Setting rate for first gig?

I have done several gigs for free to build a small portfolio and get used to shooting.


Now, a client for whom I did a free shoot for wants to know my rate to book me for future events!


They used to have someone who charged $250/hour, but he was too expensive, so they asked for his assistant, who only charged $125/hour.


Is it easiest to bill for hours on-site, and then factor in on the backside travel, gas, post-processing, etc.?


As it stands now, my kit is a Rebel XSi, 17-55, 28-135, 50 1.8, and the 18-55, and iPhoto '09 for processing. My second body is a Canon PowerShot A560--a point and click. My wife won't 'approve' more gear until I have some income to justify this little habit.


[Just saw that Aperture is only $69 on the academic price at our university bookstore.... Might have to pick that up next if gigs start coming in...]





Thanks for any tips and suggestions you might have!


Randy

Ask whatever you think the job is worth. Around my neck of the woods, I can't get $125/hour (let alone $250). As I don't sell prints, I base my price on the complexity of the job at hand (a family shot with 25 subjects would be more expensive than a family shot with 3). With a wedding, if I can shoot bridal shots ahead of time (therefore making the actual wedding day less stressful), then I'll actually give the couple a discount (even though it would require more hours of shooting).


Oh, and when I said I can't get $125/hr, I wasn't kidding. The last potential customer I talked to (via email) wanted a family portrait session done with grandparents, parents, and grandchildren (I think it was about 8-10 people). She wanted an overall family picture, individual family pictures, and pictures of the children. She wanted the pictures taken at one of two locations, both of them farms (one was about 40 minutes travel, the other about 5 minutes travel). I sent her an email with the quote of $115 (for the entire shoot) for the farther location and $95 for the closer one. I never heard from her again.

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Originally Posted by Sean Setters

I sent her an email with the quote of $115 (for the entire shoot) for the farther location and $95 for the closer one. I never heard from her again.

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<span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"]That is SO wrong!!! What is your competition charging?<o:p></o:p>


<span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"]My wife is my "manager" as she works for a school system and has access to tons of parents (co-workers) who want portraits of their children. So far she's proven to be pretty reliable at drumming up business. I'm still working on my portfolio so I'm willing to make some concessions on price. As an example, I'm doing a first year portrait session for a woman who usually takes her child to the "studio" at Wal-Mart. I told my wife to let her know that I'd do it for whatever she's used to paying.<o:p></o:p>


<span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"]When I first started I'd shoot for free. I only do free work for family now. What you charge is very personal. I'd recommend that you follow Sean's advice, "Ask whatever you think the job is worth". Remember, when you're done shooting, you're not done working. Processing files (even if it's just basic RAW conversion) can take almost as long as you spend shooting, sometimes longer. If you're giving an hourly quote I'd consider what you think an hour of your time is worth and double or triple that to cover travel time, processing time, etc. That being said, if you're still building your portfolio and that is as important to you (or more) as the money is then I would consider either continuing to shoot for free or for just enough money to make it worth your while.

it is hard to come up with a price on one of your first gig i live in the NYC area and i have my what i call rates ranging from 1/4, 1/2, 3/4, 1, 1 1/2 days jobs are priced as follows my day rate is is based on a 6hr day at $1500.00/DAY so 1/4 rate is 375 and so on. I then add additional fees for thing like albums prints and extra editing.





i find one of the best things you can do is build a price list explaining what the client is receiving for that price





good luck

Ignore the prices that your client has liked and hated. Set your own price, reasonable for your skill level and ability, regardless of the gear you have now. Granted, it's not about the gear, but if you start charging the right rate, you can rent the key pieces you might need and then slowly start investing in the stuff that makes a difference. Charge too low of a rate, and you'll have a hard time inching those rates up to where they should be, and you'll struggle to justify investing in more/better gear on the way up.


I'd suggest another Rebel body, perhaps an older one, as a spare, then sell your PowerShot. Don't sell your 18-55 until you have the 17-55 and something else as wide as the 17mm or 18mm (perhaps the 10-22). In other words, have two of everything, in some manner. However, the gear is secondary...it's more about your ability to use the gear.