Indiana Photography

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Comment by Chris Theisen on November 21, 2009 at 10:24am

Dario I enjoy how you meshed and wove your name into the image. Nice little touch.

Comment by Marty Sullivan on November 20, 2009 at 6:15pm

Comment by Dario Impini on November 20, 2009 at 5:32pm

This one strikes me a little as a book cover. Created using a home brew projection system for lighting...

Comment by Chris Theisen on November 19, 2009 at 12:26pm

It wont surprise me a whole lot Marty but I understand your points. We are starting this out on nearly a zero budget with all those factors in mind. I may try and get a ballpark figure just to put a number to all of the expenses. Great comments and I appreciate you chiming in and offering some more training to the new guy :)

Comment by Marty Sullivan on November 19, 2009 at 11:48am

If you really want to figure out a price per minute, add up the cost of your equipment, the cost of training you to become a photographer (what would you pay to go to school to become a photographer), the cost of maintaining a year round studio, the cost of advertising that you are in business, a minimum weekly wage for yourself ( you have to get paid to be in business and to be available to the public so they can use your services), all state and local taxes and then figure out what that cost would be on a year's basis. Then do the division to get your minute cost for a 40 hour week. It's a fun exercise... oh, and don't forget you need electricity, water, heat and that other pesky stuff called food to exist with... grin. Have a good time with it... it might surprise you. Marty

Comment by Chris Theisen on November 19, 2009 at 11:12am

April good point. I appreciate the tip. In my haste to respond quickly and not drop the ball I got a little ahead of myself. Learning experience for sure.

Comment by April Knox on November 19, 2009 at 10:23am

Chris, a good way to avoid giving a "panicked" quote is to ALWAYS tell the client, "Let me put together a quote and I'll get back with you this afternoon." Even, if you know how much you would charge in any given situation, is comes across as more professional and therefore, gives you more validity.

Comment by Dario Impini on November 19, 2009 at 9:23am

>>P.S. $5k to $7k is lunch money in Carmel. You were in the wrong neighborhood :) <<

You're telling me. If I didnt do this as a business, I cant conceive of spending that much on a camera just for the hell of it.

Comment by Chris Theisen on November 19, 2009 at 8:36am

I agree 100% Dario but kind of got stuck in a friend contact quote and panicked without thinking :) Its not a done deal and I just threw something out there. Even if it takes 5 minutes we would need to figure in setup and post time as well. This was the first time we have been asked about doing this type of thing so I had no basis on how to handle. I left it open as I had to ask my owner so I can go back with a higher "quote" as I threw out that number as an initial general idea rather than a formal price quote. P.S. $5k to $7k is lunch money in Carmel. You were in the wrong neighborhood :)

Comment by Dario Impini on November 19, 2009 at 7:58am

You should also consider a minimum. $20 doesnt pay your bills Chris. Not only that, but you have to realize that far below rate on professional work undermines the whole business.

I saw a woman on the sidelines of a CHS football game taking pictures alongside me. She had a much better rig than me. I asked her who she worked for or if she had a studio and she said she's just a hobbyist. A hobbyist with something like a $5-7000 rig!

Not only that, whereas I was taking pictures for promotional purposes -- that is, to give away a viewable DVD of the year's season, the intent was to sell prints to parents. She instead was GIVING AWAY her photos online. Anyone could download them full size.

Now, its a free country, you can do what you want. But its also a commercial, business oriented country and if you give away for free what others are charging for, YOU dont get paid, and neither does anyone else.

So in order to preserve the business of photography, you should offer competitive, but a decent rate commensurate with a professional living. $1/minute is not a bad rate, but if someone wants a single shot and it takes 5 minutes, $5 is not a fair price for the skill and equipment of a professional photographer. If they want a $5 photo, they should go get a passport shot, or use an automated machine. You have to eat, and $5 will barely buy you a Charbucks anymore.

So bottom line, $20 is too low. No professional photographer should be charging that. You have to essentially upsell the shot to those who are interested but cheap. Tell them this is their image they're projecting -- its the face of their business (assuming its a business headshot). It communicates to their potential customers -- who they are, their confidence, competence, integrity, approachability. A good shot is WORTH more than $20 to them as a business investment.

Now if its just a kid looking to mess around on the internet, well ... I dont know. That becomes a lot more murky. On the one hand I'd say just give it to them for free and let his word of mouth be its own value. On the other hand, maybe this is pizza money value and if he's got $20, maybe you should take it. Thats a lot less well defined.

But those who can pay, should pay.

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