Business Headshots

[icetraxx]

Ok it looks like my photography hobby is turning into more of a second part time job. I cropped a headshot for my father-n-law from a family picture that I took for his companies website. Now it looks like they want me to do all headshots(15 or so) and a group shot for their website. As far a pricing goes I was thinking $500 out the door. Am I being reasonable or under cutting myself.

Another issue is that it would be on location and my lighting consists of 4 ab800's and a nikon sb800.

Thanks in advance for any advice or tips,
Larry

[srwatters]

You have two options as I see it.

- Charge a reasonable day rate for the job
- Charge per individual head shot

I normally charge $1200-1500 for a day rate doing this kind of work (8 hrs max).
Individual headshots are $100, but if I'm running a bunch at the same time with the same light setup, I would discount that down to $70 or so. Don't forget you'll have to spend time editing when you calculate how much time you will invest.

Just because you are a 'friend' doesn't mean you have to give away your work. IMHO.

[DeLeon]

Originally Posted by srwatters

.......Just because you are a 'friend' doesn't mean you have to give away your work. IMHO.

Hard lesson to learn, but very true.

[icetraxx]

I appreciate the response. I think that the "boss" was looking for something quick and easy for dirt cheap. thanks for keeping me straight.

Larry

[bondarnes]

Originally Posted by icetraxx

I appreciate the response. I think that the "boss" was looking for something quick and easy for dirt cheap. thanks for keeping me straight.

Larry

That's usually what bosses are looking for, especially the "dirt cheap" part .

[AndrewSA]

Hi Scott,
I'm working on trying to get a standard pricing for business headshots right now with price cuts on quantity of people. It's such a common service, that I want to have some easy flat rate pricing.

Here's where I'm at. Unfortunetly, it doesn't make sense right now. It's actually less expensive to get 6 done rather than 5, etc. Any suggestions?

1 - $100
2-5 - $75
6-10 - $50
$100 location fee if shooting at client office. I would waive this fee if shooting X amount of headshots.

Originally Posted by srwatters

You have two options as I see it.

- Charge a reasonable day rate for the job
- Charge per individual head shot

I normally charge $1200-1500 for a day rate doing this kind of work (8 hrs max).
Individual headshots are $100, but if I'm running a bunch at the same time with the same light setup, I would discount that down to $70 or so. Don't forget you'll have to spend time editing when you calculate how much time you will invest.

Just because you are a 'friend' doesn't mean you have to give away your work. IMHO.

[CaptainTom]

business men are almost always going to try to get you to do more for less.
Let them know you are treating this as a professional job, and that you must charge for your time, expertise, etc. They will understand. A sales technique that I use is to point out to them that if you come to their site to shoot these execs, each of the subjects will be away from their desk the minimum amount of time possible. This is money for them. If they have to send these folks to a studio, they are going to miss a half a day at the least.

Ask the head dude what one full day of his services would be worth. (last resort).

If they turn you down, play it very gracefully and let them know that you understand the situation, and are available in the future if they should change their mind.
Whetever you do, don't offer to discount your stated rate if they turn you down. If however, they counter your offer and it is acceptable to you, make sure you explain that the lower rate comes with some less services, like no custom touch ups, or no re shoots if needed.

Business is business. Unless, of course, if you just want to do it for free.
Then they'll know exactly what your services are worth...

[fivegrand]

Flat rate pricing works for individuals, but not for a big business job. You need to bid the job as a whole (not piece by piece), sell them on the VALUE they're going to receive, not just the price, and show them why they NEED YOU to do it.

For example, I do all of the imaging work for a large law firm based in Portland. We have a strong and comprehensive contract concerning their client development efforts that contains many parts; pamphlets, marketing folders and other distribution materials (including executive headshots and project team images) that the firm uses to keep their name public and for promotion of new business.

It can be a catch-22 and it can be tough.

[AndrewSA]

I guess my thinking on this one is it's such a common service. Honestly nothing too unique about it. Every photographer and their grandmother probably offers this service. I'm pretty good about quoting the other commercial work I do according to value and have no problem selling a client on that. But a small business with 10 employees at $100 a pop is a hard sell here when most other photographers here are not charging quite that much. That's why I want some kind of sliding scale for headshots.

[fivegrand]

Originally Posted by swinglight

a small business with 10 employees at $100 a pop is a hard sell here when most other photographers here are not charging quite that much.

That's why you sell them on the value, not the price.

Everyone knows that you get what you pay for - prove to them that while they may be able to get their headshots done for less money, they will get a better *value* for their money spent with you.

Again, I say bid the whole job, not per piece. If you want to go by a flat rate scale, you'll have to come up with those "volume break points" yourself. You might also consider what many shooters call an "ambassador program" where succesfull referrals would net the client a discount on the next time around, or a credit to their existing account. I've found that discounts and credits for referrals go a *long* way - in effect, people are paying you for the priviledge of advertising for you.

[icetraxx]

Well I never heard back from them. I told them $400-$500 for 16 headshots with pictures on a cd. This was with little details on what they wanted. It ended up being the case where the boss had an idea one day and when he realized that stuff is not done for free and just b/c I'm a son in law he backed out.

I do agree on the package price and adjust pricing on the client. I also adjust the pricing on what I think the client can afford and will pay while not selling myself short and for the my time.

[iCe]

Don't forget you'll have to spend time editing when you calculate how much time you will invest.

Boy no kidding... it takes the shutter milliseconds to trip... the proper number of mouse clicks in the digital darkroom takes a lot longer

[AndrewSA]

how are you others pricing this? Anyone?

[bondarnes]

In studio session one person $49. For each additional person at the same time add $29.

Image charge $49. which includes one image retouched low res (6X9 @ 120 dpi) in color and black and white. Each additional image of the same person $39. For medium res add $29. for full res add $49.

On location add $125. for local travel and setup.

[AndrewSA]

Thanks Don,
yes, I think your pricing is around the neighborhood of what I'm seeing a lot of. Pretty simple pricing by just adding $XX per person.

Originally Posted by bondarnes

In studio session one person $49. For each additional person at the same time add $29.

Image charge $49. which includes one image retouched low res (6X9 @ 120 dpi) in color and black and white. Each additional image of the same person $39. For medium res add $29. for full res add $49.

On location add $125. for local travel and setup.