What Should I Be Charging? (Please View My Portfolio)

[gohan2091]

Hello, A little background on myself.

In December 2011, I purchased my first DSLR and a 16-85mm lens. I knew nothing about photography and learnt everything through practice and YouTube videos (Adorama, DigitalRev, Matt Granger, B&H to name a few). In Summer 2012, I did my first photography job where I photographed a group of people dressed as evils of the night. I continued to learn, practice and from then to now, I have photographed 5 Weddings, 2 Christenings, 2 birthday parties, 2 gigs, a baby shoot and 2 shoots with models. Some jobs were for free and some for small payment.
Photography is a hobby but I want to continue doing this part-time and charge more money. I class myself as a semi-professional as I lie between a novice and a professional. The cheapest Wedding I have photographed was for £50 ($83) and the most expensive was £150 ($248). After culling the photos, I edit them in Lightroom and present them on a DVD disc. I understand my prices are very cheap so I am asking for advice and honest opinions on my photography. I would be grateful if a few people on here could spend a few minutes looking through my portfolio to see the work I have done in the past. I would like to present a typical scenario which goes like this:

Wedding ceremony followed by a reception. Total time required: 3-4 hours. Photos on DVD disc, full size, edited in Lightroom. Travel expenses paid for.

From looking at my portfolio, what would you expect I charge at my level of photography for something like this? My portfolio is www.behance.net/gohan2091
I don't want to be a world class photographer with outstanding work. I want to cater for couples who want nice photos of their special day at an affordable price. Something noticeably better than what their dad with his popup flash can take. If you think my photography is of poor standard and that I shouldn’t be photographing Weddings, then please say. I may not always agree, but I value all comments. I currently only advertise on one website, a free-ads website, and there are around 20 photographers in my city listed there, with an average all day price of £275 ($455)

My gear:

Nikon D7100 and D5100
Nikon 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6G AF-S DX ED VR
Nikon AF-S 50mm f/1.8 G
Tamron SP AF 70-300 F/4-5.6 Di VC
Sigma 105mm f/2.8 EX DG OS HSM
Nikon SB-700 Speedlight
Yongnuo Speedlite YN-568EX
2 Umbrellas, a Brollybox, lightstands

 

[Don Kuykendall_RIP]

One major problem is that you shot everything in landscape mode. Some of the shots would have been so much better in portrait mode. Looking at a scene generally will tell you what orientation it shout have been shot in. EG: single person normally look better in portrait mode. Group normally better in landscape. of course there are exceptions to every rule. Just think about it before you shoot.

 

[Sevenup]

Also your level is not right in several group shots, for example the camera is too low looking up. But your doing great so far! Can you look online for prices more local to you?

 

[Geoffc]

Hello, A little background on myself.

In December 2011, I purchased my first DSLR and a 16-85mm lens. I knew nothing about photography and learnt everything through practice and YouTube videos (Adorama, DigitalRev, Matt Granger, B&H to name a few). In Summer 2012, I did my first photography job where I photographed a group of people dressed as evils of the night. I continued to learn, practice and from then to now, I have photographed 5 Weddings, 2 Christenings, 2 birthday parties, 2 gigs, a baby shoot and 2 shoots with models. Some jobs were for free and some for small payment.
Photography is a hobby but I want to continue doing this part-time and charge more money. I class myself as a semi-professional as I lie between a novice and a professional. The cheapest Wedding I have photographed was for £50 ($83) and the most expensive was £150 ($248). After culling the photos, I edit them in Lightroom and present them on a DVD disc. I understand my prices are very cheap so I am asking for advice and honest opinions on my photography. I would be grateful if a few people on here could spend a few minutes looking through my portfolio to see the work I have done in the past. I would like to present a typical scenario which goes like this:

Wedding ceremony followed by a reception. Total time required: 3-4 hours. Photos on DVD disc, full size, edited in Lightroom. Travel expenses paid for.

