Quick! Alumni Magazine Shoot...

[HotHolly]

A small private college called us to do the cover of their alumni magazine. We usually do portrait sessions, weddings, and that sort of thing. How much do I charge for this?

I'm sitting down with her to find out circulation. They are pretty small - about 3,000 students.

[DEMDeepEllumMusic]

What do they want on the cover? Archetechture? Deans? etc?
Do a bit of research on the school as to tuition costs/% of students on scholarship/ will they be likely to use you again to figure out if you should go to the high or low end of your ballpark price range.

[Daniel Bates]

If it's LeTourneau University, they're expensive... ask me how I know... :)

[acesteward]

LOL Daniel

[bondarnes]

Depending on how long it takes and how complicated the set up is I would think $ 500.00 wouldn't break their budget for an uncomplicated hour or so shoot with high res image and usage rights. You might also ask her what they usually pay. If it's HSU or McMurray it's probably less than that. ACU is probably in that range. Always remember that you can come back with a lower amount if their jaw hits the floor, but it's pretty hard to come up if they say that's a lot less than we have been paying.

[HotHolly]

thanks guys! All of a sudden we got flooded with phone calls today?!?! Yea!

[Slight Clutter]

I've done a cover for a small private university in Houston. I received $300 for it. I'm a newbie, however, and I didn't bother negotiating. I was happy with it.

Congrats and good luck!

[*Mike*]

One more question...

They called specifically asking for me by name. So they must have requested me for a reason since we have three photog's on staff... What reason, or how they got my name, I don't know.

So, I have an appt to sit down and discuss their needs early next week. Should I bring along a portfolio and think of this a typical pre-sale consultation? Or, is this simply a negotiation in terms of deciding usage rights, rates, set-up, etc.? I definitely should have tried to draw out the phone conversation longer in order to get more info, but I goofed. Oops, I'll remember next time!

I want the job, because the exposure would be great. So I'm not to concerned about the details... Just don't want to goof up protocols since this isn't a wedding gig like I normally do. I can schmooze about weddings with the best of 'em.

Ideas?

[CalebSimpson]

$300 - $500 just make sure you keep the rights to the photo and limit their usage to one time.

[*Mike*]

Right. But for this meeting, am I selling myself and need to bring along my portfolio, or was I already hand-picked which is why I'm being brought in???

I ask, since for wedding and portraiture clients I show a few different albums - different styles of work. Hard to discretely bring along my stuff if they weren't expecting it.

And for the record, I have no idea what they want for the cover. Part of what the meeting is for... so I would just be assuming that it is portraiture, but still no clue as to style.

[CaptainTom]

Take your portfolio and keep it closed until you find out what it is they want, why they called YOU, and what the job might pay.
Maybe they already know your work, and want a traditional portrait on the cover.
Maybe they got your name from someone else who thinks you will do a good job.
Maybe the got your name from the post office bulletin board.

Ask questions, and if they want to see your work they'll ask you.

[LadyShutterBug]

You could always ask if they'd lke to see examples of your owrk, or if they are already familiar with it.

they might have gotten your name form someone they know when they mentioned needing a phootgrapher... .so they don't really have a good knowledge of what you can do....

or they might have seen your work and loved it and are just waiting to hear your price.