How much should I charge? Part 2

Here are monthly expenses and income based on minimum wage for a household of two children and two working adults in metro Atlanta. These numbers come from Fairness for Georgia Families.

Last blog I talked about usage fees.  This is part 2 of 3 on pricing.

Your first step in know what to charge for photography projects would be the first step in any business you decide to start.  How much does it cost for you to live?  What is your home budget to pay the bills?

The table above is from research done in Atlanta, Georgia on the cost of living for a family.

What is scary is the actual take home salary of the two adults working at minimum wages is easily $12,500 less than their actual bills.  The expenses are the average lowest rates. 

Do you know what your monthly or annual budget is for you to live?  Even if you do not go into business for yourself, you need to know this.  Too many folks and most likely those working at Capitol Hill have the same problem.  They have more going out than coming in.

If you are not upside down and have money in the bank and still don't know your budget, just start tracking your spending.  By knowing this number it will empower you later when you have someone ask your price and you know that if you don't charge X amount that you will in reality be paying them to take your work.

Believe it or not this is one of the biggest reasons business will fail.  Not knowing what they need to take home can impact what the business needs to succeed.

If you want to do photography full-time then you need to take this first step.  My next post will help you with the cost of doing business, but you need to know what you have to take home to pay the bills before you can go to the second step, so take some time and get those numbers on paper.

Tips When Hiring a Photographer

Want to know how to get the most for your money out of a photographer? Bring him in early in your planning.

Little girl chases down parachuting cows at the Chick-fil-A Bowl

Use photographers before they shoot

Clients benefit in several ways when they include the photographer as part of their creative team. Not only will the shoot go smother and faster, but more importantly, the photos will be just as you want them to be and your budget will go further.

The sooner the photographer is involved in the planning and preparation for the shoot the better.

After the concept and approach are determined in a planning session the client and I usually scout the locations together, if possible. While on location we determine the best time of day for the shoot based on the lighting. Scouting with the client makes it is easier for us to maximize the time at each location during the shoot.

During the planning session we discuss the feelings the photos need to invoke in the viewer. By working together from the beginning we are both better able to achieve our objective. Preplanning allows everyone to concentrate on the fine details when it truly counts - on the day of shoot.

During the actual shoot priorities can change. Certain shots emerge, as “must have” pictures, while others may become less essential than initially thought. Going for the best shots and dropping or limiting the others can stretch the budget yet still produce outstanding images.

Tip 
 
Here is an example of stretching a photo budget. When working with universities and schools it is more expedient, since most general classrooms look alike, to set-up in only one classroom. The faculty and students rotate through the classroom where all the lights have been placed and the exposure and white balance determined. There is no need to move from building to building. This saves time and money.

Tennessee cornerback Janzen Jackson (15)and teammate cornerback Eric Berry (14) celebrate defensive play against Virginia Tech in the Chick-fil-A Bowl on December 31, 2009 in Atlanta, Ga.

As you consider your photo needs consider adding me to you creative team, that decision will save time and money and ensure a more productive and creative photo shoot.

I’m here to help, just give me a call.