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Old 01-21-2004, 07:51 PM   #1
Idjiit
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Default Photo Folks: I have my first request for a photo shoot... pricing?

Okay, this has to be everyone's least favorite topic everywhere. I've done a bit of searching on the web, looked through photo.net a bit, but I don't dare post there lest I bring the wrath of the photo pros...

The situation is that I've been doing a lot of band photography, and I'm starting to attract attention. I've had a band come out and ask for session (not at a show, unfortunately, which is another story) pricing and I don't even know where to begin. I don't know if I should only be pricing the session, how to set up use stuff... Blah, I really don't even know where to begin. If anyone has some online resources or books to refer to, that would be awesome.

I know it's a hard thing to answer, and sort of a ridiculous thing to ask - but I'm kinda stuck. For what it's worth they "just" want the photo for their website. It's an unsigned band, so there's no label backing and they don't have a huge following at this point. Half of me just wants to say "**** it, I need to build my portfolio - do it for free", but they're willing to pay so it seems silly not to charge.

Thanks!
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Old 01-21-2004, 08:01 PM   #2
fliz
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ask teknisa...
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Old 01-21-2004, 08:18 PM   #3
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If you feel the need to do it for free charge 5 bucks for a cd at least with their photos on it. Other wise anywhere from 30 to 50 bucks an hour is suitable. I'm assuming you'll be using the Drebel, so you should then put the pics on the cd, and save a set for yourself. Seeing as it's your first paid job, if your going film just have them pay for developing and printing, don't worry about marking up the price.

What equiptment will you all be using?

Some good advice is to take lots and lots of shots with many diff poses...that way your clients will have many to choose from.

I'm out so I can post more on this later tonight.

Marisa
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Old 01-21-2004, 08:53 PM   #4
Idjiit
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Quote:
Originally posted by teknisa
If you feel the need to do it for free charge 5 bucks for a cd at least with their photos on it. Other wise anywhere from 30 to 50 bucks an hour is suitable. I'm assuming you'll be using the Drebel, so you should then put the pics on the cd, and save a set for yourself. Seeing as it's your first paid job, if your going film just have them pay for developing and printing, don't worry about marking up the price.
I was thinking 50 bucks an hour as a starting point, so I'm glad I'm not too far off. I think I will err on the low side, however and they'll probably balk at 50 anyway. How much prepping of photos should I be doing? Should the CD basically just consist of unaltered JPG's, and let them figure the rest out? I think they do their own (crappy) web-development. I'm tempted to roll them into a redesign deal so I can have total control, but they definitely can't afford that service of mine (I'm a web-developer by profession).

Quote:
Originally posted by teknisa

What equiptment will you all be using?

Some good advice is to take lots and lots of shots with many diff poses...that way your clients will have many to choose from.
I'll be using the D-Rebel in available light with either the Canon 50MM f/1.4 or Sigma 20MM f/1.8. I figure we'll hit a bar or something like that, but at such settings getting anything other than individual head shots or a very flat group shot will be challenging. Luckily the guys are pretty cool, so I think I'll have a good bit of leeway in experimentation...

Thanks for the advice!
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Old 01-21-2004, 09:53 PM   #5
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Being in a bar gives you challenges to work around. Seeing that MOST bars have little to no lighting you either want to do one of two things.

1. Bring a tripod so you don't have any camera movement with slow shutter speeds. This allows you to use ambiant light.

2. Use the flash. If you don't have any off camera flash eqpt. The flash on the camera will be sufficiant. From many tests of my own and from my work, the 10D tends to over expose on flash. So I don't see why the Drebel wouldn't. Bracketing your exposures should give you enough selection of choosing +1 or -1 stop if the origional is over/underexposed.

Seeing as both of your lenses are fast enough, You shouldn't have many issues with slow shutter speeds, but one rule that is good to follow is to never hand hold at 1/60 or slower.

If the location of where you are going is set, go there before the shoot and take some test shots to see how the exposure levels are. It never hurts to be prapared.

Also, I've noticed that the WB on the 10D is a bit off. If there is tungsten (normal incondessant) lighting in the bar (or where ever you end up) I suggest using an 80A filter.

Anytime you color correct a photo in PS, you start to loose information of detail. It's best to get the originals as close to perfect as possible. I always (on a cd) offer the unaltered unresized original photos as well as color corrected and sometimes resized ones. As a photographer you are there to offer the best of your service.

Pricing is always an issue sometimes, you want to be able to make some profit off of what you are doing, but start out low so that people will pay and recomend you to others. I always say, 'to make money you got to spend money'

If you were taking on an entire session, I would bump the price up to 75 - 100 bucks an hour. It may also help to come up with pakg deals. Say 30 bucks for 1 8x10 2 5x7 and a cd or something like that. You can also add in 'discouts' as well. Say, if you buy so many pictures you'll give them 10% off of an 8x10 print (the 10% would be your markup so they are still paying for the picture, just your not profiting off of it). Otherwise, the flat hour rate works best for starting out. You could also offer pakg deals with web site designs to market yourself better, as you suggested.

So, as a review, lighting, location, and presentation are key.

I hope the shoot goes well for you and I would love to see your results. And yes, still use these for portfolio work, just ask for the bands permission. Oh, and make sure that the owner/manager of the bar gives you permission for a photoshoot. You should always ask when your on location. There have been many students in my classes that had problems with the police taking their film while out on location.

sorry for the speeling errors, I have teh suck when it comes to that.

Marisa
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Old 01-22-2004, 09:37 AM   #6
Idjiit
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Marisa -
I'll be bringing the tripod and monopod, definitely. I've literally never used the DR's flash, and I see no reason to start now. I've talked with the band and they agree that Flash photography in this case isn't really going to get the desired results, but we'll see.

Location shouldn't be a problem around here. There's a good bar downtown where I know the owner and employees, so I reckon we'll show up when they open, get our shots, and get out. If the light proves to be too difficult I'm thinking of perhaps doing some sort of montage type thing where I take individual shots of them and combine it later, dunno.

One of the things they want to get out of it is an 8X10 for a press kit, which I'm assuming means B&W, which is something I'll need to keep in mind. In this case, going with a cleaner shot with a Flash might make sense but I'm not really comfortable using it at this point. FWIW, I am planning on getting a 550EX at some point and learning how to use it effectively.

I'm not sure if they've already found a company to do the 8X10 work or not. Typically the promo 8X10's contain text as well as the band's image, so I'm not sure if that's something I should put together or what.
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Old 01-22-2004, 11:28 AM   #7
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don't forget to cover your costs - you don't want to lose money on the deal - find that spot where they think you are good because you charge a decent amount, but no to much where they can't afford it - taking film... where are we wwii germany - all canon digital cameras over expose - get 2 550exs if you can afford it - you can use them together and it's ttl - watch your depth of field on those fast lenses - it's easy to make the comp card - you can do it in photoshop - take the digital file to a local pro lab and have it printed - better than a computer printout - it's a "type c" print (emulsion based)

-nick
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Old 01-22-2004, 11:39 AM   #8
Idjiit
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Someone needs to be introduced to the "list" function in vBulletin. Thanks for the input.
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Old 01-22-2004, 12:04 PM   #9
1FST4DR
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Quote:
Originally posted by Idjiit
Someone needs to be introduced to the "list" function in vBulletin. Thanks for the input.
how's that...
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