What kind of charging for product photograph?

[itsybitsyspidy]

Hi,

I would like to know how product photography is charged for? Do i charge the client an hourly rate or do i charge him for the number of products i take(i.e. how many photos i deliver at the end). Please advise.

Thanks.

 

[Canonised]

Hi,

I would like to know how product photography is charged for? Do i charge the client an hourly rate or do i charge him for the number of products i take(i.e. how many photos i deliver at the end). Please advise.

Thanks.

Things to consider: :think:

1. The client's budget
2. The products' value
3. The quantity to shoot
4. The quality expected from you
5. The medium .... online catalogue, prints, etc....
6. Your own market value
7. Other costs : transportation, etc....

 

[itsybitsyspidy]

Things to consider: :think:

1. The client's budget
2. The products' value
3. The quantity to shoot
4. The quality expected from you
5. The medium .... online catalogue, prints, etc....
6. Your own market value
7. Other costs : transportation, etc....

Thanks. will take note of that.

But how do i quote my client? Hourly or by number of products? Budget not very high(as usual, they all tell you this ), the product are of some aroma theraphy items. Quantity not confirmed yet. Quality expected is what i can deliver. Will only be using the photos for web. First time i'm doing shooting paid, hence don't know my market value.

Anyone?

 

[yanyewkay]

ranges from $80 per shot/product (for simple shots) to last I heard was something like a whopping $25K with hourly rates from $200/hr.

How did you find your client if you have not quoted them yet?

 

[A.A]

Please just do not quote $5 a product :bsmilie: get the details and post them here. i am sure many people will help u out...

 

[itsybitsyspidy]

Hi all,

thanks for the replies, but i haven't received the details from the client yet. The client looked for me, and asked for a quote, but i just tell them i'll need to know more before i can give proper quote. Actually i was thinking of $80/hour, judging by my own skills and abilities. Anyways i'll post more details if possible.

 

[nonchann]

the other option is to go with a daily rate. $400 for half-day work, which might work out to $80-$100 per hr still.

 

[jamesong]

Shooting products, you do not charge by the hour. You charge per product.

Hourly rate is for events.

Don't get confused

 

[wesley]

Shooting products, you do not charge by the hour. You charge per product.

Hourly rate is for events.

Don't get confused

Hi,

If you quote the client by $/product, they might give you a 1 product on one day and another few products on another day to shoot. If this shoot is done on the client's location, setting up the lights and equipment again and again will cost you. Also each product might be unique and will take different amounts of time to shoot.

This is what usually is done, ask the clients how many products they want to shoot, and ask to see the items. And judging by your skills, you calculate the time you need to cover all the products based on a per hour rate and give the client the entire fee. This might seem tedious but it's a win-win situation for you and your client and will make you look more professional.

Best
Wesley

 

[yanyewkay]

I think many charge by per product per shot and add their hourly rates to it. So the customer gets billed per hour and per product. Not a hard-and-fast rule that must be adhered to.

 

[itsybitsyspidy]

Thanks for the input guys!

I think I'll be quoting an hourly rate, with everything such as transport and other factors factored in. Might scare off the customer if i tell him i charge by per product. :bsmilie:

 

[yanyewkay]

Thanks for the input guys!

I think I'll be quoting an hourly rate, with everything such as transport and other factors factored in. Might scare off the customer if i tell him i charge by per product. :bsmilie:

why's that so? what's wrong with charging by per product? it is per product/per shot.

different products call for different rates. eg: shooting a car and car accessories

 

[EdChen]

Hi,

If you quote the client by $/product, they might give you a 1 product on one day and another few products on another day to shoot. If this shoot is done on the client's location, setting up the lights and equipment again and again will cost you. Also each product might be unique and will take different amounts of time to shoot.

This is what usually is done, ask the clients how many products they want to shoot, and ask to see the items. And judging by your skills, you calculate the time you need to cover all the products based on a per hour rate and give the client the entire fee. This might seem tedious but it's a win-win situation for you and your client and will make you look more professional.

Best
Wesley

Bro, Wesley said is correct.

For me, I'll check with the client on How Many Pictures they want.
eg. 5 different products for 1 picture each and they may ask you to do a group picture. Total you have to give your clients 6 pictures.
Judging for this, I'll charge the client 1/2 day rate.
So you have to set your rates for 1/2 and 1 day rates. You can't charge by hourly rates. The client can tell you to do the job in 2 hrs. How?? You going to kick yourself.
I presume, your hourly rates is S$80.00 X 4 hrs = S$320.00 than you add $50 to S100 for expenses.
Tell your client the total amount and not your hourly rates for product shoot.

