How much to charge for a photography session and a couple graphics?

Misses Mia Wallace: How much to charge for a photography session and a couple graphics?
I did a photography shoot for a farmer yesterday as he harvested his corn field, I road in the combine with the girl who was helping. She said that I would get paid for this but I haven’t done anything “professionally” yet. The pictures turned out really cool and I’d like to start a graphics/photography business. How much money should I accept for this?

Answers and Views:

Answer by Triple Threat
Check into the Graphic Artists Guild book Pricing and Ethical Guidelines to help you get started.

There is NO Set price when it comes to this, you price yourself based on your quality of work, experience, and demand for your work. Start w/ figuring out an hourly rate. Figure out how much you think it’ll take you to do the project. (ie. 2 hrs for photography, 2 hrs for post production editing, and 2 hrs for graphic prep work…its good to give an estimate like: it’ll take between 4-6 hrs at $ XX/HR.

MAKE sure use use a contract w/ every project. Ask for 50% up front, and 50% payment upon project completion. If you don’t use a contract, your asking for trouble.

Visit this site for more great advice:

https://www.graphicdesignforum.com

best of luck..

PS as a general rule of thumb, designers NEVER discuss pricing, its a very personal thing and none of us think it is appropriate to discuss it – esp. on an open forum. Everyone is different, and we all live in different places where the econ. also varies.

Answer by alaisin13
An easy way to charge for this, without seeming too greedy, is to calculate how much time you spent there and how many photos you took.

Use the cost to you for printing each photo (even if you aren’t). If it’s digital, it’s probably like 15-19 cents per print. If it’s film, use the cost of the roll of film plus the cost per print. Then tack on however much you want to charge for your time.

Be aware, however, that most people want to know your prices up front. For this particular case, I’d say settle on whatever they want to pay you, or give them a fair estimate, and from this point on, begin charging using a set rate.

Be sure to keep many photos and proofs (if you do digital touching up) for your portfolio!

Answer by fhotoace
Did you shoot for a full day or half day?

Full day, charge $ 350, half, $ 250 plus usage (if the farmer is going to publish the images … posting on the Internet is considered publishing). You can charge what you want for prints, but establish something fair to you and the client.

* 4×6 inch $ 6.00
* 5×7 inch $ 10.00
* 8×10 inch $ 15.00

It is easier to adjust your prices down on a one time basis for negotiation, but VERY difficult to raise them

Answer by Lucien B
It is difficult to ask for money after the event. Did you establish with the farmer you would be charging, or did he assume you were going to be using them for your own portfolio?
If I were you, I would not ask for money to take the job, but ask if he would like to buy the prints.
For print prices, do some research and find out what photographers in your area charge, and ask the same amount. This way, you will be consistent with the community in which you live and won’t be undercutting the people who are making a living out of the business of photography.

Answer by amber d
300 dollars.

Answer by water_skipper
You should graciously accept whatever is offered. Since it’s your first time, maybe you could just casually mention the minimum wage where you live and the number of hours you spent. Like every said, in the future agree with your customer on a price before the work is started.