 unknown |
What do you pay yourself? Hi all, this is a very basic question mainly aimed at those doing portraits. Those of you that run your own photography businesses, what do you pay yourself? I realize this will vary of course. How do you figure your earnings? I have been searching for this answer for a few hours now, of coure it may help if I put my glasses on! Thanks to all that respond.
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Mark Feldstein |
Greetings Melissa. I think the reason you're not getting too many replies to this question is because there are so many variables involved in trying to answer it. These include, among others, how much a person things they're worth and that, of course, involves a myriad of other variables and personal issues. I can tell you from experience that most people in this business tend to devalue themselves and, accordingly, their own work and what they pay themselves out of their own profits. They do that for a number of reasons including wanting to get the job or assignment so badly that they're willing to give their time and efforts and yes, even their skills away. True professionals don't do that. So, again from experience, I'll tell you how I bill basically, although it's flexible depending on who the client is, how much work I've done for them in the past and how much I plan to do for them in the future. It's also based on the degree of difficulty, including portraiture, locations, getting to locations or shooting in a studio. [Best sit down for this]. Whether it's portraits or anything else, I charge for travel time, plane trains and automobiles :>) also expenses like film, processing, proofs, polaroids, postage, handling, UPS/Fedex expenses. Expenses are reasonable and necessary costs I incur as a direct or related result of the assignment I shoot or the type of work I do. When in doubt...deduct and they don't include my fees for shooting as those are mine unrelated to expenses. For just straight portraiture, I have a minimum fee of $300 and that covers about 4 hours of my time. It doesn't include film, prints or processing, mounting or framing or travel to the location unless it's local and I just bill for my time to get there. Remember, that's a minimum fee. Friends and family, I don't charge even for expenses. Take it light ;>)
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Christopher A. Walrath |
Nothing so intricate as what Mark lays out. I have a sitting fee of $200.00 and the price of the option chosen depends on the print package that is ordered by the client.
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Mark Feldstein |
And that covers what, exactly, Chris? M.
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unknown |
Hey Mark sorry in the delay of responding back, I really appreciate your putting all that out there and I am really glad I was sitting when you told me to! =-D I also appreciate your input as well Chris. I am trying to learn as much as I can and understand it all at the same time. The books I've got are good but I should look into better ones. I figured since there are many on here that run their own studio's, I would ask in the meantime. I know nothing is better than experience though. I do appreciate the help, thanks again!
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Mark Feldstein |
You ought to join at least one professional association, Melissa and then start attending local chapter meetings. Talk to local shooters and discuss issues that concern you, among others, like pricing. Also, go to ASMP.org, look at publications and get one called Business Practices and also the Form book. ASMP is a great organization, but so is PPofA (or it used to be) WPA, and others. Finally, unless you're charging a lot of dough for prints and packages and frames, AND staying busy at least several hours a day shooting say 5 separate portraits, then a sitting fee of $200, IMHO isn't enough to keep the lights on. One point I have to make over and over again is, don't sell yourselves short. If you're good at shooting portraits, that's a unique skill, requires some talent plus a minimum amount of usually costly equipment to do portraits right. If you lowball your own prices just to keep busy, you're going to end up screwing yourself, no matter what the market is because your reputation is going to be "a spoiler" or "cheapster" or "desparate". If you don't get a shoot initially and they go to walmart for a $10.00 package deal, chances are they'll be back. And if they don't show, you probably don't want that kind of business in the first place. And they'll get what they want to pay for, especially at 10 bucks or whatever. You're quite welcome Melissa, my pleasure. ;>)
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Christopher A. Walrath |
Not much, Mark. Pretty much just film and ME money. If there are any other particulars, such as travel, et al., these are accounted for at the signing of the contract. (Yeah, I see what you're saying, no pat answers.) I honestly don't worry about making much money photographically. But I have done a few sittings, weddings, etc. I was just in a hurry the other night and I should prob put more into my answers. But, Melissa, it really depends on what you wiss=h to get from the experience. If you want to get paid, I mean, keep some dough, then 'What are you worth?' Ah, the age old question. Don't charge to much because people will think 'What's wrong here?' Don't charge too little because people will think 'What's wrong here?' So a little research is definitely in the order here.
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Mark Feldstein |
No sweat Chris. I see what you mean and we've both got a handle on it. If Melissa wants to earn a living from it, essentially she has to plan to charge accordingly. Enjoy the weekend. Mark
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Christopher A. Walrath |
I enjoy your answers and learn a lot from you, Mark. Keep it up. You have a good weekend too. Thank you.
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unknown |
Hi Mark and Chris! Hope ya'll had a great weekend. Mark, I have actually requested information from ASMP a few months back and decided to further look into joining. I haven't heard of PPofA. Going to meetings is good advice, I wished I had thought of that! I'm glad you mentioned it. Both of you have really sound advice on pricing. I've looked into what others are pricing around here as well. Just to get an idea, but I realize the services they offer and their experience is different than mine and something to consider. However I felt it wouldn't hurt just to get an idea and it was a real eye-opener. Chris the question "What are you worth?" really struck me, I'm worth a hell of a lot more than what I considered was fair, but after letting everything both of you said, sink in...I was really devaluing myself. Lots to learn so it's not terrible; better learn now or get an idea of things instead of after the fact.
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