Hope you'll understand that this is the market pricing.

Wish You the best.

 

[itsybitsyspidy]

Bro, Wesley said is correct.

For me, I'll check with the client on How Many Pictures they want.
eg. 5 different products for 1 picture each and they may ask you to do a group picture. Total you have to give your clients 6 pictures.
Judging for this, I'll charge the client 1/2 day rate.
So you have to set your rates for 1/2 and 1 day rates. You can't charge by hourly rates. The client can tell you to do the job in 2 hrs. How?? You going to kick yourself.
I presume, your hourly rates is S$80.00 X 4 hrs = S$320.00 than you add $50 to S100 for expenses.
Tell your client the total amount and not your hourly rates for product shoot.

Hope you'll understand that this is the market pricing.

Wish You the best.

Ok thanks bro. I checked out the items to be shot, and it's apparently around 10 items, mostly small bottles of aroma therapy oil and those "holder" for the oil(light a candle beneath to evapourate the solution, no idea what's that called. haha). I was told that the photos are to be for web use only.

Do i still charge $400 for a half day shoot in this case? :dunno: Although i know i should not undercharge, but i can't see myself taking half a day to shoot all these things, furthermore i'll probably deliver 20(med-res) photos(individual product + some group shots). Any advice?

 

[hondasleeper]

There will be 10 items right?

But how many shots will there be. With the 10 items, there can be many different combinations. Ask the client to tell you exactly how many shots there will be and they need to be specific i.e. how many individual and how many grouped shots. Yes, group shots are considerd as 1 shot.

Charge them per shot don't do the hourly rate, you are putting yourself in a position to get screwed. They may try to rush you into doing everything in an hour, so they only pay you for an hour. If you do the per shot rate, you can do it a quickly or as slowly as you want. Even if you finish quickly the client won't feel like they are getting short changed.

 

[sh_37]

Ok thanks bro. I checked out the items to be shot, and it's apparently around 10 items, mostly small bottles of aroma therapy oil and those "holder" for the oil(light a candle beneath to evapourate the solution, no idea what's that called. haha). I was told that the photos are to be for web use only.

Do i still charge $400 for a half day shoot in this case? :dunno: Although i know i should not undercharge, but i can't see myself taking half a day to shoot all these things, furthermore i'll probably deliver 20(med-res) photos(individual product + some group shots). Any advice?

Hey,

Charging half-day, although the rates are for shooting-time, you'll prob be working about a full day with PP and delivery, so why not? More importantly, some clients will not like your first 'draft' and ask for a re-shoot. I think its legit to charge half day.

cheers
shihan

 

[Vinnzcoco]

hey spidy....


here are some guide lines you can refer to depending on how professional or commercialised you are. you can also use this as a growth reference. since you are mentioned that this is the first time you are doing a paid product shoot. i would advise you to test the paying threshold of your own market. its always a game of getting closest to your client's spending ability. Its business, isnt it? ("/)here i am probably not gonna tell you how much to quote but more on what to quote. not forgetting to read my small prints too ... ok Here goes,

The Process.

Receiving the Request for Quotation

upon receiving the request for quotation, the client at this point would usually attached a document stating clearly the purpose of this shoot and the number of items, the size of the setup (if there are any models involved in some instances for watches or jewelleries) the number of photos required. the document would also include clearly the usage of the photo and the period of its campaign and the locality. this is called the photography brief. if at this point the client is clueless enough not to provide you any of such info. request. please also note that only use whatever i stated below is useful for yourself. there is really no one right formular to it.

The quotation

once you receive the photography brief. you will have a clear understanding of what you will need to include in your quotation. at this point, you spent some time getting the price for whatever you need to outsource. if you dont have them at your finger tips and ut together the quote.

Photography

usually this is a charge for the number of photo chosen by the client. the formular is (price of each photo X number of photo client stated in the photography brief.) this is the price of the service you provide to take the photo.

Loading Fee

if you ask me what this is, it is just how much you wanna sell this photo for. this is the value of the photograph for use in media or the price of the photo you buy off Getty Images. value of the photo not the service you provide to take it. this is also with reference to what types of media they are using it for ... and how long the exposure for each media and where is this campaign gonna be. Local or international? usually you only allow them to use your photo for a year. after that ... they will have to pay you for extension of the usage.

