John Francis wrote:
> Tanya wrote:
> > I have decided at this stage to charge au$200 per session . . .
> > I do not put a "limit" on my shooting time, . . .
> > In doing it this way, my costs are about au$20 for film, au$90 for
> > processing. I will make about au$100 per shoot . . .
> Sounds pretty darn cheap to me! By the time you work out an hourly
> rate (accounting for *all* the time you are there, waiting for kids
> to be ready), and adding processing, preparation and book-keeping time,
> you're probably working at below minimum wage, and with no allowance
> towards the cost of your equipment.
I had just read Tanya's original post and was about to say
the same. This sounds almost a give-away. Most destructive
to gainful employment is the double 6x8 prints. Not only are
they surely more expensive than 4x6 *PROOFS!* - they are most
likely sizable enough that enlargment orders will be the exception,
rather than the rule. In essence, you are giving them full sets
of final prints at cost. Have double 4x6's and keep one set as
reference for re-orders and enlargments! There will likely be but
a handful which *the client* particularly cares for, so why spend
all that money for big prints of all frames?
I only do a little of this sort of "personal" photograhy as there
are so many low-ball hacks here that all *most* "clients" consider
is their cost. When I do do this kind of thing, it is usually more
for friends, than "Joe Public". My "rule of thumb" is US$50 for a
roll of 24 and $75 for 36 - plus film & process costs. I am there to
do the *photograhy* using whatever the proper lense/technique/film etc
may be, and deal with the processor. It is up to them to know what
they basicly want and be prepared to be photographed without undue
waste of time. Generally the desired photo can be achieved in one roll
and rather quickly. If they do want enough things done that time
involvement overtakes profit - I discuss additional money or other
benefits for that degree of time involvement.
as example: a neighbor lady wanted some shots of her Rottweilers
a few months ago. I was safely outside the enclosure with my tripod
and 85,105, 135 & 200mm lenses and the SuperProgram/Winder. Thirty
minutes later, I was on the way to the processor w/ a check for $50.
I returned the next day with a set of 4x6's (I put them into one of
those free WalMart photobooks which I always scoop up from the 2nd
hand stores new for cheap ;^) and collected the costs. She was very
pleased with the shots. A few were blurred from subject motion, the
majority were quite respectable and four were very good all around.
Even so - not really "scale wages", at that. I do have a soft spot
for people who seek me out and often "overdo it" for what I end up
with financially, though. I *am guilty* of using up all my profit
margin shooting by slides of beautiful Gypsy Dancing Girls when I was
covering our local Renaissance (?) Faire last spring and other non-
business-like practices like low-cost favors to certain artsy-type
and dancer friends on low budgets. !8^D
Bill
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Bill D. Casselberry ; Photography on the Oregon Coast
http://www.orednet.org/~bcasselb
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
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