From looking at my portfolio, what would you expect I charge at my level of photography for something like this? My portfolio is www.behance.net/gohan2091
I don't want to be a world class photographer with outstanding work. I want to cater for couples who want nice photos of their special day at an affordable price. Something noticeably better than what their dad with his popup flash can take. If you think my photography is of poor standard and that I shouldn’t be photographing Weddings, then please say. I may not always agree, but I value all comments. I currently only advertise on one website, a free-ads website, and there are around 20 photographers in my city listed there, with an average all day price of £275 ($455)

My gear:

Nikon D7100 and D5100
Nikon 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6G AF-S DX ED VR
Nikon AF-S 50mm f/1.8 G
Tamron SP AF 70-300 F/4-5.6 Di VC
Sigma 105mm f/2.8 EX DG OS HSM
Nikon SB-700 Speedlight
Yongnuo Speedlite YN-568EX
2 Umbrellas, a Brollybox, lightstands

I don't know what the actual answer is, but £275 doesn't stack up. Think about how much time you will actually spend on this wedding. You will/should do some planning in advance both with the client and just making sure everything is correct and you know the game plan. You will then spend at least 5 or six hours on the wedding day even if you only allow a small amount of travel time. I would then expect another 7-8 hour day processing and sifting the images before burning to DVD. If you're arranging to print including the prep add some more. So let's say a conservative 13 hours. At that point you're on £21 per hour before tax. Oh I forgot, you have over £2500 worth of gear that is now a business expense and will need periodic replacement, plus you really need insurance if this is a professional job. You then need to advertise and like any self employed person you need to account for the fact that you cannot realistically fill every hour of you working week taking and processing pictures. Based on these far from comprehensive observations, I think that flipping burgers in Macdonalds appears to make better financial sense.

I'm not having a go at you and to be honest I would personally currently contemplate doing a wedding at this cost just for experience as I don't currently need it to pay my mortgage or replace my gear with the proceeds. Not that it's is the be all and end all, but I also have gear that is pro grade in a lot of cases, so I'm in with a fighting chance there, including having a backup rig and a backup photographer which is a must for such a day.

I know I can take some OK photos and I did my daughters small wedding this year, but I am not a pro wedding photographer and I believe that has a lot to do with skills other than pressing the trigger on the camera. I would also be very specific about my experience with the client so they knew they what to expect for the bargain price.

I would therefore suggest that your local paper has 20 "people" advertising as photographers rather than professionals who operate a viable business.

Just my two penneth worth..

 

[fotojack]

You know...although not at a professional level of wedding shoots...I've seen a lot worse with photographers charging a LOT more than you are! You've done quite well, actually.
I wouldn't hesitate to double your price for your level of shooting skill. And pay heed to the advice from Geoff and Don.
Seems to me you have the passion and drive to excel at what you want to do with photography, so keep it going, don't give up, learn and practice, experiment, keep your eye on your ultimate goal.

 

[Mike D90]

I agree with fotojack. You have some so-so shots there, some should have been portrait orientation and a couple where I would have rather the subject been facing the camera. However, you also have some outstanding work there as well. You need a bit of polishing your craft, a little more thinking of what the photo should look like before you pop the shot and maybe a business course at a local school. You are good enough with your camera and exposures. Nothing to be ashamed of for sure.

On your landscaped only orientation, I have a feeling a lot of your work is done from a tripod or monopod? If so, get away from that if you can.

 

[gohan2091]

Thanks guys for taking the time to look at my portfolio, even if it's only a quick glance, I value your time and your opinions.

In my early days. I actually only shot landscape orientation but for the past 5 months or so, I shoot portrait too. It appears I haven't included many portrait shots in my portfolio but I do shoot both. I think in the past, since I use a lot of on-camera flash, switching to portrait results in a shadow behind the subjects. I understand that some shots look better in portrait format, I have done tests to verifty this. I visited the woods during the summer and actually shot more portrait than landscape in that session because it looked better.

Mike d90, I do own a tripod but I can only count one time where I used it (to photograph the city skyline). I am 99% handheld, including landscape shots. If I do want to capture something stationary that I want the absolute best detail out of, then of course, I will use a tripod. I don't own a monopod, would you recommend I purchase one? Also, you said some of my work is outstanding, could you be more specific? So I have an idea?

Sevenup, where should I level in group shots? I usually do a few standing up and another couple kneeling down looking up.

Geoffc, If I can give you an example of a Wedding I photographed. The couple approached me online 6 months in advance. I charged them only £50 for their wedding and reception, from 14:00 to 22:00. I realised later on that this was a massive error on my part. I then explained my situation and we settled on £80 (again so low). I won't make that mistake again, and I'm considering charging £80 per hour for my time. The only problem is, if I charge also for editing time, how do the couple know how many hours I am editing for? I could add 3 or 4 extra hours of editing onto the price to take advantage, they wouldn't be any wiser. At least during a wedding, the couple can see how many hours I am 'working' for. Any suggestions?

I do have camera insurance for most of my gear, but it's non-professional at the moment. I only do a handful of jobs a year at the moment.

