p.1 #1 · Need help with coming up with an estimate/pricing
Hello everyone!
I have been asked to travel to National Fencing events and set up a studio within the venue to take formal, posed portraits of the fencers. The person who would like to hire me for this position is an old friend from when I used to be involved in fencing as a competitor. He's a very reasonable guy and he has the sole vending contract with the US Fencing Association for photography as well as licensed apparel. One prerequisite that the US Fencing organization has is that the would want an unlimited usage right to any photo taken by the photo vendors to publish on their website or their magazine. They would give a credited byline in the case that they would use those photos.
These events are held in convention centers with high ceilings and a lot of fencers attending along with their support staff- coaches, parents, and siblings.
I would be taking posed portraits of people who were attending the events within my 'studio', with no sitting fee being charged. With that said, there is tremendous potential for money to be made selling prints to the parents of young fencers.
What I've been asked for is an estimate of what I would like to attend these events as a contracted photographer. I have some of the lighting I will need and my friend who would be contracting me also has a good amount of what we would need.
Assuming all expenses are covered, would it be reasonable for me to ask for a percentage of print sales as well as a per day rate? If so, what is the usual split with print sales when one is being contracted? I would also have to handle the post-production of the photos, so I would definitely need an assistant on set. What do you think I should bill out for an assistant?
Thank you for your help and input. It is greatly appreciated
p.1 #2 · Need help with coming up with an estimate/pricing
I don't do this type of work so take what I say and throw it away ;-). Since the company wants to have unlimited usage and will give you credit, they probably don't want to pay you anything. As for the market to buy prints at live events, I've been reading a lot on fm about people who do this and are starting to have issues selling anything, but they're at different types of events in different markets. It just depends on the market of the demographic you're serving. In California, the vast majority of consumers outside the top 10% do not value the printed image right now. They want digital images to print themselves at Costco and they don't even value those as a whole. CA is also in a massive recession right now and even the top 10%ers are freaking out. Looks like you're in New York in which case I don't know. You're also dealing with fencing which, forgive me for judging, sounds like a hobby for children with wealthier parents.
Assuming all expenses being covered is obviously not enough. Even paying you a daily rate doesn't cover overhead. You must make an actual profit. I wouldn't ask for a percentage of anything. They're your images, if you sell your image to a person, it's your money. Assistant rates in LA range from $200 to $500 per day depending on the type of assistant. Somebody schlepping gear around is $200. If the company wants to use your images with unlimited use, boy, I don't know. People pay to be involved with that company so they should pay for images. However, if it gets you access to people with money......
Are you printing on site or uploading to a gallery?
p.1 #3 · Need help with coming up with an estimate/pricing
From my viewpoint the USFA has two options if they want unlimited rights to your work.
1. Hire you at a specified daily rate that you negotiate, plus ALL income from photographs you sell is yours, and you retain the ultimate copyright and unlimited use as the originating photographer, or;
2. Hire you at significantly higher daily rate wherein all photography you perform is theirs, lock stock and barrel. You would have no copyright and no future use of the photography. In this case they have to designate what they are charging for the formal portraits.
In both cases you are "working for hire" as a casual employee or contract employee, just with different terms.
As cineski mentioned, coverage of expenses is not the issue. Your value as a photographer trying to make an income and profit is the issue.
If you want to keep it simple, start scenario 1 above at all expenses (which includes to and from travel, by the way) plus 46 dollars an hour to cover your income profit, retirement set-aside, federal, state, and local taxes.
Scenario 2 would start at $65 per hour becuase you get no other income at the site. Remind them you are providing your own equipment and have to both amortize it and replace it, which is a significant expense as a private contractor. You are giving them a discount at this rate becuase you are not available to take other work during this time (which might pay you more) and it is less than your normal on site fee.
ALSO...........VERY IMPORTANT..........your contract needs to indicate that you will be shooting JPEGs and NOT doing ANY post production work. If they want same, you charge it at your normal hourly rate for lab time and it will be billed (and paid for before photos are delivered) seperately.
