Cruise Ship Photography

[laawaaris]

I work with a Radio Station in town and they are throwing a 4-day Cruise to the Carribbean in December. They've asked me to come along and take photos during the cruise.

I think I want to do the cruise but that I do not know how to price it.

I photograph their events currently by the Hour, but seeing as this is a 4-day event I don't know what I should do. Obviously I will be on the cruise for free and will get food for free and I'm assuming that will be used by the owner as part of the negotations.

I'm not sure if I should bill the entire project - billing by the hour doesn't seem to apply here. Photos will probably be used internally by the Radio Station on their website and marketing materials in town (posters, commercials, etc).

What should I use as a gauge or range for this type of thing? Does anyone have experience doing this?

[LonestarMan]

Okay, so I was curious too and Google'd "photographer Day rate" to see what came back. Not that these will help you make a decision, but it will make you smile.

Setting Your Day Rate
Death of Day Rate

[sbp]

I will charge flat for this. Also make sure you set some timline for this shoot i.e to say I will shoot for say 5 hour in day. I am not sure how to explain you.

[CaptainTom]

My guess is that you will be busier than a one armed paper hanger on this cruise.
If they want you to get shots of everything, you will not have much time off.
If they want you to get an occasional shot and maybe document some of the activities, make sure you get a solid agreement.
My day rate is $500 plus all expenses (5 hour day). Depending on the situation, I adjust this rate as needed.
Figure out if you will be missing any other monetary opportunities while on this trip. You also have to gauge whether you want to low ball them just so you get to go on the trip. I'd flat out ask them what their budget is, and see if I can live with what they say.

[laawaaris]

hmm good idea ... i will definitely NOT low-ball them because i know they want me to shoot like 24/7 ...

i will however ask them what their budget is ... i think that is a good next step

[PIC]

It also depends on post processing and the use of the photos ....
I have done similar for $500 day rate.
My day rate for exclusive use is $750 - but I would discount the F.M.
value of the cruise and your ability level.
4 days - flat $2000.00 sounds fair.
You might change the values above for the situation.

EL

[CaptainTom]

I'd probably do it for FREE ....... if they let me drive the boat !!!

[AllenAyres]

The photographers on our last cruise stayed pretty busy, especially around dinner time and after (6p to 11p) when everyone was usually dressed nicely. I didn't see them much during the day, tho they could have had other jobs then. Someone was always videoing something.

[adirty1]

If they want coverage 24/4 then 2k is pretty cheap. I would want it in writing what times I need to be shooting. Then I could give them a price. for 2k four to five hours a day shooting would be max and I better have a bar tab and a great room plus One.

[OTRphoto]

I go on a chartered cruise every year that is set up as a music festival (30+ bands 3-4 stages etc). The management company that sets it up hires pro photogs to come along each year to do the shooting of the concerts and events. The cruise ship photogs still do their set-up/posed stuff.

I don't know if he got compensated other than getting a full ride (air/hotel/cruise) to go on an AWESOME cruise. But I do know that he (and the other photogs) worked his a$$ off. Every time I turned around - there was Will.. or one of the guys. And our stuff was going on almost 24/7. There was stuff as early as 9-10am and sets that ran well into the wee morning hours (like 5-6am).

I don't know if he'd be willing to pass any pricing info on to you - but his name is Will Byington

Tell him Mel from San Antonio says "hey" if you talk to him >:o)

[CobyPhoto]

I know that everyone sets their own rate, but 500.00 a day for commercial work (which this qualifies as) is just not enough. This is MORE time than 4 weddings. Regardless of the amount of PP...there will be PP involved to some extent.

I charge a minimum of 1700.00 a day on location, (8 hours Maximum) for commercial work. This isn't including assistants and expenses. (Granted, your meals and lodging will probably be covered here.)

You are talking about alot of work. Look at it from the stand point of the lost opportunity: I can make well above 1700.00 a day in my studio, booking 2-3 sessions per each of those 4 days. In fact, I can proably do close to 2,000.00 per day in the studio booking 2-3 sessions with Seniors. Why would you want to give that up and make only 500.00 per day, just to be on a crusie ship?

CJ

[CaptainTom]

Many photographers do not have the luxury of being able to stay in the studio and book $2000 senior shoots, or book a couple of weddings.
I take whatever work comes along, as long as I feel I am being compensated fairly, and I have a full understanding of what is required. If I were required to be available 24/7, or to provide anything other than raw photos, or some other permutation, pricing would be negotiated accordingly.
I don't believe anyone should give away their work. If the client only wanted me to shoot for a couple of hours a day, and I got a fully paid cruise, I would probably go for it, assuming I didn't have more lucrative opportunities readily available.
If this radio station will pay $1700/day I'll have a stroke.

I am making an assumption that the OP would just be shooting the people involved with the radio station promotion, and not replacing the full time photogs from the cruise line. ??

[CobyPhoto]

Tom,

The Actual $$ amount isn't the issue. That is something totally up to the individual. The amount of work and hours are important. (Granted, still alot of unknowns in this deal so can't say what is fair yet.) Point is, if you don't price to account for these lost opportunities, even if you aren't at that point yet, you will never get to that point. Photographers that underprice themselves and their work are everywhere and are not making a living at their trade. The only way to make a living in this industry is to price to cover your expenses, talent and support yourself.

CJ

[CaptainTom]

Originally Posted by CobyPhoto

Tom,

The Actual $$ amount isn't the issue. That is something totally up to the individual. The amount of work and hours are important. (Granted, still alot of unknowns in this deal so can't say what is fair yet.) Point is, if you don't price to account for these lost opportunities, even if you aren't at that point yet, you will never get to that point. Photographers that underprice themselves and their work are everywhere and are not making a living at their trade. The only way to make a living in this industry is to price to cover your expenses, talent and support yourself.

CJ

We're both on the same page. Just a different way of saying it.
I try to charge as much as the market will bear. Sometimes that is hard to judge.

[georgep6506]

I have a dumb question. Do you or will you have to obtain permission from the Cruise Line to shoot? I have been hired for some events similiar to this, and once I had a problem with the owner of the facilities saying I didn't have his permission as he had his own photographer. It all worked out, as it was a simple misunderstanding, but I was just curious.

Thanks,