How much to charge??

[ElizK]

I have been approached to be photographer for a school dance. I don't have any idea what to charge. I told the lady who called that I would be considered semi-professional, and haven't done anything like this before, and that I do not have lighting or backdrops.

For the portraits that I've done before, I charged a flat rate ($50), photoshopped as needed, burned a CD,and gave the CD to the customer w/ a release for printing.

Any help/advice/ideas?

Thanks!

eta: there are only 10 girls plus their dates/parents that would be there, so not a huge event.

 

[raysnkaysmom]

can't you just charge the same $50 for the school.. then charge individually to the parents who decide to buy the photos of their kids?

 

[Frantasmic]

Are you going to photograph the whole dance throughout the night, or just do individual couples?

I have a back drop you could borrow if you really want since we're neighbors and most importantly TEXANS!


If you are documenting for the school, I'd say a reduced flat rate, especially if you have a kid at the prom. If you are really off the street, I'd charge more.

I guess what I'm saying is that if you have an interest in the school and/or the girls at the prom, I'd offer a reduced flat rate fee if you are going to be photographing the entire event. Or an hourly charge for services and then either offer a charge for a CD-ROM with all the pictures of the event on it.

 

[ElizK]

Are you going to photograph the whole dance throughout the night, or just do individual couples?

I have a back drop you could borrow if you really want since we're neighbors and most importantly TEXANS!


If you are documenting for the school, I'd say a reduced flat rate, especially if you have a kid at the prom. If you are really off the street, I'd charge more.

I guess what I'm saying is that if you have an interest in the school and/or the girls at the prom, I'd offer a reduced flat rate fee if you are going to be photographing the entire event. Or an hourly charge for services and then either offer a charge for a CD-ROM with all the pictures of the event on it.

Well aren't you so sweet?!! Thank you so much for the offer of the backdrop. I think they're going to try to set up a place, with pillars, ivy, etc. I can't thank you enough for offering, though.

My daughter goes to this school, too, but she is not involved in this activity. I am not being hired by the school directly. I think I would be paid out of the booster club funds. I don't have a problem with a flat fee... just not sure how much is fair. $50, and then what, maybe $10-$15 per cd?

oh, and I would do couples AND candids, I think is what they had in mind.

 

[ElizK]

or maybe, $100 including 10 cd's?

 

[Frantasmic]

I'd charge in the $250-$300 range since you will probably shoot raw and convert and burn to CD plus your time (say 10 hours at $25 an hour or so).

 

[ThurlFan]

I think you have to decide whether you're going to

A) shoot the whole thing as one job with a single deliverable (photo CD/DVD) that you turn over to the school/boosters

or

B) put in the effort to provide selected prints made on an individual basis.

For A, I would definitely charge a higher fee like Frantasmic suggests. The advantage there is once the dance is over and the media delivered, you're finished. If you go with option B and choose to charge individually for selected prints, then you could charge the school/boosters a lower fee and price the individual prints according to the effort it takes to get them prepared and delivered. With option B you also have to be prepared to handle the individual orders and decide how long after the event you're willing to take additional orders. There's no telling how long you might continue to get phone calls and emails from folks wanting to buy additional copies, or photoshop out the date they broke up with two months after the dance or whatever.

Good luck!

 

[photo_chick]

I know a couple of photographers who cover events like this. They do the shoot for free or a very nominal fee, like $50, and charge for the prints. But there is also usually a high volume of prints due to a large student body when they do it.