Should I charge by the hour for this?

[d2creative]

I did this job as a freebie for an architect friend. Since it was a learning experience for me, we agreed that if they are pleased it will lead to paying gigs next. Well, they are pleased! So any idea how I would charge for this stuff? By the hour? By the shot? Any way to find the going rate in Houston? Plus it always seems that however many hours I spend shooting I spend the same amount of time in post processing, so I need to add that in too.

http://www.bluelemonphoto.com/9245_Wickford/

[CaptainTom]

It looks to me like the firm will be using these and other photos for their web site, or small production brochures, etc.
I would be inclined to charge a day rate for this work. Your contract can state that any usage other than company website or literature exceeding X copies must be negotiated seperately.
As to what your day rate should be ? $500 is really cheap. $1000 is average
$2500 is top tier. As you stated, just because you only needed 3 hours to do the actual shoot doesn't mean you are done. Charge a full day rate.

[bondarnes]

Very nice work. If it normally takes you half a day to photograph one house, then quote your day rate, but quote it as $XXXX.00 per house plus any expenses such as travel.

[d2creative]

Thanks for the responses!

Originally Posted by bondarnes

Very nice work. If it normally takes you half a day to photograph one house, then quote your day rate, but quote it as $XXXX.00 per house plus any expenses such as travel.

Thanks! Yeah, well i guess it depends on time allotted, the size of the house, etc. We burned through that house in just over 2 hours. The architects were styling the next shot while I was photographing the previous shot. They told me generally what angle to shoot from and what they were trying to capture, and I tweaked it from there. I was shooting multiple exposures of every scene so I had options in post. I didn't bring in any lighting, just natural light. Now another house might be a completely different story. Might take a lot more time? Different client, different lighting situation, more detail shots, etc. So I'm thinking charging by the house is not the way to go. Charging a half day rate with a time limit before switching to a full day rate might be better. But adjusting my rates for this kind of project allowing for more post time. This sounds like what you guys are saying so far?

I've done some other shoots on location where I charge a location fee since I was bringing in lighting equipment and then a half day rate if I know it will be under a certain amount of hours. On those I quoted a post processing fee with a guesstimate on how much post time I'll need to do. For some reason, I feel like the architecture stuff might need to be quoted differently though which is why I was asking. Is it just me? Should I be charging/allowing for more time with this kind of shoot vs. something like photographing someone's products in their store, or shooting commercial portraits? With those I feel like I'll take multiple exposures and just pick the best one, tweak it and i'm done.

[Michelle Allmon]

Originally Posted by d2creative

I did this job as a freebie for an architect friend. Since it was a learning experience for me, we agreed that if they are pleased it will lead to paying gigs next. Well, they are pleased! So any idea how I would charge for this stuff? By the hour? By the shot? Any way to find the going rate in Houston? Plus it always seems that however many hours I spend shooting I spend the same amount of time in post processing, so I need to add that in too.

http://www.bluelemonphoto.com/9245_Wickford/

I want that house. Who is your friend? When I win the lottery I would like to hire him/her.

[d2creative]

Well that house was designed by my Architect's business associate.
Her website is www.evergreendesignstudio.com

My Architect is John Dazey of John Dazey Design but he doesn't have a website yet.
When you win the lottery, let me know and I'll give you his info.
Here's our remodel that he designed this past year. I highly recommend him.
http://d2creative.smugmug.com/gallery/1750912#86675554

BTW, they didn't want to shoot it and I didn't think to go back to shoot it before leaving the house, but if you look at the staircase there is a wall that runs up the left side of it. On the other side of that wall is a FREAKIN SLIDE for the kids! How cool is that?! It's a tunnel from the second floor to the first floor and you pop out in the kitchen which is just to the left of the stairs.

[FreshPhotography]

I want that house too - those are some AMAZING shots! And a beautiful, beautiful house!