Band Photo?

[jgunder]

A small independent rock band wants me to take their picture.

I'm getting asked how much I charge for a photoshoot.

I have 0 experience shooting groups. I don't know what to charge.

I should do it for free right?

Cheers
Josh

[keithdewey3]

I haven't shot a band before but I would charge them my normal sitting fee to start. Then consider how they are going to use the pictures and charge them something for licensing for the specific usage. Only you can decide what that is worth and there are several calculators floating around the web to help you decide.

Whatever you decide to charge make sure it is spelled out and you have a licensing agreement signed by both parties. It should spell out how the images can be used and for what period of time.

[poloman]

And whatever you do, don't listen to " We'll give you a byline."

[Steven G Webb]

Originally Posted by poloman

And whatever you do, don't listen to " We'll give you a byline."

Man, that says so much.

You know there are thousands of professional photographers born every Christmas morning, or the day after high school graduation. There are just as many bands on that level that crop up every week. If there is one field that the digital age has propelled other than photography, it's music. It seems like any rag tag garage band can be overnight recording artists and there is no need for a studio or an engineer. I'm not sure there is even a need for a laptop anymore, I'll bet there is an app for that.

So bands run the gamut. There are serious business bands, and there are hacks. Oh, the music might be good it's the business end that suffers. You've really got to know about the band and it's management. I dare say that there are more bands looking for gratis work than there are needing professional services. "We'll give you credit" is BS. How many bands will play a venue for nothing more than the publicity and the exposure to hundreds of people to hear how good they are? I'd love to book a couple of wedding receptions for them, "Hey lots of other future brides and grooms will be there if you play this reception you'll get tons of advertising".

Charge your standard rate for the labor then licensing for the images. I doubt you'll be printing. Most likely they will be looking for print ready art for CD covers and inserts, as well as promo slicks and show bill ads. You don't want to sell yourself short. These guys may want sell B&W glossies at shows for autograph hounds. So be very sure of the use and make sure you are adequately compensated.

[jgunder]

I'm not a pro, so I've never charged anyone for a session. BUT I only shoot sessions I want. I always go to models asking to set up sessions. I've never had anyone come to me.

So the problems are two-fold.

1. I don't know how to take group photos
2. I wouldn't know what to charge, but doing it for free would not be fun as it's not a shoot I want to do.

That's the great thing about having a day job and just shooting as a hobby, I come up with the ideas, I get the models and I shoot what I want.

People coming to me to shoot their ideas sucks the fun out of it, (thus while I'll probably never go pro).

Here's the exact message I received.

"Hey Josh - how much you charging these days for a photo shoot? We're thinking of updating my band's photos.."

So what do I answer?

A. I don't know how to do that and I'm not interested anyway
B. I don't know how to do that but I'm willing to try, but the results may be horrible, how about it's free?
C. Yeah sure let's have a photo shoot, I charge $XXX

How do I respond?

Cheers
Josh

[jgunder]

Since he's a friend, and since I've never done that type of photograph before, I told him as long as I don't have to drive far I'll do it for free.

Cheers
Josh

[Steven G Webb]

There ya go. Problem solved. Heck, who knows you may find a knack. You know, groups are just individuals placed together in one picture. OK, it's slightly more involved but the basics remain body angles eye-nose direction limbs within the body line and that sort of stuff. The rest is orchestrating each well posed individual into a composition so you have geometric lines and difference in head heights. Many times I've seen bands shot in full length poses. Each member brings a bit of his own stage personae to the image. Match the environment to the band's style and there ya have it.

Have fun with it.

Steve

[Bobby Deal]

As this client has expressed a silliness to pay it is sad to remove that paying customer from the pool by doing the shoot for free. The other option that no one has mentioned my well have been a good one for all involved.

Referr the shoot to someone who does do these types of shoots and will charge them a fair price for a fair product. In return for the referral you arrange with the pro to allow you to assiston the shoot so that you gain knowledge and experience in the genre and maybe next time feel more comfortable taking the shoot.

In the end the band gets the quality photos they needed, a job that was available to put bread on the table stays for pay and a photographer gets a pay day and you gain valuable experience.

[Greg Norrell]

I second Bobby's suggestion. Find someone established and experienced and help out.

I did a band shoot earlier this week. These sessions cost more than ordinary portrait sessions. If the band is a serious entity, they will insist on exclusive rights to the images for any use they see fit. That's a bit different from a senior session.

[jgunder]

When my results are worth paying for I'll charge. For now I'm just learning.
Plus it's good to help out friends.

Karma and stuff.