I have a pretty good idea already, but I thought this thread could serve as a good barometer for others if/when they get to the point where they want to earn money from photography.

Here's the deal, I got offered to shoot a party for some Nintendo exec on Dec 7th. Keep in mind they have a huge budget for a 4 hour party. I have a figure in mind of how much my time is worth per hour (an honest number), so I'm going to double it knowing that it will take at least another 4 hours to process the images. I'll also have to get details on if they want prints or just a cd of images, and charge accordingly.

I don't think that shooting a party warrants the same kind of pay as shooting a wedding, simply because I won't have to corral everyone for group photos or deal with a bridezilla. But I'm confident I can capture the mood of the party well and get a lot of outstanding images, to the point that the execs will be very pleased.

So if you guys were faced with how much to charge a client in a similar situation, WWnsopD?

I'd charge a Wii and every game/accessory they make.

Done.

Originally Posted by thechickencow

I'd charge a Wii and every game/accessory they make.

Done.

I second that motion.

Brilliant!

I want to go to a party at the Mushroom Castle...

well, how about we start with general prices for wedding photography since those numbers are all over the place. then we'll factor in your location, the fact that it's NOT a wedding and the premise that they have a huge budget.

my calculations show you should make this much:

^

and I'd make it a Wii and DS while you're at it.
Seriously. If you're into games or not, ask them if you can get a "wii setup".
You can sell it for bank even if you don't want it.

Otherwise I'd charge ~$500 I guess figuring somewhere around $50/hour.

I also was thinking $50/hour but I'm really liking this wii idea.

Originally Posted by tardypizza

I also was thinking $50/hour but I'm really liking this wii idea.

just ask for money once you determine a dollar amount, i've worked parties (catered) for Microsoft, Real, Amazon, HP, etc etc etc and i've never asked to be paid in product...maybe i think it's tacky, maybe i just don't want to offend them, maybe i'm scared they'd look for someone else to work with. plus, companies like that would rather put an 'expense' like a photographer fee through the AP department as a monetary value, rather than product and revenue loss.

I was being facetious, I wouldn't really ask for a wii. It just puts a smile on my face entertaining the idea that I could be paid with one.

Originally Posted by tardypizza

I was being facetious, I wouldn't really ask for a wii. It just puts a smile on my face entertaining the idea that I could be paid with one.

*sulks into corner*

so what's the party for anyway?
and will you be paid by Nintendo, or just someone who works for them?

I'll have more info about the party later, but the Nintendo exec contacted an event planner and then they contacted me. The exec told them the total budget # and so the event planner wants to know how much I will charge. I'm sure I could get whatever I want, within reason.

Originally Posted by subimatt

I want to go to a party at the Mushroom Castle...

mushroom stamp?

+1 for not underestimating your worth.

After I explained the details of how much work is involved behind the scenes to the party planner, I went with $75/hr. She though about it a minute then came back with $100/hr for the actual party and then $50 for processing time. Not really sure why she needed it to be different, but I'm not asking questions either.

Cha-ching!

There's your new computer.

No kidding, but I really have to start thinking about saving for my December trip to Mexico. $600 would get me about 2 weeks of food, fuel and lodging. My home computer better need nothing more than a cpu fan.

nice, grats ted!

Now I need to throw together a business card pretty quick. I got an offer from overnightprints.com for 100 free cards that I need to take advantage of.

I think that sounds pretty fair for price, and $600 for them is fairly cheap.

congrats, maybe i can learn something from you this week.

Just got the confirmation call, we're 100% go. Sounds like the event is now at a banquet hall so the lighting won't be nearly as bad as I previously envisioned (outdoors at someone's house). I still need to find some time to practice my off camera/dragging the shutter/flash techniques.

Yesterday, they were trying to get me to make a cd of all the images to hand out that night (probably to cut down on the post-processing time and $$). It took some daft footwork to get them to see it my way: I shoot RAW - images have to be sorted and manually processed, especially to fit them on 1 cd - I'm more concerned with quality than with money - I can get them a cd the next day after some quick PP - etcetera.

No way was I going to hand them a cd of everthing I shoot that night.

Originally Posted by tardypizza

No way was I going to hand them a cd of everthing I shoot that night.

Why not? Just figure in the lost print revenue, and presto... $3000+


...on a more serious note, is this "work for hire", or are you retaining your copyright?

As far as giving them everything that night, I really just don't want to be pressured to do all the work in one sitting, like processing images on my laptop while they're tearing everything down. I suppose I could set my cameras on "small jpg" and just hand them over straight out of the camera, but at that payscale I sure don't want to hand over any crap, like OOF or low quality shots.

Originally Posted by mkfotos

...on a more serious note, is this "work for hire", or are you retaining your copyright?

Well, it's through a 3rd party and there have been no mention of contracts. I'm kind of considering it "work for hire" as these shots will be of no use to me. It's just snapshots at a party really, nothing artistic or meaningful to me.

I will provide a grant of usage rights with the cd that retains my copyright, and the images will only be at 800x533 or maybe the 1024 equivalent. I don't really care what they do with the pics after I hand over the cd.

I agree with you ted. You need to get the garbage shots tossed and you need to get them PPed so they look good. A simple disk of out of the camera images won't look very professional and you'll lose possible clients that way. You give them a nice disk the very next day with full res images and a simpleviewer gallery set to autoplay and you'll get ~10 more customers from it.

