A rookie in need hopes for good help indeed

[killerburrito3]

Hello everyone!

I've been taking photographs for a few years now
but it isn't until now that i've made an attempt at making some cash out of it.

I started by renting booths at events and selling matted prints.
Although I didn't sell too many,
it did put my name out there a bit more.

I've been asked since what my rates are on event photography.

Here is where i need help, friends.
How does one set rates?

I have about 3 years experience with photography and routinely use Lightroom to edit and export my work.
A few gigs i've worked include my sister's wedding, a friend's son's christening and a nephew's portraits.
The biggest chunk of my experience is in journalism. I've done everything from protest rallies to audio slideshows to press conferences.

I work with a Canon 50D and a 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6

The following is my portfolio-
http://www.wix.com/rayaguirre3/portfolio


I don't have much of an idea of what is too much or too little
and would appreciate any input.
Should i charge by the hours or by the prints?
Do i sell a CD with digital copies or give it as part of print package?

Thanks a bunch.

[Rodeoshooter]

Can't find your portfolio. Log in and the copy the web address and post it. There is no "Search engine" on the site to seach for "killerburrito3". Not a good way to get someone to view your site.

[killerburrito3]

Sorry!

I fixed the link above.
Here is my portfolio again:
Wix.com portfolio created by killerburrito3 based on Freelance photos

[Steven G Webb]

Rates and prices are the most difficult areas for most beginning photographers. I think a lot of budding photographers fail because of business sense, not creative sense. You must figure the costs of everything, the value of your time and the actual time you'll be involved with business matters. Once everything is paid for (including your time) there still has to be money left over for profit. Once you figure out what you need from your undertaking you've got to match your service and offerings to customers who value your work more than what it costs them to have it. You also need a supply of customers in that same level and mindset.

One way starters go out of business is they underestimate the expense side or fail to build in profit. Everything feels good until their camera goes dead and they don't have money to replace it or little by little they pull money out of their pocket to keep the business afloat until they have no more to give it.

Another way is they determine how much money they must charge but they cannot match their product with a willing customer. Maybe there is someone else who's requirements aren't so great therefore their prices are lower or maybe someone else provides a higher level of quality.

Best wishes on your endeavors
Steve

[palters]

Ignoring the your question about "how much", I think you need far better glass than you have if you are going to sell your work from event photography. I had that same lens for a few years and it's OK, but once you step up to a higher quality of glass you will ask your self "why did I wait so long".

Event photography is fast moving and you need a fast focusing lens that isn't variable aperture which can change the dynamics of your shot if you zoom from 28mm to 100mm.

[Gary Mayo]

Not to be negative but the day of anyone making bread and butter living with a camera is slipping away. Everybody has a camera. To make it you need an edge. Why you? Why should anyone choose you?

You yourself are your product every bit as much as your photographs.

You need a killer portfolio. Every image needs to POP!

You need the state of the art equipment. People hire people with the right tools.

Now that I have told you all this, it is more who you know than what you know. Remember names. Build contacts. Do favors, and expect favors in return.

Get books on how to become rich. Think and grow rich is a good one. Wealthy people all do the same basic things. Success breeds success.

[Jim Jones]

Raymundo -- There are many amateurs in America who can produce photographs as good as some on your web site. Any photograph you present to the public, whether on your site or at events, should be far better than prospective customers can take themselves or get from friends. Learning what photos impress people takes time. Talk to people as they are viewing your photos, and learn what appeals to them. Eventually, you can average out the information gained that way and improve your portfolio. Practice on friends and family, and make the photo session enjoyable. Give them prints for their time. Analyze photos that really wow you. How is the subject illuminated and framed? What is the background like? Is the photo free from distracting flaws? Does the photo tell a story or ask an intriguing question? There is much more than just this. You will be competing with others who may have put much effort into their photography.

Study business practice as diligently as you study photography. Knowledge is power, while cameras are merely tools. Your Canon 50D is adequate for many, but not all, situations. Stick to the projects within the limits of your experience and of your camera rather than invest too much in gear that you may rarely need. Persevere. It takes years to build a reputation. Don't skimp on extra effort to please customers. Even after you become successful, a few unhappy customers can really hurt your business.