Digital Imaging (DI)

this is the tricky part and also the most time consuming. if the client expect you to do DI, you have to judge how extensive the work is and put a quote to it. and the price for DI is usually the same or slightly lesser then that of the photography service per photo. then again. if the client wants you to take a photo of an Ipod and makes it looks like a ninja turtle... BOY you are in for a big fat account. (figuritively speaking)

Art Direction

well this is when you are required to come up with a theme or propose the outcome of the photo to come in line with their theme. usually they will throw you a emotive word as their theme ... and you have to make their product seem so. example the company is launching a series of ladies handbag and this season theme is SEXY. ok dude... you are on your own. thats about it. how ever there are a lot of art directors out there willing to spill their blood for you at a norminal fee. (do work with a few regulars so you sync in styles.) you have to include this fee if art direction is required

Producer/Production fees

this guy takes care of the client and the set and the quote ... and the briefs... HE/SHE is the super man/woman of the team... usually nickname TEAMBITCH. basically this person does everything else other then the specialised job scope of art directions, photography, styling, makeup and the sorts..... here is a producer fee... and depending on the project size... and how long it last . the fee varies .scout around for your favourite producer and my sincere advise..... FIND A REAL meticulous BITCH for this job you will need one.

Studio/Photo assitant fees

does this shoot require any studio? will you need any assistants? if you are shooting a BMW in a studio setup.... WOO HOOO you will need 5 - 8 bangala.... carry studio lights ....powerpacks .. the lists goes on. (it would be nice isnt it to yell ard and feel like big brudder boss some time) here you charge the fee for studio rental. if you dont own one, find out the studio price and ifyou are going to mark up from it. assistants comes "free" (absorbed) if its a big project with one or two assistants.

Cost for props

do you need to buy a nice crystal glass to put the ring in to shoot? or the feathery mat with gold dust.... or the racing helmet to put in the BMW... or just lavender flower to go together with your lavender aroma oil.... so here you decide if you wanna absorb the costs or you bill the client.

Equipment

here is based on the requirement in the photography brief. you may need medium format cameras... 35mms... special lens....lights ... flash? are you renting these to your client at a cost? or is this going to be a cost if you go out to rent them.

Stylist/Makeup/Waredrobe

these guys here are usually avaliable on a free lance basis. go chill out at zouk winebar and talk to any gay men there will link you up to them HAHAHAHA. one off basis.... i am not too sure about the rates now. do post if you have an update.

Models

lastly models, you can approach agency if the client wants a particular model or you can ask any good looking friend to help for a small fee. and make sure you prepare the model release form and pay the model loading fee accordingly.


Thats all folks~~~~~~~~~


Footnote

after that you have to plan the shooting dates and a time line to deliver the photos. some times DI can be a pain. you may have to bear certain responsiblity if you do not deliver in time for their media campaign.

If you perceive photography as a skill to produce a representation of their product to help them sell their product... now the question is ... How much is your photo worth if your photo is going to make them money?

i hope this helps and hopefully some one WIKI this and makes this a better resource.


not forgetting to have fun while you are at it!



having been to this forum before and giving my outmost and personal judgements on certain events have received me some unwelcomed flaming.... so i must pre empt such post again by saying that whatever i suggested here is purely of my knowledge and my willingness to help another fellow photog. i may be wrong or overlooked some points i would welcome all friendly advises or replies. if what ever i mentioned above is similiar to any other posts out there it is purely by coincidence and should not be taken in to serious account. hehe lova ya all.....

 

[Belle&Sebastain]

hey spidy....




having been to this forum before and giving my outmost and personal judgements on certain events have received me some unwelcomed flaming.... so i must pre empt such post again by saying that whatever i suggested here is purely of my knowledge and my willingness to help another fellow photog. i may be wrong or overlooked some points i would welcome all friendly advises or replies. if what ever i mentioned above is similiar to any other posts out there it is purely by coincidence and should not be taken in to serious account. hehe lova ya all.....

:thumbsup: great stuff, thanks for sharing!

 

[itsybitsyspidy]

Hi Vinnz,

First and foremost i really applaude you for going the extra mile to give advice and share your experience with me. It really means alot to someone who is just starting out - to be point towards the right path. Thanks.

Most of what you have mentioned gave me an insight to how to go about charging it. Will use those guidelines to check with my client on what he really wants. I guess communication is a key factor to prevent possible conflicts.

Lastly,
Maybe mods can make this a sticky? I think what Vinnz wrote can really be of great help to newcomers to the product shots industry!

 

[SpaceParadise]

$400 a day should be charge by very professional photographers who has been thru many events & shooting.

If u are still new, perhaps lowering yr charges to $200/- per day still profitable enough.

Sometimes i even F.O.C for my friends & even friend's friends...