$$$ what to charge??

[trueartsphotography]

Hi!

I am a new photographer and have been asked to shoot a local hammock company's product line. They have defined their specifications, and detailed exactly what they want to see. They would like me to take the product out into the field and set it up in different locations.

They will be using the shots in catalogues, on their website and for trade shows. I will be using film.

I haven't done commercial before and I have no idea what to charge them. They are clearly hunting for bids, but have offered future work for the right bidder.

I am also not sure about contracts in this case, should I prepare my own? I will be using a few friends as models for some of the products, and I imagine I will need model release forms.

Please advise!? What to bid?

[tirediron]

If you're asking these sort of questions, than it sounds to me like perhaps you're not ready to take on commercial work, however, that aside here are a few thoughts:

-You will need model releases for everyone who will appear in the images, consult a lawyer to get a proper document drawn up.

-As far as a contract goes, that is normally up to the company hiring you to draft, however, make sure that you're happy with it. Also make sure that it includes the final dispostion of the copyright; that is: Will you be allowed to use the images for your portfolio, etc.

-Cost for materials I generally bill at twice my purchase price (I don't buy anything in enough volume to rate a discount)

-Cost for the shoot, I bill at a straight per-hour rate (I charge $50/hour). Ensure that you know how many different images they want for the final product and do some practice runs to figure out how long it will take you. Don't forget to consider travel costs, meals etc in your final bid. Time overruns and forgotten items will normally come out of your pocket.

-Do you have all of the equipment? Lights, reflectors, diffusers? White cards, a flash/incident light meter. Do you have people lined up to act as dog's bodies to move lights, hold up reflectors etc?

-Good luck!

[trueartsphotography]

If you're asking these sort of questions, than it sounds to me like perhaps you're not ready to take on commercial work

I agree I am new, but they know that. They're new too. Plus, we all have to start somewhere! I see it as a learning opportunity I cannot pass on.

I believe that this will take me about a week to complete, or about 20 hours. So I will bid an hourly rate as you suggested. I usually just charge a flat rate though. I have model releases already so that's covered, and they have said I will be able to use the images in my portfolio, I will be sure to get that in the contract.

Well, I think I have an idea where to start! Thanks!!

[JoeMezz]

Might need property releases to.. depending on where you are shooting and where the photos will end up. (if they go to an ad agency - they may require property releases as well as model releases) Something to be aware of. I am no expert - but have seen this in the past.

[mindforge]

Might need property releases to.. depending on where you are shooting and where the photos will end up. (if they go to an ad agency - they may require property releases as well as model releases) Something to be aware of. I am no expert - but have seen this in the past.

That's true. But, in the United States you only need to get property releases under certain conditions. Also, I believe you only need to get them if the building was built after 1990. IS that right?

I just want to know now because it has been brought up.

Setting a price is actually an exhaustive process in the beginning. I have a spread sheet setup to do my pricing for me based on the estimated number of hours, miles away and travel time, post processes time (guess based on kind of shoot) and more.

Also, if someone asks you to do product photography, you need to understand the scope of their project. I have never done product photography, but I am a professional graphic designer. I will also be following my rules in graphic design for this. Your price needs to be based on their use. I give huge discounts to non-profits that I like. If it is a one-off newspaper ad that I am designing then it is pretty cheap, usually. If it is the framework for their entire identity and will be used for a decade, well I charge much more. The use determines an increase in price. Now, I have a good portfolio, I can charge this for my graphic design and after they pay their nephew 20 bucks to make an ad their realize why.

Product photography is akin to graphic design in this sense. If they are going to be using it for all their advertising for the years to come you need to explain that you need to be compensated for how often they use your image. I have even setup a contract with a price-per-use and they had to send tear sheets within two weeks or be subject to legal action. My graphic design contract was written by a lawyer though.

I had to do work like this for free years ago. I did an entire identity rebuild, website, advertising for free once on the stipulation that my logo accompanied all advertising. I did research on them first and found that they advertised a lot. Now, I do their higher end magazine ads, steady income each holiday season. Sometimes, you just have to take what you can to break even, or get new gear. I used to even trade graphic design for services. I traded a car wrap design once for free coffee for a year. I traded a sign design for new tires.... I did this as a professional, contract and all and I ended up getting more value out of the trade. The coffee trade was worth more than $1,000 for a very, very simple car wrap. The tire trade was good because they were expensive tires, if I would have bought them I would have never bought those, so the value was about what I would be paid normally, but hey, I needed tires. Sometimes, payment can even come in the form of professional leads.

I did work for a family member for free once, I don't normally do graphic design for free for anyone, I believe it drags the entire career in the dirt. So, I did it for free to make contacts. The deal was he had to talk me up to all his buddies -- basically around 20-30 business owners and if I was around he had to introduce me. Needless to say, the professional leads I got from this work was well worth it.

Sorry, I kept going and going. My point is. Sometimes, cash is not the only form of payment. You need to know your own worth. Always charge for the small stuff too. Like travel for six miles, charge them for time and gas. The small stuff adds up together.

[tegan]

That's true. But, in the United States you only need to get property releases under certain conditions. Also, I believe you only need to get them if the building was built after 1990. IS that right?.

In both the U.S. and Canada, you would only need a property release in some advertising situations. As far as buildings built after 1990 in the US you are talking about architectural copyright and there is an exemption in the law for photography as in taking photos of an architecturally copyrighted building does NOT violate that copyright.

Tegan

[mindforge]

Yeah. I wasn't sure about the coverage of that copyright. I thought you couldn't sell pictures or make money off them... thanks for clarifying.

[scorpio_e]

I would do it at cost. You have to start somewhere and this sounds like a great opportunity to get your name out there.
I have found that one thing leads to another
Best of luck to you!!!

[tomorrowstreasures]

You guys offered a lot of really good information here!!!