Model portfolios - how to charge?

[Xposure Photo]

there is nothing in the book that says you have to do TFP's when you start shooting models...in fact that word is not in the dictionary, if you are a photographer and they want your services they pay, period...TFP has its place, but not in real business, it can kill your business if you don't set it up right. but go ahead and charge what you are comfortable charging and turn a good profit, if they can't pay it move on, do not lower your price once you have establish them, Set up a Main fee with limited amount of images that you are willing to edit included, then put a price on images after that, so if they want more images you ake more $$$... but find out what size images they will need first, as that will afect the pricing, 8x12's may be god in most cases, but some agencies wnt 9x12's in books witch will aslo change your pricing and shoting as you will have to trim the image.

If you are including the Leather Portfolio then charge more unless they are getting their own.

If they want the files let them know it will cost tem more than the prints as you won't make any more $$$ from it if you let them print their own... train them young and you wll not have hedaches letter!

[MarcoLaino]

Hello Beginning,

Yes, you should assume they will know absolutely nothing - which is most often the case. Your pricing is right as long as you are happy with it - it's your time, your talent and your effort. I'd go a little higher myself - say $350 full boat. The fact that they think they're going to get a full portfolio out of one sitting pretty much tells you the story here.

I also do not like shooting model portfolios and I no longer do it for agencies. I love fashion photography so I do hire or trade with models that I think are good to get new material for my portfolio. It is not a good biz, in my opinion. But then, I have an attitude about it - just got really tired of waiting around on makeup artists/hairstylists taking so much of my time on a shoot. They're basically idiots and I just don't enjoy their company very much with all that stupidity spewing from their pea brains (see, I told you I had an attitude about it!). That's why I caution you to keep them on a short leash - if you let them, they'll easily take 2 hours for the first look - I always tell them right upfront that I want to be shooting the model in 30 minutes - that's all the time they have and I stick to it. Also, don't let them interrupt you shoot - it ruins the whole flow and they'll always want to step on set to tweak. I generally send them out of the studio while I'm shooting telling them I'll call them if I need a touchup. It's not the models, they're generally cool - it's the mua's that I don't have time for.

Now, you would be surprised how many models DO self market and they DO get business. Not nearly so much as agency girls though.

Hey, try your pricing on the client and see what they have to say. And, if you get the job, do a good one and perhaps you will enjoy it - shooting fashion CAN BE LOADS OF FUN! My best to you and share some photos with us when your done with the shoot.

And, don't hesitate if you have any more questions.

[HeatherLou]

Originally Posted by brad

Thanks, Scott. There are times I just feel like a hack, honestly. (I know Heather will bust my chops for that, but its true.)

Yep, thats exactly what you deserve too! When you say hack, I automatically think of GWC, and there are not any on TPF that I know of.

Mr. Begining, I wont be much help on this one, I shoot models for fun and practice!