Questions on Pricing your Shoots
Hi everyone
looking for your brilliant advice once again.
I, like most people, would like to get some fee for my time as a photographer. I have been doing it for several years now, and have a strong enough reputation in my city where people know my business name and my images.
I am offering the following rates for models.
$200 for a location test shoot, 2 hours, 15 high res edited images.
$350 for a studio test shoot, 3 hours, 20 high res edited images.
(australian dollars, obviously)
I have had no response at all to my ads on various websites. Lots of people see them, but they just get ignored. People comment on my images every day saying ‘I want to work with you! Your work is amazing!’ but when it comes time to me saying ‘it will cost this much’, they never respond. And yet whenever I shoot with a model TF*, they tell me stories of how they paid upwards of $1500 for a terrible photographer to take their photos, and they got one print.
So what am I doing wrong? Am I charging too much? Too little? What do I need to do to bring in costumers who don’t only want to shoot with me if it’s free?
Advice/stories/personal experience is greatly appreciated at this time, as I am about to go into my own studio, and am a little scared I won’t be able to stay there!
EDIT: If it’s helpful to know, my rent on the studio is $480/month. which is prett good considering it’s right in the centre of the city.
Dana DiPasquale
from what i have heard, i think that is too little for that many shots and editted at that, but i have no advice forgetting any paying clients
fallenrosemedia replied
thanks Dana, i think I will try raising it a little and see what happens. :)
jacqleen
You have a very edgy, editorial style and because of that…..........I think you need to charge more than what you are…............the prices that you’re charging are good for family or children’s session, not for a model or a fashion shoot…..................... I look at it this way….. whatever Price you decide to charge your clients, its because that’s what you would pay for someone who would shoot you the same way for the same service….......... nothing less, and if anything 10% higher…............... if I don’t respect my own work or its value, then I have no business expecting others to respect it as well…. the 10% higher fee is mainly for me….....it always pushes me to do better, since I’ve place a higher value, it means I better deliver a higher quality of images….that’s all….it keeps me challenged!!!
Best wishes and follow your dreams…...........and don’t settle for anything less than what you deserve!
fallenrosemedia replied
that’s awesome advice. i know that i respect my work, but I guess I have doubts people would want to pay a whole lot for it. But i will have to change that way of thinking, obviously!
i will try the 10% thing! thanks very much :)
HenkStolk
ok, I give you what I know…
Models are not the gold pot you’re looking for. Most of them trying to get a free portfolio since most of them are students, trying to earn some extra. A few are serious about getting a model career. But that market is so competitive and many wont make it at all.
Saying they have done a msaaive shoot is just a story for them to make you want to shoot them.
I started with TFP as well to get my studio lights going.
Now I do charge for the sessions if the model contacts me. And why not because we already have thousands of shots and really dont need more.
I charge 60 per hour and give them a disc with low res, basic edited shots.
If they want more, like editing, high res, etc, they need to pay for that and again, 60 per hour. ahh NZ$.
Only when I need something for study, I do TFP and they get a disc with low res and anything more, I charge..
But dont have the illusion (sorry for this) you can pay the mortgage with this.
There are simply too many ‘photographers’ who enjoy shooting young girls for free.
I got contacted once, told her my fee and she bluntly told me she would look further for a free session somewhere else.
Sorry for the ‘sad’ news.
I have my studio at home so after the investment in gear, no more costs. But if you need to rent a place, etc.. bad times ahead :(
Earhart Chappe...
we just moved into a studio space in January which is utterly convenient but also the cost has been over our heads..i thought if we moved into a space work would come flowing in.work in flowing in yes. models love to work with us yes. companies love our ad pics yes.but making enough money to cover expenses no way.are work is getting better. and i love shooting every day.but do to the economy in America right now /with the fact we are in a small town.i am scared half to death.even weddings have been hard to come by in the economy.i have been networking my butt of for the last 30 days. but have gotten no where.
i ended up moving into the studio with my daughter , so i would not have a housing cost as well.
don’t get me wrong i am glad i made the choice. but like you. i have the same models for tf no problem. but when it comes to charge them instead..the phone suddenly goes dead. if it was not for my alimony which ends next month i would be freaking out. but i am saving my self for april 1 when there is no more support.
models contact us all the time on model mayhem, which i believe you use as well.but because we are located where we are, (and two hours away from a major city).
your work is amazing. and your in a good location .here because its a small town we charge less. but if i was in dc or nyc or fla or ca (but i cannot move as my custody agreement will not allow me to move with my daughter). i would be charging the same as you. i think here at least its dry and people are freaking out about the economy.good luck with your venture i would love to hear how it turns out for you.