 

[Mike D90]

switching to portrait results in a shadow behind the subjects. I understand that some shots look better in portrait format, I have done tests to verifty this. I visited the woods during the summer and actually shot more portrait than landscape in that session because it looked better.

Getting your flash off the camera will cure that even if it means having a helper hold a flash mounted on a stand or monopod (with a softbox attached). Then it won't matter what orientation you shoot from, shadows will fall where you want them.

I don't own a monopod, would you recommend I purchase one?

I think everyone should have one but I wouldn't use one at an event like a wedding. Need to be very mobile and a stick just slows you down.

where should I level in group shots? I usually do a few standing up and another couple kneeling down looking up.

Eye level or from only slightly above eye level. Never from below unless it is an artsy shot intended to be from lower level.

The only problem is, if I charge also for editing time, how do the couple know how many hours I am editing for? I could add 3 or 4 extra hours of editing onto the price to take advantage, they wouldn't be any wiser. At least during a wedding, the couple can see how many hours I am 'working' for. Any suggestions?

The couple needs not to know anything about what you are charging for. You aren't working by the hour. You are charging for a service and that service includes many hours of time that they never see.

You work up a price according to what they want and what you have to do to give them that. Adjust for your photography time, your travel time and distance, your editing time and uploading time, online storage if you have a website you pay for, CD/DVD media if you use that as a delivery method and it should all come to a price you can live with and make a profit.

If I go out and shoot 300 shots of birds and nature shots I know that I am looking at maybe 8 to 12 hours, minimum, of time transferring them from camera to computer, going through each image to weed out the crap, editing and adjusting the keepers, final cropping and then uploading them to my website. Large TIFF files take hours to upload if there are a lot of them.

Wedding shots would take even more time because you want them perfect removing any small dots or specs or correcting skin tones and textures/blemishes. You may spend several hours a night for a week editing all of your keeper images to make them perfect.

 

[Sevenup]

Sevenup, where should I level in group shots? I usually do a few standing up and another couple kneeling down looking up.

I noticed in the 10th photo down in the Weddings folder that you are too low, I'd shoot eye level or shoulder level at the lowest for a formal group like this. (I agree with Miked90 that artistic group shots can be a whole different thing but this isn't that). Also the photo just under that of Grandma and the babies is too low. The group shots in the "Red" wedding are a lot better as far as eye level of the camera!

 

[Geoffc]

Thanks guys for taking the time to look at my portfolio, even if it's only a quick glance, I value your time and your opinions.

In my early days. I actually only shot landscape orientation but for the past 5 months or so, I shoot portrait too. It appears I haven't included many portrait shots in my portfolio but I do shoot both. I think in the past, since I use a lot of on-camera flash, switching to portrait results in a shadow behind the subjects. I understand that some shots look better in portrait format, I have done tests to verifty this. I visited the woods during the summer and actually shot more portrait than landscape in that session because it looked better.

Mike d90, I do own a tripod but I can only count one time where I used it (to photograph the city skyline). I am 99% handheld, including landscape shots. If I do want to capture something stationary that I want the absolute best detail out of, then of course, I will use a tripod. I don't own a monopod, would you recommend I purchase one? Also, you said some of my work is outstanding, could you be more specific? So I have an idea?

Sevenup, where should I level in group shots? I usually do a few standing up and another couple kneeling down looking up.

Geoffc, If I can give you an example of a Wedding I photographed. The couple approached me online 6 months in advance. I charged them only £50 for their wedding and reception, from 14:00 to 22:00. I realised later on that this was a massive error on my part. I then explained my situation and we settled on £80 (again so low). I won't make that mistake again, and I'm considering charging £80 per hour for my time. The only problem is, if I charge also for editing time, how do the couple know how many hours I am editing for? I could add 3 or 4 extra hours of editing onto the price to take advantage, they wouldn't be any wiser. At least during a wedding, the couple can see how many hours I am 'working' for. Any suggestions?

I do have camera insurance for most of my gear, but it's non-professional at the moment. I only do a handful of jobs a year at the moment.

As Mike says, you don't tell the client it's x hours, it just helps you to build up a cost more objectively. It could take a couple of days to process them properly. I would agree with the client how many shots in total they want which will indicate the processing time for keepers, with the rest just sifting the good from the bad.

With regards to insurance I wasn't thinking about your gear, I was thinking about public liability and possibly something in case the client tries to sue you for ruining their day if your camera fails or such like.

