I've recently been asked if I'd like to sign up with a photography agency which is looking for young photographers/models/MUAs etc.
I'm filling in the sign up for and it's asking questions such as...
*How much will I charge for a half day shoot
*How long will a half day shoot last
*How many looks will be covered on a half day shoot
*How many edited shots will I include in the price
Then the same questions for a full day shoot.
I know I'm far from professional but I know that you are the best people to ask.. What are the standard answers to these questions? Or how much do you think I should be charging?
Please see my images at my website www.martybell.co.uk
Marty, I'm not a people photographer, but there are some basics you need to cover right off the bat, such as:
1) what does it cost you to be shooting for a day? (add up your camera gear costs and average that out over a year or however long most of your gear lasts, same with your computer equipment, etc, then figure out how many days per year it will take you to recoup that cost). So for instance, if your gear cost you $10K altogether, and you figure it'll last you three years, then your basic equipment costs are $3.33K per year. If you hope to shoot 40 days each year, then your basic equipment costs are $83 a day.
2) now calculate in your other costs. Time (how long will it take you to edit and colour correct a half day shoot). Travel. Admin/Accounting. Etc, etc. What your other costs of doing business, average that out per shooting day, too.
And,
3) what do you think you are worth? What's a minimum wage you'd accept, vs what would you really like to make each day? From a quick look at your site, you're a good photographer, so don't undersell yourself.
Just make sure you're covering your own costs AND then making at least a small profit on top of that, otherwise there's no point in even continuing unless you're doing this for fun so someone else can make money off of you.
