Hi all,

Searched but couldn't find anything.

This is the email I received today:

I left you a voicemail on the same topic just a minute ago. I wanted to contact you for my client to get an estimate for taking up to 10 headshots at the customer’s site. They will need the portraits soon for a website project that is underway.

I don't know how to price this. I asked these questions back:

Studio or environmental?

Need just for website or need full res?

Any suggestions on price, or other questions I should ask?

I have all the equipment needed, but I will need to hire an assistant to help with of camera lighting/reflector.

Thanks!

My Simple Suggestion: Assume they will want more than you will anticipate. (sounds kinda illogical eh?)

IF they say "website only" assume that means full hi res digital files (sooner or later...probably sooner...probably at no extra cost).

IF they say "location" then assume they mean location AND it has to look like a studio.

IF they say: "we need it now" assume they will not be patient with you.

IF they say: "We really like your work," assume they will not hesitate showing it to someone else to try to get the job done cheaper/faster/cheaper/free.

Of course, your particular "client" could be the exception to the Rule.

I hope these comments help you. They are not written just for laughs, but anyone who has "been there, done that" will probably get a chuckle or two.

OK, so say they want environmental (so I don't need to bring a "studio"), hi res, 10-20 headshot images. My travel is about 40 miles round trip. I want the job but don't want to under value my work. I have done some commercial jobs but nothing like this. I'm in Nor. Cal. Any thoughts on cost?

You won't like my answer.

A: Only you can tell how much your time/creativity/effort/name are worth.

Really.

Anything you hear from anyone else is what they think "THEIR" time and value and creativity is worth.

Another Simple Suggestion: Price yourself at a point where you can sleep well at night, sheltered, fed, and with satisfaction. Otherwise, it is not worth it unless you are getting some other satisfaction (as in a hobby). IF it is a hobby, do it for free.

I do corporate portrait
I charge 50$/ portrait
-minus 10% if 10 and more
-minus 20% if 20 and more
my clients are very confortable with those prices
never had any complaint

hope this will help
jean-yves

jannaweiss,

I'm not a pro, but I spent a lot of years in marketing and product development. Now I'm in the restaurant business.

Here's what I would do;

1. Price ONE headshot. Include everything, even an assistant.
2. Subtract from your costs, your assistant's time, and travel time.
3. Multiply by the number of headshots you're going to shoot.
4. Decide if you want to offer a "quantity" discount. (I wouldn't)
5. Add travel time and assistants time.
6. Quote it.

The price for one headshot should be higher than if you shoot ten, just factoring in travel time. Set up time is the same as one or for ten.

Good luck and +1 to what Steady said.

Bob

I do corporate head shots in NYC and I'm on the less expensive side . That is my fulltime work. I charge $500.00 for the first person and $95.00 for each other after I"m set up. If I have to travel more than 30 min ( not likely in Manhattan) I charge and extra $50.00 for travel. For a CD of hi-res files I get between $500.00 and $1500.00 depending on the client and the amount of files. Again I'm on the less expensive side.

+1 to what steady said. But keep in mind that no photographer went out of business for turning down a bad deal. But many have from taking them. (I wish I could remember who said that ugh)

Thanks.

Steady, always words of wisdom. Thank you!

Jean, Bob, and M-E-P, all great advice to consider! You have given me a starting point, that I appreciate.

I really wish I was in the NYC market!

On location - $400.00 for one shot - $130.00 each additional shot. Hi-Res, Color and B&W provided on CD. PP at $65.00 per hour if requested.

damm
i thought I was expensive...
jean-yves

I work in a large medical practice in Dallas. We were paying $300 a head shot and traveling to the studio. I believe this was just for a low res image for web-site and marketing. Hope this helps.
Walt

I am not in a high end area like California. I charge between $125.00 and $150.00 per person. If they have 10 or more almost always $125.00. In my area I have trouble getting much more since so many work for 2/3 that price.
Not sure why you need an assistant for such a simple job. The last group of 8 bankers I did took 40 minutes to set-up, mostly due to loading equipment from car to upper floor shooting area. About 2-3 minutes per person shot between meetings. Perfect images and everyone was back to work fast.Outside, natural light would have been easier. They do not want to spend 20-30 minutes doing a photo. I was out within 1.5 hours. Commercial clients expect a fast shoot, great images, and fast delivery. I retouched back at the office and a carrier picked up the DVD that same day.
$300.00 each in Dallas sounds more like it. Last time I went to Dallas on a job and tried some marketing all I got was lost. Will bring a GPS next time around.

Steady said hi-res for website? Did I misread that? 100 dps is overboard, even, and 72 is standard.

Usually when they want it done at their location it means they are looking for a lower price. When I did this stuff for a living I charged more if not at my studio because everything had to be hauled there, and it is 5 times as much work. Don't work too cheap. I would calculate the price based on time (number of hours you will work and time for travel & setup at your expected hourly rate)+ costs. Don't forget to add on the cost of an assistant and a mileage charge for the car. Add on a little time for the unexpected. Listen to Steady, above. Jean says $50. each, not at all enough.

pilles wrote:
Steady said hi-res for website? Did I misread that? 100 dps is overboard, even, and 72 is standard.
I think what was meant is that they may ask for web resolution, but later they may ask for a print. So you shoot hi res. Heck, many people shoot RAW plus jpeg anyway. Memory is cheap.

Sass Quatch wrote:
Jean says $50. each, not at all enough.

Try to ask for more here and if you succeed, I'll give you a brand new BMW 2009...

Janna, don't go to high, especially if you don't have much experience in that type of work.
Agree with jeffries,
you don't need an assistant.
Anyway, good luck!

Jean-Yves

Jim Rickards wrote:
pilles wrote:
Steady said hi-res for website? Did I misread that? 100 dps is overboard, even, and 72 is standard.
I think what was meant is that they may ask for web resolution, but later they may ask for a print. So you shoot hi res. Heck, many people shoot RAW plus jpeg anyway. Memory is cheap.


Gotcha. Hadn't thought of that. Out of it too long to think commercial.

Here is another opinion. Please take these in the manner they were intended. I hope that I can help you with your conundrum. If you don't like my suggestions or comments simply forget them.

I think you are seriously under pricing this at $50 a person. If you are unsure of your talents or how to accomplish maybe you shouldn't take the job.

I think you need to understand the intent of the images. If it is just pictures of their staff on their website what is the company and what do they do. Are they lawyers that charge $600/per hour? I believe you should charge for things that you are not thinking about.... Overhead is a lot and you should factor it in as you set prices. Rent, Lights, Equipment, etc. When you set prices low because you don't understand how to price you seriously affect the professionals in your area. Just my opinion.

by environmental photos do you mean people in their office or doing their job? This could mean that you have to setup 10 different times

1 hour for unload and setup
5-10 minutes per shot (5 minutes between)
20 minutes to discuss concepts with clients
pack car
drive
edit
copy to CD
Cost of the CD
assistant (if needed)
I'm sure I'm forgetting things

one pricing model
$150 for 12 month licensing of each image for web
$100 for shooting each of the 10 clients
$100 for high res images

second pricing model
I would consider at least 8 hours for this and you should make at least 100 an hour so at a minimum 800. They are paying for talent and skill.

well if nothing else I hope it made you think.

Good Luck,
Jim

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