Fixing a price for product shoot


bookwormm

New Member
Jun 8, 2010
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Hi cs-ers!!

I have recently received this product assignment.

Requirement
- Photoshoot of 100 shots.
- Items such as: Car Rims, car parts such as accelerator pedals, wipers , lifestyle items such as watches, mugs, etc

We have no idea on the time frame given, but generally what other points to take note of for fixing such a deal?
Also, what is the market rate, or how would you have fixed your price for such a shoot?
 

From what I gathered, the price starts from $5 per item to at most $100 per item.
It depends on what your client expect.
With the help of computer and Photoshop, most pns cam can do the shooting and PS do the rest.

In your case, a lump sum is more appropriate. Maybe $1,000 to $2,000 should be good enough? Too low? too high? 2 -3 days work?
 

if the client only willing to pay S$30 and below for each isolated product shots,
with the effects and time needed for spending behind the camera and in front of computer
I rather shoot some items to upload into stock agency

tho I won't make the money now, but able to sell the same images for many years.
 

reflective items harder to shoot, so you must ask, how much can you do and how much you worth per day.
 

Same as any other shoot considerations.

(A) Purpose of images? Quality of images? Angles per item? DI required?

Standard (your definition of standard) quality with fixed/slight varied lighting setup & background for most/all items -> complete more items per day
High quality with mood / conceptualisation with separate lighting setup & background per/some item -> complete less items per day

(B) Expected time (days) to completion?

If shooting on location then you're restricted to their working hours.
If shooting in own studio then you can work 24hrs if you want/need to.

Then consider how fast you can complete per day in reference to (A).

(C) Eqpt charges? Studio or on-location charges? Transport, parking & meal charges? Assistant (if any) charges?

Necessary expenses you must factor in multiplied by (B), together with price per item (A).


After all that calculation still have to see client budget, and negotiate a compromising solution.
 

Good to quote specifically and state your TnC in regards to payment, cancellation, ad hoc additional request or requirement.
 

Hi TS,

Shooting products is not just point & shoot ... Unless you dont bother whether the details come out right ...
How will you remove reflections that obscure wordings on item .. especially packaging ??
Do you think photoshop can help if the details are not there??
Its not always that a light tent does the job ...

If clients are not satisfied with end results, they dont pay thus waste your time & theirs.

Tiz my 2cents comments you should consider carefully.

CS is about sharing and head ups, so here's wishing you the best.
 

PS ... TS ...

Based on past experiences, it'll take you about 3 days to shoot the 100 items provided they dont throw another 20 items along the way ..
You should base between $1,200 ~ $1800 per day of work ... ;D
 

A deposit of half the price to cover your costs of fixing up for the project is a protection, should the project get screwed up after or half way through or getting unnecessary complaints uncalled for against workship, etc in the absencce of a written agreement.
 

Last edited:
Hi cs-ers!!

I have recently received this product assignment.

Requirement
- Photoshoot of 100 shots.
- Items such as: Car Rims, car parts such as accelerator pedals, wipers , lifestyle items such as watches, mugs, etc

We have no idea on the time frame given, but generally what other points to take note of for fixing such a deal?
Also, what is the market rate, or how would you have fixed your price for such a shoot?

Questions to ask the client:
1) Intended purpose of the shots?, eg: web, brochure, flyers, magazine advertising, posters or other...
2) Will the items be given to you to shoot singularly? (ie not on the vehicle or do they want them shot in situ)
3) What is the time frame for the session and how much editing does the client require?
4) What level of professionalism does the client require in the shots?

Once you have those questions answered you can start working out if you are equipped and capable of doing the job.
For example a parts distributor looking for print media or posters for retailers etc will have much higher requirements in terms of lighting, colour interplay and so, they may also have their own image editors, such a shoot is completely different to that of say an than an online vendor.

A few pitfalls (by no means comprehensive).
Colour temperature compensation. When shooting such work at the top end of town colour temperature of lighting and having repeatable colour for each product becomes essential. This means you *must* have colour temperature meter.
Lighting considerations, strobe? HMI? Cold? other? If shooting with mixed sources see Colour Temperature meter.
Light table with invisible horizon and upper and lower lighting sources. Do you have access to one? The light tent type arrangements are fine for lower end work but do not cut the mustard at more professional levels.
Your own ability or lack of it? Are you confident you can do the job and produce images of the quality that the client requires?

For such work I base it on a daily rate that is determined by the quality of the work required, how well lit the client requires the subject to be and how long it will take (allow at least 20% longer than you first think to allow for objects that will not photograph well without considerable mucking around).