toptrainer Loc: Wellington

So they agreed-upon $75 per photo and my information to be posted on each.

User ID

Given the context, thaz pretty decent. You’re not running a business. Better to be known as an affordable competent casual provider than as a freebie sucker.

Also, $$ avoids that weird bit of human nature where if people pay, they tend to be satisfied and realize that they ought not get fussy about decent low $$ work. And they prefer to believe they made a good choice, cuz they paid for it.

But when the price is zero they’ll often take the attitude that a “gift” should be world class quality, customized to their exact needs. (“Could you rent a plane ? We think a bird’s eye view looks best.”)

Thomas902 Loc: Washington DC

"...they would include a credit line on each photo..." This is actually priceless James...
It places you an a category vastly above what others here are stating.
Especially those who are only selling prints (framed of otherwise)

I'm somewhat surprised at Gene's response...
At the zenith of this craft commercial photographers charge a "Day Rate" plus expenses and per diem as appropriate.
Shooting on prospect isn't a viable business plan... Nor is stock imagery

Named Credit is to be cherished... It separates you from "enthusiast" who pontificate about their "worth" yet have no Web Portal showcasing "Named Credit" tear sheets.

Take the $75 and Named Credit and do your very best to nurture this client James...
This is likely the wisest path for you moving forward in a quest to succeed as a commercial photographer.
Virtually all my work now comes from clients I've previously worked for and exceeded their expectations.

This is also true for my Bridal Makeup Artistry... "Referrals" are a key to commercial success!

FYI: I would suggest you look into the American Society of Media Photographers https://www.asmp.org/
Albeit you'll need a sponsor in order to join and a strong portfolio...

Here you'll be able to advertise your services on the ASMP web portal under "Assisting Photographers"
This was my path and served me well... Albeit the work can be brutally challenging (physically) though the pay can be extremely high. You will simply respond to queries with a "Day Rate" and per diem requirement.
(many of my "Assisting" gigs were up to a week in length plus an additional day to/from the site.

All the best on your journey James.
Please stay safe.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

......and $100 is only if you are really hungry and get credits - assuming you are at least an average quality photographer ....

Is this in Wellington Fl ??
.

E.L.. Shapiro Loc: Ottawa, Ontario Canada

Big Problem! The OP did not mention what the photographs are for advertising, display, publication, internal corporate use or public view or what?

The bigger problem! Giving you work away low prices in exchange for publicity is a bad idea, especially if you don't even know the usage and where folks might see your images and credit lines.

If they had to hire a competent commercial photographer, they would have to pay his or her hourly or day rate plus the cost of prints or digital media and possible licensing fees for certain usages and repeat insertions in advertising media. The job might cost them $1,000 or more depending on the time need to shoot and the production cost of the images even without the licensing fees or other royalty-like payments that you may be entitled o.

They are not buying stock images or something you might sell at a crafts show or art fair. They are going to a shooting assignment and a requirement for displayable material.

I won't be redundant and duplicate what Gene wrote but he is 100% right. Photographers mess themselves up and affect the entire industry. I know the last sentence is not sophisticated financial and business fancy speak- but it's a simple truth!

So...If you take on the assignment, do your best work but don't sell yourself short.

PS- I have heard this haggle tens of thousands of times. "If you give me a discount, I will send it to all my friends! Guess what? They will all come in for the discount!

Quixdraw Loc: x

Kind of depends on where you are and what $300 means. I recall the Charles Bronson character in Magnificent Seven being offered $25 for a job, cataloging how much he had been paid in the past, then finishing with the line "Right now, $25 is a lot."

kcooke Loc: Alabama

+1. On the side, I played in a band for 29 years and mostly bluegrass music. If you play music free or low cost everyone expects free or low cost. Been there and done that. Took a while to dig out of that hole. The word gets out. Reminds me of a quote related to the music industry that could be appropriate here for photographic services

The music business is a cruel and shallow money trench, a long plastic hallway where thieves and pimps run free, and good men die like dogs. There's also a negative side.
Hunter S. Thompson
😎

pdsilen Loc: Roswell, New Mexico

I have done a lot of gigs of this nature. Here are the factors that you have to consider. Is this gig for a geographical location or is it an established restaurant? Is this shoot in your local community or do you have to travel? If you have to travel, how far? Will you have to edit your photos? All these things have to be taken into consideration. Also take into consideration, how much time and out of pocket expense will this involve. Then you can negotiate a price with the potential customer.

toptrainer Loc: Wellington

I have a drone , no plane needed.

toptrainer Loc: Wellington

Thank you so much for all the great information and advice.

toptrainer Loc: Wellington

Wellington Florida, correct.