How much should I charge?

Amlethae · July 5, 2005

I'm just starting out with a Theater Photography business, and currently the most I'm getting paid is $100 a show. Which isn't bad, but thats for only 5 shows over a period of three months, which is nothing to live off of.

What is involved in shooting a production:
Atleast 2 hours of shooting time, either during a dress rehearsal or during a photo call, and atleast 10min of post-processing per image. On average I'll grab about 40 images per play, 50 per musical, and 80 per "Dance Show."

Also if there is a photo call, I watch the production two times, draw up a spreadsheet of what shots need to be gotten (with a scene description, moment description, and list of what characters are in the scene).

Other credentials:
*Studied Photography and Theater at the Rochester Institute of Technology
*Two images published in a book about musicals ("Little Musicals for Little Theaters")
*I have a strong theater background and therefore know what shots should be taken in order to capture the essence of the production itself.

My work so far can be found at http://www.prosceniumphoto.com/

So what do you all estimate I should (eventually) be asking for?

mercphoto · July 5, 2005

Using your numbers of two hours shooting, 10 minutes post processing per image, and an average of 50 shots per event, you are spending 10 hours 20 minutes per event, and getting paid $100. This is $9-plus-change per hour. You can make that kind of money in retail, even in some fast food restaraunts, without the capital expenditures of expensive cameras and computers.

What you should charge will depend upon what the images will be used for. Are you getting paid by the theatre company? Are these images going to the performers (either for memories or for portfolios)? The audience? Into brochures and advertisements? Is this a for-profit organization? The fact you know the industry, and thus what shots to capture, should make you more valuable to them.

Amlethae · July 5, 2005

So far I'm shooting for non-profit theater companies (there aren't many for-profit companies in Rochester). And also while I do try to market prints to the cast members and designers, all anyone wants anymore are small digital copies for thier web pages. So I'm mainly only getting paid by the theater itself. And then the theater uses it for publicity (in papers) and advertising and archival records.

For me to live off of it I would like to see something closer to 3 or 400 per shoot, though I dont want them to laugh in my face either.

mercphoto · July 5, 2005

Amlethae wrote:

So far I'm shooting for non-profit theater companies (there aren't many for-profit companies in Rochester). And also while I do try to market prints to the cast members and designers, all anyone wants anymore are small digital copies for thier web pages. So I'm mainly only getting paid by the theater itself. And then the theater uses it for publicity (in papers) and advertising and archival records.

For me to live off of it I would like to see something closer to 3 or 400 per shoot, though I dont want them to laugh in my face either.

Understood. I guess if you can't get much from shooting theatre, then try to leverage it in some other manner. Obviously as a portfolio builder. Maybe as a means of generating other business? Can you get a free ad in the program advertising your photography business? Can you get sessions with actors for their portfolio shots? Etc. Best of luck!

ian408 · July 8, 2005

Although this is geared toward sports photogs, you might find it
interesting. Take a look here.

Ian

How much should I charge?

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