on-site portrait work rates...

[SecretAgent]

I have a request from a family to go to their home to take pictures of their 3 sons. This will be my first "pro" (by that, i mean paying) job, and have no idea of the rate I should tell them. What is the average amount for that kind of job?? Any help is appreciated!

[brad]

Figure out what you want to make and charge accordingly. I don't charge extra for on location vs. studio, myself.

[ndsimm]

also consider how much time you will put into the job AFTER the shoot is over - processing, printing, proofing, etc...that is part of your time as well. Help them understand that you are not Sears or Walmart and they can't expect an 8x10 for $2.99

[SecretAgent]

thx for the help!

[Clayton Wallace]

I do this kind of thing often. There is some good advice above.
Always agree on a price before you agree to go out. Everyone should be clear.
Your time can vary A LOT by various factors:
indoor/outdoor
squirmy kids/not-quite-as-squirmy-kids
amount of equipment you'll be using/setting up, breaking down
distance from you
number of different posing choices you'll offer from proofs (more offered the more time post-processing)
your proofing methods

As far as price, charge what the market will bear. Underpromise, over-deliver.

I have a sitting fee separate from my print fees as most do, but I don't charge differently for studio/on-location work at this time.

[boxofrocks]

Here's what I would do:

1. Call local portrait photogs in you area to get an idea of their prices for like work

2. Since you aren't a full time "pro", and this is your first paying job, take an average of those amounts, and discount accordingly (20% seems fair).

3. Profit.

[CaptainTom]

As a minimum I would figure $50/hr. This includes door to door and post processing.
If you figure this up and it seems way too high, perhaps you need to re-think the job.
Also, know in advance what the prints will cost you to produce. Mark these up a lot.

If you needed a lawyer or Doctor to come to your house, they would charge you big time (assuming they would even come).

[David Price]

Originally Posted by CaptainTom

If you needed a lawyer or Doctor to come to your house, they would charge you big time (assuming they would even come).

Well..........I don't know that I'd hold myself up there with a Dr. or lawyer but I might look at the plumber's charges for house calls. All he has to know is that s4!+ rolls down hill and since I learnt that a long time ago I'd at least charge what he does.

Like Tom says about your prints, mark those up big time.

[SecretAgent]

thx so much for the help folks! i've been using mpix.com for prints, anyone know better places? (by better i mean, same quality or better, but cheaper cost to me? hahah)

[LadyShutterBug]

you also have to take into account your travel time (if you're going a long way).

my studio charge is less than my location charge, because it's more convenient to me. in lieu of charging a travel charge to everyone depending on their location, i just make my location portraiture cost high enough to cover travel costs throughout the greater houston area.

if it's a general outdoor shoot, it's going to be less expensive than an indoor, on-location shoot where i need to bring lighting and/or backdrops.

if yo'ure just starting out, $50 per hour seems like a good place to begin with your charges. after you do the shoot, and the processing, and the dealing-with-customer stuff, decide if the $50-100 was enough. Would you do it again for $50?

I did a lot of free shoots in the beginning to develop a portfolio, but it's totally worth it.

[CypressPhotog]

Charge much more if you have to bring all your lighting. It takes FOREVER to break it down in your studio, set it and and break it down in their house, and set it back up in your studio. I am almost to the point of just offering this option at all. If you are working with natural light of simple flash outside, I charge $100 for the session.

[danflake]

I have seen many photographers on the web charge a single fee for the shoot and copies of all the files shot. They leave it to the customer to have them printed since there are so many places you can have them printed both locally and on the web.

That brings up the question of post-processing using Photoshop. One professional photographer friend of mine says that you shouldn't make the customer pay for having to "photoshop" each file. In my mind, that work is comparable to darkroom work.

There is a link on the NPPA site that one of the board members posted some time ago (someone help me give credit to that person, please) that helps you calculate what you should charge. It is pretty useful.

http://www.nppa.org/professional_dev...db/cdbcalc.cfm

[T1ckT0ck]

I cant really provide much help in the pricing category, but I can give my opinion on print services. I use whcc.com and have been very happy with them. They are a little more expensive than mpix.com on th smaller pictures but much cheaperon the larger pictures (11x14 is $6.99 at mpix and only $3.85 at whcc.com). Just a thought. Also they allow you to print 5 free 8x10s to check calibration and I believe they still have free 2-day delivery. Anyway, hope this helps a little.