I would never hand over straight out of the camera shots to a client... I feel bad enough handing them to professional after a wedding (who has some insight that they are far from the final product).

People who don't know look at you with a big camera and expect you to shoot winners 100% of the time... bullcrap.

Originally Posted by jblaze5779

People who don't know look at you with a big camera and expect you to shoot winners 100% of the time... bullcrap.

That's one of the biggest things I hate about photography, this misconception that big cameras produce gifts from God on every click.

Originally Posted by Stime187

Originally Posted by jblaze5779

People who don't know look at you with a big camera and expect you to shoot winners 100% of the time... bullcrap.

That's one of the biggest things I hate about photography, this misconception that big cameras produce gifts from God on every click.

You mean your camera doesn't?

My 1D Mark III does - all I do is put it in "ADAMS MODE". Easy!

I love the buttons on the bottom: "wine, beer, ideas, jobs, sex, mooo...."

BUMP

-K

Thanks Luckie, it's fun being locked out of your own threads.

While I'm here I may as well say the party's tonight, so wish me luck! I've been spending most of the day cleaning lenses, backing up and formatting CF cards, and charging batteries. Unlike my first paid gig I'm actually looking forward to this one. I hope it's fun.

GL Ted!

post was reported, scumbags.

How'd it go?

Originally Posted by distorto

post was reported, scumbags.

Great success! Client was thrilled, I took 400+ shots in about 3 hours, and I really think I got some quality stuff.

I'm catching up on the day job so I won't have time to go through them until tomorrow. I'll post up some of the best as well as a "Things I learned" thread.

One thing I will tell you now is how tired I was after that short time. My right hand almost cramped and my right arm feels slightly used. I was also completely mentally drained by midnight.

I also met a cool photographer who was contracted out to do the posed portraits (I was the roamer). I'm going to invite her over here as this place could really benefit from her expertise. She had a slick set up and was doing 4x6 prints on the spot (canon selphy anyone?).

The great news is that the party planner was thrilled and said she plans to use me a lot. I told her I like being used. A lot.

Awesome Ted!

Wait, so did you hook up with the other shooter or planer or what?

and yes, invite the other shooter over for sure. Was she using your printer, or something else?
And Idjiit is getting a large dye sub for his dog business for what it's worth.

and good jerb! Happy clients is good for business.

She had 2 epsons similar to the selphy in price. The photographer was married but the planner was frisky.

Why isn't Idjiit here?

I had an idea today similar to that.

Every rally I go to, there are a bunch of photogs that are trying to make some money at the whole rally photography thing. None of them other than one sell pics at the rallies.

If they would be willing to lug a printer into the awards banquet of every rally I'm sure they could sell a bunch of 4x6'es for like $1 each, it'd be cool and a good idea.

Seems so logical, why don't they do it?

Another great idea she had was for weddings. She shoots a lot of them and during the dinner when no one really wants their picture taken she quickly makes a slide show of the ceremony images to show while everyone stuffs their face. I'm hoping she'll like this place because it would be nice to have her input here.

Sounds like it.

Did you give her a link to the POST OR DIE thread?

Originally Posted by thechickencow

Did you give her a link to the POST OR DIE thread?

I think I'll take the gentle approach with her. You know, with a direct link to the **** forum.

classy.

I don't think Idjiit's on any photo forums. I think he said they were all too (why I/we started this place) so he couldn't stand them...

Ted did you ever get any sample pics, or are they just kinda boring party shots with people we don't know?

I finished up all the shots from the 5d last night, now I just have to go through the Rebel's. There are a few shots that I thought came out with some value, but for the most part they're just shots of people at a party, which is exactly what the hostess wanted--pics of everyone having a good time.

I'll post some pics up in sharing along with my thoughts in a few days.

Originally Posted by jacobsen1

I don't think Idjiit's on any photo forums. I think he said they were all too (why I/we started this place) so he couldn't stand them...

Yeah, he made a comment in the NASIOC thread to that effect.

Personally, I can tell he's a pretty talented photographer and in general I agree with most of what he says/posts, but I definitely get a bit of an elitist attitude from him. But then again, that might just be me.

Originally Posted by Stime187

Originally Posted by jacobsen1

I don't think Idjiit's on any photo forums. I think he said they were all too (why I/we started this place) so he couldn't stand them...

Yeah, he made a comment in the NASIOC thread to that effect.

Personally, I can tell he's a pretty talented photographer and in general I agree with most of what he says/posts, but I definitely get a bit of an elitist attitude from him. But then again, that might just be me.

Nope. Not just you.

M

Yeah, he's like that. At one point I couldn't stand him, but I've learned to read more into his posts...
He also used to shoot for Suicide Girls and had a falling out there I believe so maybe that's why he doesn't want to be on a photo forum. Either way, I appreciate his sticking to his guns, and it's his choice. We'll live w/o him, but he'd also be a good member because he's so cut and dry and to the point.

WARNING - shameless plug ahead:


I just got this email from the party planner and I wanted to brag because it put a smile on my face.

our client loves your pixs and wants you back next year!!

I will try to get a post going tonight with some example pics and what I learned, but don't hold me to that.