Charity Gala event photo pricing

[boxofrocks]

An event organizer I partner with has requested that I shoot some candids of a black tie charity gala that is coming up this fall. There will be about 800 people there, and it's at the Anatole (if you know Dallas, that's a fairly classy joint).

He was just asking for candids of the crowd that he would display on the big screen during the evening. We're friends, so I told him frankly I didn't know what to quote him. I suggested a bunch of options for us to discuss, and told him I'd get back to him on pricing. Some of the ideas I had were:


1. One shooter, flat cost for the monitor resolution photos (he won't re-sell them).
2. Two shooters, flat cost for the monitor resolution photos (he won't re-sell them). Obviously better crowd coverage, but probably not really necessary, since we won't get all 800 people anyway.
3. Either of the above with the ability for attendees to order candid photos online after the event
4. One candid shooter and one portrait shooter with portable studio strobes for portrait enlargements to be ordered at the time of the event, as well as the ability to place online portrait and candid orders later.


This is a line I've been looking to add to my business offerings, but I'm not sure what the "going rate" is. Of course, with charity events, you can never ask as much as with a corporate function, since they always have champagne taste and a beer pocketbook, as my grandfather used to say.

Can anyone offer suggestions as to what they have done in the past, and what I might want to quote for one of the options (or another one that I haven't considered)? I appreciate any suggestions you can make.

Thanks!

[LadyShutterBug]

when i do these types of things, if it isn't a huge inconvenience to me... i donate the services to the chairty and quote them a price value.

not only is it great for business, it's also good come tax time.
(i have worked mostly with not-for-profit hospitals and the Hermann Park Conservancy).

[boxofrocks]

Originally Posted by LadyShutterBug

when i do these types of things, if it isn't a huge inconvenience to me... i donate the services to the chairty and quote them a price value.

not only is it great for business, it's also good come tax time.

I understand and support that way of thinking. In this instance, however, I'm being contracted by a for profit company, and was looking for a fair market value price from which to start.

[Wil_Bloodworth]

Tom,

Then quote them a price for the round-trip mileage (like $0.40 per mile) and an hourly rate with a 4-hour minimum. Then, of course, they can purchase the photos separately... you need to choose pricing backed on the photo size and finish.

That's just my opinion though... lemme know if you need help... it would be fun... as long as I don't have something else already booked.

- Wil

[Wil_Bloodworth]

Ohh... and that's for 1 photographer. It goes up when you add additional photogs.

- Wil

[boxofrocks]

Wil,

My corporate hourly rate is $150, so I'm afraid that would be a little rich for a charity ball.

[Wil_Bloodworth]

Tom,

Then you have 1 of 2 options:

1: Charge a lower corp. rate for this event.

2: Force an "epiphany" on the event planners so that they realize your time isn't free and if they want, they can go down and buy the little disposables and leave them on the table... which will cost A LOT more in the long run... for A LOT less.

Just quote them a price. If they don't like it, they'll make the decision to do something different. It's not your fault it's a charity event. That doesn't make your time any less valuable.

- Wil

[LadyShutterBug]

even if the company is for-profit, you can bet they get other people to donate services since it is a charity event. then you simply become a "sponsor".

[boxofrocks]

I understand, Kasey. However, what I'm looking for is an estimate of fair market value.

[bondarnes]

Call me. You have my cell

[CaptainTom]

option 1 4 hour minimum. charity rate $75/hr. I might cut the minimum if the event were close to home, had less participants, and I had done it before and knew the layout.
Let them project the images.
Option 4 People are not likely to buy photos later. either have the portrait set up on site and print the shots on site, or don't. Do not waste your time and resources on spec photos to be ordered later.

[Tracy Hicks]

$125 an hour plus put them on-line. 800 people is a lot for one person.... I did a 900 person once and its alot of work and you wont come close to getting them all. If it was less people and being a friend I would charge less but $125 is not much considering the size. -Tracy

[txphotog]

Dont cut yourself short by any means. Charge at least $75/hr and try to print on site would be the best option. People are less likely to buy after they leave.

[Tracy Hicks]

Originally Posted by txphotog

and try to print on site would be the best option. People are less likely to buy after they leave.

You know I need to look into doing this... Your right no one buys afterwards. 1400 people once and sold about 3 afterwards.

[jDett]

Well, did you shoot the event? How did it come out?