The only comment I will make regarding the pictures is that some could do with a bit of fill flash, off the camera to give them some pop. Some of your other pictures suggest you know how to do this already. At my daughters wedding I used two SB900s on stands with pocket wizard triggers. That was fun as I was also in the pictures as well as organising them. Tie that in with my ex and current wife plus ex mother in law in the same shots, Oh joy!!

 

[hark]

...since I use a lot of on-camera flash, switching to portrait results in a shadow behind the subjects.

Consider getting a flash bracket. I use a stroboframe that was originally for my 35mm camera. With mine, the flash is above the camera (although some brackets are made for the flash to be off to the side of the camera). When the camera is switched vertically, you can quickly flip part of the bracket so the flash stays in the same relative position to the camera. So even when I switch my camera vertically, the flash is easily switched to still be above the camera. The flash is connected to the camera via a coiled cord which allows the flash to be used off-camera. You can do TTL with the cord as well as whatever flash settings you normally use.

 

[fotojack]

Excellent advice from Mike d90. Spot on! Your price should factor in all the aspects mentioned...processing time, travel, media used, etc etc etc. The client doesn't need to know this.....YOU need to know this, and charge accordingly.

 

[gohan2091]

Getting your flash off the camera will cure that even if it means having a helper hold a flash mounted on a stand or monopod (with a softbox attached). Then it won't matter what orientation you shoot from, shadows will fall where you want them.

Off-Camera Flash is something I've been practicing with since the summer 2013. I often shoot Weddings alone and I like the flexibility to use on-camera flash as I am not restricted to carrying around a lightstand and large umbrella. The only way I can use off-camera flash is with a helper? is that correct? Would the off-camera flash be on TTL? For formal shots, I use manual mode with TTL flash (last wedding I did for formals, I used manual flash) but for roaming, candid shots, I use aperture priority with on-camera TTL.

Not working per hour but for an overall service makes sense. Thanks, I shall have a think about this while I digest all the comments here.

I noticed in the 10th photo down in the Weddings folder that you are too low, I'd shoot eye level or shoulder level at the lowest for a formal group like this. (I agree with Miked90 that artistic group shots can be a whole different thing but this isn't that). Also the photo just under that of Grandma and the babies is too low. The group shots in the "Red" wedding are a lot better as far as eye level of the camera!

Oh really? hmmm. Because the guy was kneeling, I thought I would go down lower too. So in this 10th photo, I should have been standing, aimming at eye level? With the grandma, I didn't want a top-down, overhead look so I again went down lower. I shall think more carefully when I am in this position again.

Geoffc, I try to use fill flash whenever I can. I find if I don't use flash outside, the photos look flat. I must have forgot to use it in some photos, my power was too low or I lost the fill flash effect during editing.

hark, I have a TTL cord, and I can also trigger my flash off-camera with the D7100 commander mode. I have a dual flash bracket for macro photography but it's very heavy and annoying. I should practice shooting with the camera with one hand while the other hand holds the flash?

 

[hark]

hark, I have a TTL cord, and I can also trigger my flash off-camera with the D7100 commander mode. I have a dual flash bracket for macro photography but it's very heavy and annoying. I should practice shooting with the camera with one hand while the other hand holds the flash?

I would consider getting a different flash bracket. Mine isn't all that heavy, and it has a handle on the left side. I loosely wind my coiled cord around the handle. That way I have a secure hold on the camera/bracket without being in jeopardy of dropping something. If you hold the flash with one hand and the camera with another, I'd be afraid of an accident! :hororr:

And for reference, when you want to mention someone, put a @ in front of their name. It will give that person a notification. Let me do it for you so you can see how it works. When you are typing the post and even previewing it, nothing will look out of the ordinary. It's only AFTER you click on Submit Reply that it converts it to a 'mention.'

Here you go @gohan2091.

 

[gohan2091]

I would consider getting a different flash bracket. Mine isn't all that heavy, and it has a handle on the left side. I loosely wind my coiled cord around the handle. That way I have a secure hold on the camera/bracket without being in jeopardy of dropping something. If you hold the flash with one hand and the camera with another, I'd be afraid of an accident! :hororr:

And for reference, when you want to mention someone, put a @ in front of their name. It will give that person a notification. Let me do it for you so you can see how it works. When you are typing the post and even previewing it, nothing will look out of the ordinary. It's only AFTER you click on Submit Reply that it converts it to a 'mention.'

Here you go @gohan2091.

Would the person also get a notification if I quote them? Or does it only apply to the @ in front?

About a flash bracket. I use a BlackRapid Sport strap that screws into my camera's tripod fixture. Do flash brackets require this fixture?

