Small business photography pricing

<p>I have a potential wedding to shoot in the fall. I met the bride (Jane) because she is a dental hygienist that works at my dentist's office. The dentist wants me to take a group photo of his staff, which is about 6 people. I might also have to take an individual picture of each staff member. <br /> <br />Normally, I would just turn down the job of taking pictures for a small business/corporation because my specialty is in weddings and portraits, not corporate photography. However, I know that they want me to take the dentist's office pictures as a TEST TO SEE IF I AM CAPABLE OF SHOOTING JANE'S WEDDING. Because my business is new, they don't know if I am capable of photographing a wedding. It's not a fair test because I don't do corporate photography.<br>

I know that I am capable of shooting a wedding, and I am confident in my skills. My family has owned a photo lab & portrait studio my entire life where I worked as the manager. I have shot weddings for another wedding photographer and for my own company. I just separated from my family business, and started my own wedding photography & portrait business in November. But if it makes them feel better, I will shoot their dentist's office pictures. <br /> <br />Because I have only shot weddings and portraits, I have no idea how pricing for corporate photography works. They want to put the picture on their dental office website. I will drive to the dental office which is 13 miles away and take the pictures. I will burn a CD & mail it to them.<br />How much should I charge for 1 group photo of the staff(6 people)? <br />They might ask me for individual pictures of each staff member as well. How much should I charge if I have to take an individual picture of each staff member (total of 6 individual pics)?<br>

Thank you!</p>

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<p>You can charge an hourly rate that is consistent with other photographers doing similar work at a similar quality level, in your area. You should also charge for travel time (although 13 miles doesn't sound like much), post processing time, and expenses. If you can figure out how long it will take, you can give them a package price, although you should specify the number of shots in it and the amount of post processing you will do.</p>

<p>We can't really answer otherwise, since we don't know where you are, which has a huge influence on pricing. The price here in San Francisco is higher than it is 200 miles in almost any direction, except west, since shooting on a boat has its own pricing.</p>

<p>I just shot my dentist and his staff for their new web site. I did it as barter for services. My specialty is guitar porn but the DDS and I both knew I could do a competent job on a group shot and five individual head shots.<br>

<br />I gave him the processed files on disk and gave each member of the staff an 8X10 print of their headshot.</p>

<p>In exchange, I get credit toward dental services (I have no dental insurance). We don't have a contract, but have a written letter of agreement to ensure that we're both on the same page.</p>

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<p>I would love to do that deal, Charles. I have three dentists - one does the regular work, one does the root canals, and one does the extraction (second one this year tomorrow). I am going to ask about the trading, but I'm not real optimistic. It would sure save me a lot of money. </p>

<p>UPDATE: I am in Philadelphia. I just talked to the dentist, and found out that he wants to put the pictures up on his website & in Philadelphia Magazine. Philadelphia Magazine is a well known publication in Philly. Should the contract say that he has to give me photo credit if the photo will be used in the magazine? Or is that inappropriate? I don't really know what the norm is for corporate photography. <br>

Is there anything you suggest that I include in the contract?</p>

<p>Jeff, if you don't have insurance, at least ask your DDS if he will accept as payment from you, the same amount he would have gotten from the insurance co. The DDS gets only about 60% of retail from the ins. co. and if he'll accept that from you, as a cash discount, you're both ahead. You get the discount, he gets his money right away with no paperwork.</p>

<p><Chas><br /><br /></p>

<p>I do have insurance, but none of the dentists participate, so I get don't get the reduced pricing. I get a benefit based on the reduced pricing however, so their claim to pay 50% works out to about 25%. I'd rather have a good dentist who doesn't participate than the one I had for years, who did participate, and who is a major reason for the constant problems.<br>

<br />Back to Sandy...</p>

 

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<p> he wants to put the pictures up on his website & in Philadelphia Magazine.</p>

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That's a little different. Are they going into the magazine for display advertising? In that case, you should get more than a day rate. If they are just going in for one of those "showcase" pages, it's less. Credit in magazines depends on usage. If it's editorial, you should definitely get credit, e.g., if they are doing a story about the dentist's practice. If it's advertising, I would look for more money and not a credit line. You can ask, but it isn't that common. </p>

 

<p>"...my entire life where I worked as the manager." You should have a sample wedding album to show your best work in -- my guess here. Shooting a dentist and his staff is not really a prime example of how a wedding goes.</p>

<p>If you are starting your own business, photography pays the bills. You, the photographer, need to be ready to shoot for a customer, take payment, and look for the next client. It's a opportunity to photograph the dental group; but I'd keep a open-mind about making a prospective bride want you to shoot her wedding based on the dental-office staff results.</p>

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<p>If you've shot weddings before, then I assume Jane has seen your portfolio? If that wasn't enough, and you really feel that you're still being tested and they don't yet trust you to do the job, then I personally would turn it down, because this may be the type of person who will look for problems where there are none and make the job a miserable experience for you.<br /> As far as what to charge, that depends largely on the area you live in and the competition. Look at other photographers' websites in your area that do this type of work and see what they're charging.<br>

As for the magazine, I assume he's planning on putting an ad in there? And yes, the photographer should always receive credit. If it's not an ad, but rather an article of some kind the magazine would be doing about the office, then your contract would be with the magazine. </p>

<p>A corporate shoot as a test for a wedding job seems very strange. An engagement session is a typical try out for a wedding, and I do them pretty frequently before booking a wedding to make sure the couple is a good fit and we have a good chemistry. <br>

For pricing, it is going to depend on your experience level and location, but for a group shot and 6 head shots, I would probably charge between $250-$400.</p>