What to quote? And should I even try?

[OTRphoto]

I have all the info I need.. I even know the budget range. But I'm not sure I am ready for this big of an event - or time commitment. And I would definately not be able to do it alone.

I need to send a quote by tomorrow 10am if I want to be considered. This is for a huge international corporation and could work out to be really good networking... but am I too small for something like this?

There will be approximately 150 people attending the conference and 300 people attending the gala. We will need a photographer for every day during the conference. The times needed are as follows:

Sunday, November 9; 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm (group photo only)
Monday, November 10; 8:00 am - 8:00 pm
Tuesday, November 11; 8:00 am - 10:30 pm (includes evening gala)
Wednesday, November 12- Thursday, November 13; 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Friday, November 14; 8:00 am - 10: 30 pm

We would like to sell the conference pictures on a c.d. to all participants. Therefore, we will want all photos to be digital for the event. We do not want any printed photos, just photos available on c.d. However, if you offer a package with both, please include in the price quote.

[bondarnes]

That's an awfully big event and the fact that you are questioning your readiness might be an indication that this might be beyond your experience level. I'm not saying don't bid it though, just carefully consider the ramifications For instance: can you shoot, download, process, and archive a whole day's shooting and still be ready to go the next morning? And do you have (or can borrow or rent) enough backup equipment if disaster should strike?

[OTRphoto]

You've expressed some of my hesitations...

I know that I'd have to bring in a couple of extra shooters (or at least one other).. mainly for the daytime stuff. and then for a 300 person gala - I would want 2-3 shooters.

I know they have "up to $5k" budgeted for this. But I added it up and its 59 which is only about $85/hr. I usually quote $100/hr for something like this.... and then "they" want to sell the Cd's of all the events to all of the events? That's a seperate quote all in it's self...

sigh. I think I'm going to send a quote - but I really don't think it will be in her range she mentioned. But I'm sure some other craigslist photographer will take it at that price, just to take it.

[ShaneKislack]

Man, those are ass kicking hours. I would probably charge closer to 10K than 5K especially since they are reselling your photos.

To do it right you'll going to need an assistant constantly downloading cards...unless you have 100 4 gig cards. And what about the amount of batteries you're going to go through? Camera and flash batteries?

An average for an assistant is $200/day...that's a grand for all five days right there.

[OTRphoto]

Originally Posted by ShaneKislack

Man, those are ass kicking hours. I would probably charge closer to 10K than 5K especially since they are reselling your photos.

To do it right you'll going to need an assistant constantly downloading cards...unless you have 100 4 gig cards. And what about the amount of batteries you're going to go through? Camera and flash batteries?

An average for an assistant is $200/day...that's a grand for all five days right there.

I made a couple of phone calls to family members who have booked phtoographers for these types of events here in SA.. and they laughed at the 5k budget.

But one suggested that I send in what I would actually quote it for (which came out to close to $9k)... but then offer an alternate quote of the services I would provide for $5k... that way if they realize that everyone is coming in higher - at least they can have my quote for some coverage for the major events for the price the want.

I mean why do you need full photography coverage of a speaker / presentation?? I can understand wanting coverage of the opening cermony - presentation of dignitaries, tours to facilities, the gala and the closing ceremony.