 

[Mike D90]

The only way I can use off-camera flash is with a helper? is that correct? Would the off-camera flash be on TTL? For formal shots, I use manual mode with TTL flash (last wedding I did for formals, I used manual flash) but for roaming, candid shots, I use aperture priority with on-camera TTL.

Not working per hour but for an overall service makes sense. Thanks, I shall have a think about this while I digest all the comments here.

You can use a helper or just carry around a light weight light stand with the flash attached, radio trigger or commander to command flash with no wires, and a small soft box attachment. A good well designed flash bracket also works but the flash usually stays atop the camera. This is not the ideal angle for the light to come from. From the side and above is more ideal unless you are tilting the flash head up and using a bounce technique. Bounce flash can work very well. You can use TTL with off camera flash if the flash is designed to communicate TTL with your camera TTL system

Oh really? hmmm. Because the guy was kneeling, I thought I would go down lower too. So in this 10th photo, I should have been standing, aimming at eye level? With the grandma, I didn't want a top-down, overhead look so I again went down lower. I shall think more carefully when I am in this position again.

I think you want to shoot from the angle that our eyes naturally see from. If a person is kneeling then I would think you would shoot from just a bit higher to keep that view aspect natural looking.

I should practice shooting with the camera with one hand while the other hand holds the flash?

I would not personally recommend doing this. Always have both hands on the camera for control. Holding a camera with one hand will get difficult very quickly, can induce shake and make it hard to properly compose and focus.

Would the person also get a notification if I quote them? Or does it only apply to the @ in front?

the "@" makes a tagging notification to the person you tagged. Quoting does not send a notice unless the person has selected to get notification of a reply quote.

About a flash bracket. I use a BlackRapid Sport strap that screws into my camera's tripod fixture. Do flash brackets require this fixture?

My rapid strap camera bracket allows for the screw mount of another attachment. I have my tripod plate attached on the bottom of my strap plate. But yes, a bracket screws into the tripod thread so you would need to get a different strap mount plate or make sure the flash bracket has the thread mount for your strap screw.

 

[hark]

Would the person also get a notification if I quote them? Or does it only apply to the @ in front?

About a flash bracket. I use a BlackRapid Sport strap that screws into my camera's tripod fixture. Do flash brackets require this fixture?

Yes, you get notifications for both being mentioned as well as getting quoted.

My flash bracket has multiple holes on its bottom. I suppose the Black Rapid strap could be screwed into one of them although I don't know how secure it would be. It would depend upon the length of the screw used on the Black Rapid strap. If you need a strap with the flash bracket, you *might* want to use a regular strap rather than one that connects to the tripod socket.

Maybe others here can offer their input. There must be some members who use a flash bracket, yes? If so, how do you use a strap?

 

[southwestsam]

Your pricing can be set two ways:

if you are doing it as a business: work out your cost to shoot the wedding, that should include any products you are providing the client e.g. Albums etc. then figure out what margin you want to make e.g. 20% or £100 add the two together and that's your charge.

if, however, you're looking to make some money to pay for a hobby, then look at photographers in your area that you believe are a similar standard, knock 10% off what they are asking and nick all their business

 

[ShootRaw]

I applaud you at taking on weddings..They are hard work..I looked through your wedding portfolio only..Exposures are great..I hope you shoot in manual..My honest opinion is I believe you could work on a few things for sure..DOF is a big one..Trying different perspectives is another one..I was waiting to see some wow factors in your pics..Another thing is your angles and posing..Posing is something that takes a lot of practice to feel comfortable with..I am still nervous when it comes to posing people..My strength is candids with people and telling stories..I would suggest you follow Jerry Ghionis ..He is one of the best wedding photogs on this planet..Watching his videos will give you inspiration like no other..Also will give you ideas to try on your next gig...You got to charge more..How much you say? Well I say engagement shoots should be $250 for an One hour shoot...
Weddings..Well depends on how long you work that day..Average wedding is a 12hr/day..I would charge bare minimum of $1500 and deliver 100 low-res pics for online use only..and Include any shot they want delivered in a 11x14 print..That's it..Good place to start..Ofcourse if they want anything else printed they can pay accordingly...If they want the Hi-res files as part of the package,then package price would be $2500...

 

[Scott Murray]

Some great looking shots there, my questions is though were you a second shooter in some of these as there are a few that lack eye contact. As people are looking off to the side etc. I would try and ensure that you are the main focus unless of course you are going for the looking away look.

EG
http://m1.behance.net/rendition/modules/77327221/disp/023a83fe101900dba5c05b6a1722e2cd.jpg