One of the questions I get asked most by photographers just starting out and even some models starting out is, how much should I charge?
The fact of the matter is even though photography and modeling is fun, it is still work. A lot of people don’t understand this concept… a job can be fun, but it is still a job. Step in my shoes for just one day and you’ll see just how much work it can be. Don’t get me wrong, hanging around beautiful people all day is enjoyable…but if you’re serious about what you’re doing, then it can be hard work. And people should be paid for hard work.
So the question still remains, “how much should I charge?” The basic answer is that it varies from job to job and a lot of factors come into play. The one constant between everybody is time: how much is your time worth? When you begin to start throwing other variables into the equation, is where it gets interesting. Several factors such as the various products you provide as well as how much skill and experience you have compared to others in your field are all factors in determining how much you should charge.
I stumbled upon this video on the F-stoppers website and thought they did an excellent job at breaking down the various factors in calculating your rate. I also like how it can be applied not only to photographers, but to anybody trying to figure out their rates… including models, for that matter.
Spend a few minutes and check out this video. If you want to get some basics on the business of photography, you’ll be glad you did.