How much to charge for simple photo job?

Energize · 8 May 2013 at 11:21

Someone I know who is trying to oppose the building of a wind turbine has asked me to take some photos of the countryside landscape in the vicinity of the proposed building area including from their property with a view to sending them to the planning committee/whatever group, some will be including sports activity (showjumping) they'll want a few copies of maybe half a dozen of the photos printed out to large size. Going to all the locations and setting up some of their stuff will probably take half a day I estimate, I'll be using a D7000 and Nikon 18-105mm, primarily taking them at 35mm and 50mm because those are the typically desired focal lengths for this kind of thing according to the council adviser guy, but I'll also take some at 18mm and 24mm just in case a wider view is useful to them, I'll just be doing basic post processing in lightroom to the select images to correct distortion and tone/colours etc.

What kind of amount of money should I be asking for considering that this is the first time I've done this kind of job?

Would some kind of ND filter be useful if it's a sunny day? I'm not very familiar with filters at the moment.

D.P. · 8 May 2013 at 16:12

Since you know them and especially aince you are having to ask technical questions,I would do it for free, although charging cost price for the print outs.

Remember, if you change then you are effectively setting put a bussiness contract with obligations and legal expectations. There will be expecting of timeliness, quality, ability, redundancy in equipment, and solutions to technical issues. If you do charge then they might simply look elsewhere for a proven professional.
Do it for free and you can relax as there will be little expecting and little disapointment if things go wrong. If you are lucky they will simply reward you with some cash upon delivery of good results.

Skalaberg · 8 May 2013 at 17:46

Spectacular advice from DP

King Damager · 8 May 2013 at 17:49

I'd probably go along with what D.P. is saying. Either charge minimal amount, or charge at cost with a beer or two thrown in.

kd

Steeps · 8 May 2013 at 18:35

Make sure you watermark in a turbine into every shot to see if they notice it

Energize · 8 May 2013 at 20:43

D.P. said:
Do it for free and you can relax as there will be little expecting and little disapointment if things go wrong. If you are lucky they will simply reward you with some cash upon delivery of good results.

The thing is she said, "tell me how much you want for it". So it's put me in a bit of a dichotomy.

D.P. · 8 May 2013 at 21:05

Energize said:
The thing is she said, "tell me how much you want for it". So it's put me in a bit of a dichotomy.

Well then you can charge if you want but it wont be easy to find a correct value. I would go with something relatively low so there is less exceptions. Something like 50-100 quid + costs. Professional rates will be higher but she probably doesn't want to pay that much.

Energize · 8 May 2013 at 23:23

Thanks that sounds reasonable, obviously I'm not a professional so I don't want to be charging too much and it's a very simple job.

pryere · 10 May 2013 at 14:44

"it's a very simple job". I hope you don't regret saying that.
In your position, I would only charge for expenses.

Marzipanogram · 11 May 2013 at 11:19

I'd work the cost out per hour.
Think of a figure you'd want for one hours work, then try and work out how long it would take to do the job (photography and PP).

jonneymendoza · 11 May 2013 at 20:34

D.P. said:
Since you know them and especially aince you are having to ask technical questions,I would do it for free, although charging cost price for the print outs.

Remember, if you change then you are effectively setting put a bussiness contract with obligations and legal expectations. There will be expecting of timeliness, quality, ability, redundancy in equipment, and solutions to technical issues. If you do charge then they might simply look elsewhere for a proven professional.
Do it for free and you can relax as there will be little expecting and little disapointment if things go wrong. If you are lucky they will simply reward you with some cash upon delivery of good results.

How come lots of people say the complete opposite and say you should NEVER do it for free?

Also: OP watch this video.

http://vimeo.com/28901343

explains why you should charge and how much as well.