I'm a college student and essentially a hobbyist when it comes to photography. I work in a cookie shop and the other day my boss was lamenting that the photos he's taken of the products for his in store advertising with his consumer grade camera haven't turned out well. I mentioned that I have a much better camera, and that I know a thing or two about photography and could possibly help him out. He was considering hiring a professional photographer.
There will be maybe two dozen (food) products to photograph.
So I'm wondering, what would a professional photographer charge him?
And what would be a reasonable price for me to charge him?
I thinking we'll agree on a price, contingent on his satisfaction with the photos I take. If he likes the photos he'll pay me and he'll use them, if he doesn't he can hire a pro. I'm not really comfortable charging by the hour since I am an amateur, and am not sure how long this will take or how well it will go.
I can't comment on a price since we don't do this kind of work, but...
Do not under any circumstances give him the photos before he pays you. I've seen countless stories where someone does spec work like this and never ends up getting a dime.
Ryan Britton wrote:
I can't comment on a price since we don't do this kind of work, but...
Do not under any circumstances give him the photos before he pays you. I've seen countless stories where someone does spec work like this and never ends up getting a dime.
Boy ain't that the truth. Did some work for the ad dept at a newspaper, spent time, sent them thumbnails, they wanted 5 proofs all processed, when I asked for payment, never heard from them again...and this was a major paper. Needless to say, I don't take calls or emails from them anymore.
You can always charge him a reasonable "setup fee" to do the work. Say, $75 or so, to cover your time of actually doing the work. Be prepared to have a set price for the photos, say, $150, if he wants to use them. This protects the both of you in case you find food photography is not your strong suit. You get payed for your time and will get paid to deliver a good product.
The dont's:
DON'T let him buy one or two images. It's all or nothing.
DON'T say "contingent" on you him liking the photos. Explain up front your experience level and get him to agree to your terms before you ever step foot on site with a camera.
DON'T perform any work without a signed contract.
The do's:
DO get an idea of exactly what he is looking for. Shots on a white seamless, gelled strobes? Just cookies or should there be an entire setup
DO tell him your experience level with food photography
DO make a release so he can use the photos in whatever way you want to allow it. This does NOT mean copyright release, it's usage rights.
DO go out and study up on food photography. There are photographers who make a very good living at this and its more then putting a cookie on a plate and photographing it. If you get paid at all, you need to provide value (give him something he cannot possibly do).
If you have any doubt that you can't provide what he is looking for, then do not charge him. When you charge, you are opening yourself up to legal issues if you are not protected by a contract or insurance. Welcome to the world of pro photography.
