Freelance Photographers Rate

I was just offered a position as a freelance photographer. And they want me to give them an hourly rate. I know this can

really vary, but I just want a ballpark figure. I don't want to under price myself or way over price myself. So, you know a

little about this job. - I will use all of my own equipment. I was be shooting various events for this company, which can

include a few on-site head shots for directories, events, and candids. Afterwards I will have to photoshop my "best photos",

and will be required to either go to their offices and download them, or ftp them. I have done all of this kind of work before,

but as a staff photographer for a different company (so, I'm not a rookie). So, what are you other freelancers charging as

your horuly rate? Any answers or suggestions will be very helpful. Thanks

hmmm... $50 to $100/hr if you retain rights plus .50 to .75 per mile, and perhaps a per diem fee. A friend of mine who was as great a

photographer as excellent and daring a skier and climber was paid handsomely by a magazine, but he had no rights to his own

work!

Depends. Freelance photojournalism normally pays quite poorly (and by the picture). Other parties probably will be willing to pay more realistically.

I'd say $75-100/hour, plus travel expenses if it involves going very far from your base location. This would just be the hourly rate for your time/skills, and image license/print rates would be on top of that.

Thanks for the answers. Here's a little more information. It's a local company, so I won't have to travel very far. I won't remain the rights to the photos to sell them, but they said that if I wanted to use something I shot for my website or portfolio that would be fine. It's not by the photo, it's by the job. They'll give me an assignment, such as a sporting event or maybe some sort of awards ceremoney. I'll send them all the images, with the best ones separated out and photoshopped.

how is it that youre a freelancer if youre working for them and they own the images, that's almost a staffer who is doing piece work. Go HIGH or tell them you want a salary. . .

"but they said that if I wanted to use something I shot for my website or portfolio that would be fine."

 

Get that in writing before you sign or agree to anything.

A little more info would help us help you Meg. How many hours are to be expected a week or month? How badly do you

need/want the gig?

 

Definitely aim high as mentioned above. If it were me, I would prefer to get paid by the job. That's how i do business now

and it makes sense for me and my clients. If a certain job requires more images or pp time, it gets reflected in my price.

Are they aware that they will be paying you for your processing time and what's involved?

 

I would like to see your style if you have a site.

They didn't tell me how much work I could expect from them. But they did mention that there may be a part-time staff position opening, and indicated they may consider me for it. I would really rather be part-time then freelance, then I'd be assured at least a few days a week of work. It's a college, so I imagine that at certain times of year they have less work, if I'm freelancing.

I do have a site, but mostly it's not the kind of things I'd be shooting for the college. But you can check it out if you want. www.portraitsbyambre.com

Here is the Basic formula I use.

 

Time Shooting (hr or Day rate) + Expenses (milage, rentals, hotels and ect...) + Post Time (photo editing) + Usage = Fee

 

It is simple but flexible formula for fees. I am using Fotoquotes for usage.

 

My hourly rate is $74.99-$149.99 depending on the project.

At least $500/day plus all expenses and you keep copyrights.

"...you keep copyrights."

 

Bingo!

 

I know more than a few folks who would walk away from this deal even at $200 or $400 an hour, if they didn't get to keep the copyrights!

 

Meg, you are coming from a staff photography position where your employer got the copyright automatically so this may not have been a big deal to you. Just keep in mind that a single image might be worth $5000, $10,000, $15,000 or even over $100,000 in repeat sales. This is where the real income potential is, not in the hourly charges.

 

If you look at just about any good stock photo site, you'll see myriad "people in their workplace" photos that sell over and over and over. You'll need to ask for and get model releases, too, of course, to get the top dollar from licensing your images.

 

Your new employer might get first right of refusal and/or some limited exclusivity to the images you take, but I'd sure try to hang onto the copyrights, agreed to in writing so there is never a question in the future.

 

If they absolutely insisted on keeping the copyrights, my hourly rate would suddenly quadruple... maybe more. .

I wouldn't work for a company that wouldn't let me keep the copyrights to the photos I've taken whether they are paying me or not. I take it, it's mine. Period. Just me, but you may want to investigate this company a little more before signing on the dotted line. Get everything in writing, find a lawyer and have them look at the contract.

HI there, First of all get John Harrington's book on Business Photography. Then go to Editorial Photographers and look at their rate quotes. YOU ARE THE OWNER OF YOUR IMAGES. IT'S in the U.S. Constitution. IF you choose to sell those rights then charge them for the rest of your life. The only ones who get away with keeping the copyright are those media who have hired you in a staff position, therefore you have health insurance, pension and many other benefits covered.

Sell them 1st rights. Set your price including your cost of doing business. This should include insurance, health and even savings yet alone of course equipment usage cost.

I have made my living as an independent contractor in photography for 13 years. You need to pay yourself first and then count all your expenses. I fyou don't you will drown and end up poor and broke

 

Keep your copyright. It's yours and you own it.

You may also enjoy reading Mark Loundy column called Common Cents. He has an archive of excellent articles that you can dive into. Sherrlyn Borkgren

www.borkgren.com

and lovesimplyhappens.com<div></div>