snohomish98 Loc: Coastal Carolina

I have ben a amature Photo guy foy years. I have steped up to free lance photographer now that I retired several years. I have been selling photos for seveal years and
I was told I'm selling too cheap.I have afamily shoot comming up at the beach. I will have to travel to the beach, about a half hour, set up and spend about an hour shoot about a dozen photos or so and print them my self and a few select at Costo.What would be a fair charge if the man annd wife and two small kids about 8 and ten. I'm pretty good at what I do.

QueenChatty Loc: Ontario, Canada

"I was told I'm selling too cheap"
Hard to comment when we don't know what you were charging.
I charge a sitting fee of 50 in the studio and 75 onsite.I would imagine you could charge a little more since you are traveling a little bit to the shoot.
As far as the rest I would be checking around to see what other photographers are charging for prints to gauge your price accordingly for your area.
You don't want to scare them away, nor do you want to undercharge for your time and work.

wilsondl2 Loc: Lincoln, Nebraska

Do you feel good about what are charging? I think that is the most important thing for me. I'm retired too and don't need the money to put food on the table. I would charge more if you have to travail. Then of course charge more. I think the main thing is for you to feel good about what you charge. Some other photographers get upset at what others charge but in America and most of other countries on the Hog we get to charge what we want and feel good about. - Dave

snohomish98 Loc: Coastal Carolina

Thank you for the replys.Since I'm fairly new at this I'm guessing $25.00 an hour wich will include the prossing time, travel and how long it will take to do the shoot. I'm guessing I can make about $100.00 all togather with out itemitizing and nickle & dime to death.Does sound fair?

CaptainC Loc: Colorado, south of Denver

If you are reasonably proficient, $25.00/hr is selling your soul - if you want to call that "fair."
I would think you should charge AT LEAST $75.00/hr. Prints are additional, of course. This would be easier to answer if we saw your work. For all I know, you could be worth $300/hr or $5.00/hr.

You say you are pretty good, but in all honesty, our self-assessments are not worth much. When I though I was pretty good, I was marginal at best.


Personally, I don't give a damn what others are charging. I know what I need to stay in business and that is what I charge. You should figure out what you want/need to make and charge THAT.

Really, $25/hr is a loser and will make it harder to raise prices once you get known as cheap.

BHC Loc: Strawberry Valley, JF, USA

If you're any good, that's giving your time away. I would charge an hourly rate of $50-100 (just for the time you are at the site) plus mileage ($0.50 per mile each way) plus a slightly reduced hourly rate for PP plus printing fees. See what Costco charges and add 50-100%. It's much more business-like to itemize the major components of the job.

Gio Loc: Bentonville, AR.

Good point Captain! Best regards!

Annie_Girl Loc: It's none of your business

If you are selling yourself as a professional photographer for hire why in the world are your printing at Costco? Costco is fine for personal snap shots but professional quailty prints? No!!!

Second $25 an hour is fine as long as you are counting every hour you will put into their session.... drive, photorgraphy, culling of images, editing of images, print sale meeting, ordering of prints, deliver, etc. $25 an hour should not just include the session time (unless you like to give away the cow with the milk so to speak).

RichieC Loc: Adirondacks

Jeeze, the first thing to do is figure what your costs are. Traveling time is legitimate because you can't do other paying work while driving. Cost of your equipment, cost of food, gas, car payment and insurance. Post processing?- adobe suite, computer costs, business insurance, heat, electricity, postage . All are costs of what you have to pay out. You won't itemize all these things, but you can use them to get a handle if your charge even covers cost. You may find out you can't afford to take those photos!


A friend of mine was a copier salesman, he sold a guy a copier then noticed that he was advertising that he would sell copies for 8 cents a copy. Not everybody had one like today, and he was not in the copy business. He was trying to do was offset the price of his new copier. The guy figured that paper was only 1 cent or less- figured 7 cents was a decent profit! My salesman friend pointed out to the man that toner costs, additional upkeep maintenance required for his current volume, wear and tear, even electricity, not to mention paperwork for this new side "business".... he showed the guy that every copy he sold was actually COSTING him 2 cents. (this was a long time ago, and actual prices may be a bit off, but the story is real!)

If you want to be a business, then you have to act like one.

snohomish98 Loc: Coastal Carolina

I am a disabled viet nam veteran and the VA has decided I am unemployable along with social security. I get by with my 2 checks monthly. I love photography and told by some friends I should advertise my small photo businessad make some money at it with the extra time on my hand.
Last year I did a prom shoot with the kids at the beach with a limo. I put all the pictures on a disc and let them make the prints, parents were happy with that and I charged them $75.00 for a little over an hours work. I live close to the beach so no long traveling.

fotogal822

My fee for an hour family session is $50. for one hour. If it runs over that, $25. for an additional half- hour. A family shoot shouldn't take that long. I charge for travel if it's over 20 miles, usually $25.
Any prints, or additional services are extra. You should look on line for what the professional labs charge for their services and, of course, build in a profit for yourself.

In the final analysis, it is what you feel is comfortable or fair for your services. Best of luck!

snohomish98 Loc: Coastal Carolina

thank you for the advice. your rate sounds very reasonable. I bought a H/P printer last year that is portable. I can print 4 X 6 And5 X 9 in the back of my cross over suzuki. dependswhat the customer wants I found a photo place from shutter bug magizine and the prices are reasonable. I will give them a try this week.prices are in line with Costco and theywill make photo corrections

Annie_Girl Loc: It's none of your business

I don't think you understand your costs of doing business correctly. $75 for a session while it seems like you are making $75, your not and I would not be surprised to find out that that session actually cost you money.

here is a cost of doing business calculator for photography, be honest when filling out the numbers:

http://nppa.org/calculator

Blog post about ways to set your pricing: http://www.rockmyphotography.com/photography-pricing-how-to-make-a-profitable-pricing-plan-for-your-business

and a blog that helps you figure out your pricing (I have not used this but it does say it's free)

http://www.themoderntog.com/free-photographers-pricing-guide-overview

and the system I used to help me with pricing: (cost associated with buying the workbook/program)http://www.served-up-fresh.com/easy-as-pie/

texaseve Loc: TX, NC and NH

I have found these links useful, thanks.

billybob40

Do you feel good about what are charging? I think that is the most important thing for me. I'm retired too and don't need the money to put food on the table. I would charge more if you have to travail. Then of course charge more. I think the main thing is for you to feel good about what you charge. Some other photographers get upset at what others charge but in America and most of other countries on the Hog we get to charge what we want and feel good about.

Dave I'm with yoy on this. I charge...
Seniors a buck most of the time.
Vets FREE
What give out I get more then 10 back, pass it on.