[Steven G Webb]

Originally Posted by Gary Mayo

Get books on how to become rich. Think and grow rich is a good one.

+1 Its the best how-to book written since the Bible

[Rodeoshooter]

Originally Posted by Jim Jones

Raymundo -- There are many amateurs in America who can produce photographs as good as some on your web site. Any photograph you present to the public, whether on your site or at events, should be far better than prospective customers can take themselves or get from friends. Learning what photos impress people takes time. Talk to people as they are viewing your photos, and learn what appeals to them. Eventually, you can average out the information gained that way and improve your portfolio. Practice on friends and family, and make the photo session enjoyable. Give them prints for their time. Analyze photos that really wow you. How is the subject illuminated and framed? What is the background like? Is the photo free from distracting flaws? Does the photo tell a story or ask an intriguing question? There is much more than just this. You will be competing with others who may have put much effort into their photography.

Study business practice as diligently as you study photography. Knowledge is power, while cameras are merely tools. Your Canon 50D is adequate for many, but not all, situations. Stick to the projects within the limits of your experience and of your camera rather than invest too much in gear that you may rarely need. Persevere. It takes years to build a reputation. Don't skimp on extra effort to please customers. Even after you become successful, a few unhappy customers can really hurt your business.

Raymundo,

Jim, Steve, Gary and Paul all gave you some great advice. They were all saying the same thing I am going to say. Sadly, your work is the same as millions of wannabee photographers out there. No better and no worse than the snapshots many of them create on a day to day basis. You are not ready to become a professional photographer. You need education to improve the product you are producing.

All to often we see people who are told by others around them, what "great" photographers they are. Sadly, the people telling you that you are a "great" photographer have as much knowledge as you as to what makes "great" photograph. Even here on the Camel you will be told people love your work but they will not go into details about what is not "great" about your photos. Honesty now, will save hard feelings later, before you have invested thousands of dollars into your equipment, only to learn you are not up to the standard you are seeking.

Owning a business, is the hardest job I have ever had. I have to rise every morning thinking about where my next job will come from. I cannot get unemployment pay or welfare, because I am a business owner. I am responsible for insuring my employees have paychecks, the government it's tax payments and the clients have their products. All of this before I can take a single dime for myself. Yes, the allure and prestige of having the title of "Professional" photographer is a honored title, but like everything else in life, you have to know what the details of the job entail. You have to know the effects of light and how to use light as a tool to show your clients in the light they want to be seen in. Learn the physics of photography, how the lenses you use affect the job, good or bad. The science (yes there is a science to photography) is much, much more than buying a camera, putting it on "Program" and taking pictures. You must learn pricing strategies and master the art of selling. What equipment you need, to keep track of your sales for the government. Yes, the government demands you to keep track of all sales. Because the government demands to be first in the line to receive their share whether or not you make a profit. Just like your vendors and employees. They all need to be paid and you must have the business skills, or hire someone else who will take profits from you, in order to remain in business long enough to pay everyone else. Business training is a must before you hang your shingle and call yourself a "Professional" photographer.

To be a photographer, you must be able to demonstrate you are much smarter than the computer program in the camera. You need to learn how to talk to your clients, what their wants and desires are, and finally how to guide them in the direction they want to go. In other words you have to be much smarter about what photography is and what is available for you to share with your clients. Next to being a parent, it is the toughest job you will ever have and the advent of digital photography has fooled many people into believing they have the right stuff to do the job. Thousands of them fail at it everyday.

Buy books, go to school and maybe someday you will truly earn the title of "Professional" photographer. Until then just have fun taking pictures.

[palters]

One other very important issue I forgot to include when actually shooting an event. For a paid professional a 2nd body is a must. Lets take the example you have a 70-200 on one body but something starts to develop right in front of you that you need to capture. You don't have time switch lenses nor can you quickly backup to frame your shot and you sure can't say "wait until I switch to my 24-70 will ya I need to catch this!" Shots appear and disappear in seconds and you have to be ready. Two or more bodies is the only way.