Ugly Hedgehog Newsletter

Hi,

I am launching my career as a photographer, but I don't know what to charge for a session. Mostly, I will be traveling to people's homes. I have already been asked to do a wedding but don't know if I have the proper equipment to handle it. I can't really afford to buy a new camera or equipment because I am not making any money as of yet, however I have one shoot coming up and there will be 5 kids, 2 of school age. What should I use to gauge my pricing and about the wedding. Any guidance you can give me will be greatly appreciated.

Pamela

lindann

This is exactly what I want to know too. I will be doing photoshoot at people's bed and breakfast.

Kenneth Pierce Loc: Campbellsville, Kentucky

Check other photographers' prices in [your} area. Don't undercut their prices! Also there are a lot of business books that present to you ways to determine your prices.
Google "business side of photography" should find some interesting reading. Ann Monteith (spelling?) has an excellent program on business practices.

Dennis

Off site shoot means travel so you must include that expence
The amount of time it takes to do the shoot, determine an hourly rate for your time.
Consider depreciation, your camera equipment nor your car will last forever.
If you are going to process the shots yourself and print them then there is more time, equipment and printing cost to consider.
If you will be delivering the finished product then more transportation cost.
Other things to consider are insurance, advertising, marketing, and accounting to name a few

martin muller

Hello, I am a rookie who has shot several weddings for friends and relatives. I used 85mm, 50mm, 28mm, (all fast lenses)quality flash like Metz with light modifier. Keep it simple, at least for a few weddings. Probably used the 50mm the most each wedding. Of course there are zoom lenses now, for $$$, one len, the right lens, can do it all. Magazine ads and internet ads make you think you need every lens and gadget ever made. For me, I would focus on one sector of the industry to begin with but you know your capabilities and I don't. Best wishes with your endeavors.

shanna2788 Loc: Indiana

Iam in the same boat as you, wanting to cross over but have been learning more than a few hard lessons along the way! Best of luck, but don't lose sight of why you want to do this in the first place.

marcomarks Loc: Ft. Myers, FL

There are many professionals who who have priced their "sessions" low and then made huge profit on prints. Let's say, you're doing a portrait session in the home. If they are local, charge them $50 for a one hour session or $100 for a 2 hour session up front. More than 25 miles, add something for gas. That doesn't sound like a lot and it isn't but it covers your expenses.

Never give them a CD or DVD of shots so they can go get their own prints at WalMart although you can give them a CD of "proofs" to choose from that have a watermark of your company name emblazoned all across the shots so they can't be satisfactorily printed.

Set your prices for each print size, such as 4X6, 5X7, 8X10, 11X14, 13X19, etc. that is 3X what you would pay to have it printed and a nice printing lab (Google search!), even if you're printing them yourself for less. If they order one 8X10 of a specific shot, that's the price. If they want another duplicate of the same shot, reduce the price of the duplicate to 2.5X or 2X your cost of having them printed. There's less profit on the duplicate but you got max profit on the first one. This encourages them to buy for relatives or have relatives buy along with them to get the discount.

It's feasible your portrait session could bag, let's say, 25 or 30 prints and 10 or more duplicates. Now your paltry session charge has turned into several hundred dollars and they feel they got tangible products for their money paid and literally forget about the session charge.

Weddings are harder to price but it would have to include hours you are going to be shooting, number of shots you guarantee you will take, and how many you feel will be usable to hand over to them when it's all over. Sales of prints are added on top of those factors.

Unfortunately, everybody has gone mad with number of shots taken and it's up to around 1,800 to 2,000 shots taken and 1,500 handed over to the purchasers. By my calculations that's one shot every 2.8 seconds throughout the day and it's impossible for one photographer. You'll have to start out with smaller packages for the more thrifty bridal party instead of jumping in at the same price as those who have webpages full of experienced beautiful PhotoShop altered work.

Initially go for the purchaser who wants 350 shots taken and they get 200 on DVD with a couple 4X6 books for parents and a single 11X14 for framing. Offer them optional printing services but don't expect a lot because they are probably on a budget. Have a second better package with 500 shots taken and they get 300. This will put you into a marketplace of those who are on a budget and can't afford $2,500 for 2,000 shots. Charge $500 for your basic package and $750 for the premium package. It's not the cash cow that those with experience and incredible PhotoShop abilities are getting but it will get you started, get you known, and your work will sell itself if you are good.

Much of wedding photography marketing, at least around my region, is created by word of mouth among brides and upcoming brides, wedding planners, etc. instead of paid advertising. I know several who have never advertised anywhere and are busier than they can handle.

Then start nudging up your prices and possibly the number of shots taken per wedding until you are headed toward big bucks, bigger responsibility, PhotoShop work on your shots all week long, and having multiple shooters.