy)
Billy Sims (1978 heisman winner)
Josh Howard
Chris Brown
Raven Simone
Kenyon Martin
Donovan McNabb
AT&T
Fort Worth Black Chamber of Commerce
state representative Marc Veasey
former secretary of state James Baker
...and then there's the spinoff from the normal folks partying at these events who happen to be looking for a photographer for the graduations/weddings/birthday parties that they're having. Don't forget the added bonus of not having to pay for a club admission even when I'm out on the town and not shooting since I've done so much work for a lot of the party promoters around town.


I've had photos in the Philadelphia Daily News, B.E.T., bossip.com, TMZ, and next month's issue of Working Mother Magazine. When I look back I'd consider $100 for this type of event a wonderful opportunity...for me. For someone else who's concerned about price vs time graphs, well, maybe not. I like the road its taken me down though.