Photography and Design with the same terms?

[brian.austin]

Originally Posted by waple

I know what I need. There's a book for graphic design stuff called The Graphic Artists Guild Handbook for Ethics and Pricing (or something to that affect). In there they show industry pricing, contracts, guildlines to doing business, you name it. Whenever a client questions anything I just show them that book and say, "see, this is how the industry does it". It's an awesome all-in-one book for pretty much anything you need for to cover you in pricing, law, common practices and so forth.

The problem is, this book doesn't cover photography. Is there a book like this that would show all the same sort of stuff but for the photographic industry?

Not possible. Photographers have no Ethics.

[Unkl Buck]

Waple,
as a learning commercial photographer myself, I charge a creation fee and then they can buy a one-time usage right or they can purchase unlimited usage. I price it so it is advantageous for them and me if they purchase the unlimited usage. For example, I charged a local golf course $1500 to photograph the course for their website. They then had the option of purchasing the images for website use only for $200 per image (18 images, one for each hole) or they could purchase all the images for $750 and they could use it for advertising, scorecards, posters, etc. just not printed type portraits to sell. I also did not include the ability to use as a billboard. That was not part of the agreement, and they agreed to that.

They have been great in not pushing their limits. In fact, I've done more work for them again this year and have become a super client. All this to say, the potential customer/client is hiring you to do the job and also paying you to use the image.

It's kinda like rental property, in a way. You pay a deposit to secure an apartment. You then pay rent each month for the use of the living space. If you want a pet, you pay an additional amount. Make sense?

[brian.austin]

Originally Posted by Unkl Buck

Waple,
as a learning commercial photographer myself, I charge a creation fee and then they can buy a one-time usage right or they can purchase unlimited usage. I price it so it is advantageous for them and me if they purchase the unlimited usage. For example, I charged a local golf course $1500 to photograph the course for their website. They then had the option of purchasing the images for website use only for $200 per image (18 images, one for each hole) or they could purchase all the images for $750 and they could use it for advertising, scorecards, posters, etc. just not printed type portraits to sell. I also did not include the ability to use as a billboard. That was not part of the agreement, and they agreed to that.

You charged less than 1/4 the individual rate AND gave them additional rights and unlimited usage? I'd have gone the other way, personally. $1800 for website only or $3600 for website plus all else and unlimited or whatever.

The problem with pricing is that you set yourself up into a certain category. I'm sure you're doing well at it and mean no disrespect. I'd tag you as a budget shooter, though, rather than a premium commerical photographer.

Adding value TO an item requires that you add cost...otherwise you just gave something away. Who WOULD take the $200 per image at 18 holes for $3600 when you gave ALL of it away PLUS the extra rights at less than 1/4 of the original price? If they hesitate, start haggling.

Obviously, that's my take on it...but I've been running IT departments and operations centers for profit for a while. It's not about photography. If it's a business, treat it like a business.

[heartseye]

AGREE with Brians remarks above. That is why I suggested to the OP that you really have to decide in the beginning what market you wish to pursue.......If you want to BE high end, then you start there.....cheers...Bob

[Unkl Buck]

Originally Posted by brian.austin

You charged less than 1/4 the individual rate AND gave them additional rights and unlimited usage? I'd have gone the other way, personally. $1800 for website only or $3600 for website plus all else and unlimited or whatever.

The problem with pricing is that you set yourself up into a certain category. I'm sure you're doing well at it and mean no disrespect. I'd tag you as a budget shooter, though, rather than a premium commerical photographer.

Adding value TO an item requires that you add cost...otherwise you just gave something away. Who WOULD take the $200 per image at 18 holes for $3600 when you gave ALL of it away PLUS the extra rights at less than 1/4 of the original price? If they hesitate, start haggling.

Obviously, that's my take on it...but I've been running IT departments and operations centers for profit for a while. It's not about photography. If it's a business, treat it like a business.

Originally Posted by heartseye

AGREE with Brians remarks above. That is why I suggested to the OP that you really have to decide in the beginning what market you wish to pursue.......If you want to BE high end, then you start there.....cheers...Bob

I understand where you are coming from. However, I would add that my market is different than yours and what you charge, a lot of business would choose NOT to afford you. They would keep looking. There are many commercial photographers that charge LESS than I do. A few that charge more, but mostly less.

[brian.austin]

Originally Posted by Unkl Buck

I understand where you are coming from. However, I would add that my market is different than yours and what you charge, a lot of business would choose NOT to afford you. They would keep looking. There are many commercial photographers that charge LESS than I do. A few that charge more, but mostly less.

Admittedly, I used your numbers to make that example. But the point still remains: adding value to a product should cost MORE for that product. You should, indeed, scale it to your particular market. But giving more away for less money doesn't make sense from a business perspective.