Cruise Ship Photography

[bondarnes]

I did a four day corporate event on St. Kitts a couple of years back. I only charged them $800.00 per day plus expenses for me and an assistant (wife), but I was kind of on call 24/4. There was quite a bit of down time, but I always had a camera with me and was ready to go. I gave them a good price because I really wanted to do the job. I got to work a little and play a little. They also flew me in a couple of days early to scout the place which was really a two day vacation before the event. I say go for it.

[adirty1]

that's the whole question. what do they expect from you. If you are going to have some down time then your doing well. you something else out of the deal. A barter if you will. When we shot the old style events with chrome and had a multi projection show at the end of the event it was very costly. However we didnt have time to eat or sleep for 4 days.

[Aric C. Hoek]

I would probably lose this job. For me to close down the studio and travel, I would be losing money. I would charge my day rate for every day.

What is a good price for a day rate? We charge $2000 for 6 hours of coverage with a high res DVD and an online gallery. You figure that they will want you for 8 - 10 hours a day. That's a ton of editing!

2000/6 = $333 per hour. $2700 per day.

You can bet that a photographer out there would under bit that quote in a NY Minute! You just have to remind them about how much time and effort they have put into planning the trip, and do they really want to gie the responsibility of photographing the event to the lowest bidder.

[fivegrand]

Charge your day rate to SHOOT ONLY. Consider a discounted day rate if they cover all of your expenses. If they don't cover your expenses, then you charge your normal day rate PLUS the ferriage and every other expense that you can ethically apply to the job.

THEN you charge a license fee PER USE of each image that they want. For example image 1 can be on the website for 6 months for x dollars, image 2 can be used for the newspaper up to five times in the next 6 months for x dollars, image 3 can be used on club flyers one time only for x dollars, etc. If they want more usage, charge more and write it in. If they want to renew the usage for an image, write a new license for the renewal.

DO NOT DO NOT DO NOT charge a flat "$500 a day and you can do what you want" - you're not only devaluing yourself, but everyone else making a living at this.

[sbp]

But what about if I am free and want to go to Cruise for free eventhough I have to work there which I like (taking photo)?

[kachina]

Personally, I would charge them $1000 per day plus expenses for 8hrs/day event shooting since you have to spend time traveling to and from the ship in addition to the cruise - esp if you are on call 24X4. Throw in basic processing and set an hourly rate for additional processing. Define everything in a contract or letter of engagement and get a signature.

[fivegrand]

Originally Posted by sbp

But what about if I am free and want to go to Cruise for free eventhough I have to work there which I like (taking photo)?

Originally Posted by fivegrand

you're not only devaluing yourself, but everyone else making a living at this.

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