How much do I charge for Photography?

Question

I am starting a photography business and was wondering what the going rates were. For major events, weddings, etc. Do you add the cost of photos into your fee or is labor separate? Any advice would be great! Thanks

Answer 1

There are a lot of costs you have to compensate for when creating a price list. Since I do mainly weddings, let me break down my price lists for you and then you'll be able to figure it out for other types of photography you plan.

First of all, I offer my wedding clients a package of some sort. The cheaper the package, the less they get with it. So, let's break down a popular package of mine: Chalcedony Collection. This comes with 6 hours of coverage, a digital preview album, a 16x20, a few 8x10, a couple 5x7, wallets and a large album.

So, how do I know what to charge for this package? First thing I do is figure out how many total images are being printed (in this case close to 50 total). Every image I print is an 8x10, even if I have to cut the 5x7s down once I get them in. So, I then go over my cost for 50 8x10s (about $70). Of course the yare also getting a preview album and my cost is around $70 for that. And then I have to figure out the price of the album AND the price of each individual matte (assuming I don't have any in stock). So, after I have my costs down, I start with that price. So, let's say my consumption costs is $400. That doesn't do the photographer any good. He/she needs to charge a lil more to make actual profit off of this. I mark up all my individual costs 150%. It seems like a lot, but in the end, it really isn't. A $1.86 print is only like $4.00

Then, I figure in my time. I'm going to be devoting 6 hours to this couple. That's time away from my wife, away from friends, away from whatever is in your life. How much would it cost to take you away from all of that. For me, I figure $50 / hr. (plus I have the training, experience and certifications that allow me to charge slightly more). So we now have a total tally of $700

Of course, I also figure in equiment prices. All my pricing include extra to help pay for additional equipment. So, lets say we set aside $50 / wedding just for new equipment costs and repairs.

Also, I set additional costs aside to cover any organization fees, training, etc. So, that's another $50 / wedding.

Of course, this is me shooting digial. If you are shooting film, you have to concider cost of development into the pricing also.

If you have any questions, feel free to email me: [e-mail]

Answer 2

If you are planning to run this as a business, you have to add everything into your costs.
Film, camera (pro-rate it) processing, printing, your actual shooting time, your set-up time, cost of delivering the photos -- everything! If you are working from home, designate one room in your house as your office and that's where you keep all your gear, all your files, everything related to the business. (You're doing this for income tax purposes, so you can claim this as business space) Later, if you set up an office outside your home, you will claim that as a business expense on your tax but also factor the cost of maintaining that office into your fees.
This sounds like a lot of stuff -- and in some ways, it is -- but if you are running this as a business you are planning at some point to make a profit, so you have to make sure all your expenses are covered.
It's not an easy field to break into (too many amateurs!) and you'll find at some events, such as weddings, when you set up a shot there will be a half dozen relatives with their disposable kodaks trying to get the same shot. You have to ask them not to, as their flashes can ruin your photos. It really helps at times if you can have an assistant -- your bf, your sister, your cousin, whoever, to help you with crowd control and managing all the little details like fluffing out the bride's train in graceful folds before taking the picture.
Anyway, good luck!

Answer 3

Set up some packages ranging from a low of about $500 up to about $1800 for the deluxe package.

Each package can feature a larger number of pictures, and larger size prints included in the album, or even multiple albums (Bride & Groom's album, Bride's parents album, Groom's parents album).

Be creative and come up with ways to make your offering a little unique and special.

You may also consider a factor that you use depending on the wedding size. Covering a 50 people affair isn't going to bring as much one with 500.

Answer 4

Its really what works for you. Consider how much you want to make an hour, then add in the cost of photos, or a percentage of the price. Count up your estimated hours and give the estimate. The more experience you have, the more your skills may be worth. Make sure you keep documents of EVERYTHING. Also, when you start to notice patterns in pricing you'll be able to have flat rates because you'll know what it takes. Practice makes perfect.

Answer 5

I would put the total costs (fee's and all) into one bill. For weddings you can charge near $800 dollars. Just regular major events, that can range from $250 to $1,000 & higher depending on what kind of event it is and how popular it is. Weddings is where you'll get your money at. A couple will want a lasting picture of their "day" a great one at that. Who wouldn't?....

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Answer 6

I would just charge by the hour for time on a shoot, plus time to download to a CD... If they want anything better that a CD then charge per print, but give a contact sheet first...

Answer 7

This depends on what kind and if you are just selling prints or your services as a photographer-- look at your competition and check photo sites on the web-even ebay---get something to compare yourself to and see what the market price is...

Answer 8

The images you take will depend on the client's individual needs. What you charge is up to you and the work involved.

Answer 9

Cost of film/labour is included. Then you can charge for the development of whatever pictures they would like.

Hope this helps

Answer 10

Its i think 100.