MLM Directory - What should I charge for my professional photography services?

What should I charge for my professional photography services?

I've been a professional portrait (and published) master-level photographer for 15 years. I used to own a very successful independent company and worked in the high (field) ranks for two large national photography companies for 6 years. However, due to a life change, I recently went back to school to pursue my dream, and in the process, I acquired a (non-photography based job) which lead to an independent (contractor) ongoing contract with the company I was working for (but in a completely different aspect than my social-work and educational based job). They (new company) want me to do all of their staff photos, including editing and copyright releases, as well as producing product/advertising shots for their websites and print work (with releases) and some other here and there items. Because I (began) work for them in a completely different aspect I'm totally befuddled what to charge them. I know what I would charge a client that called me off the street for these services, but they are offering me a contract of at least a year, the ability to sell my services (separately) as an additional service to our clients and will give me full credentials on all of their uses. The last thing I want to do is upset them with prices they are not used to (it's a new business who has never used professional photographic services and was planning on using stock photography from online). I am extremely lucky to have gotten this position with this company and can't risk it by my contractual pricing/plans for my separate work turning them off. Normally, I charge the following: Single business shot used for advertising or corporate occasions: (6-10 taken, 1 chosen by client) with very basic touch-ups, 1-8x10 or 11x14 print and a single digital "negative" of their chosen image (while I still hold original rights and uses). For this I charge $150.00-$200 per person, per image depending on the circumstances. It uses no more than 30 minutes total time per session and 30 minutes editing and ordering their prints. I charge for additional images or significant editing at an additional charge. Company business shots (5-15 employees individually only, with same amenities/qualifications as listed above for each individual employee). I charge between $120-$150 per person, per image depending on amount and time involved. Again, I offer additional images or editing at an additional retail charges. Third- They have requested product/commercial shots for use in both print and online advertising of products or items for sale by the company: This is a small company (less than 10 employees, and would require less than 12 separate product/commercial set ups). I account for 20 minutes and 7-9 images (with varying artistic lighting or backgrounds) per product. On these images I do absolutely bare minimum editing. I provide no prints unless requested, but I do provide full size, raw images in color, black and white and sepia (of 3 separate images per product) for use in any/all marketing purposes with copyright release (but while I still hold original rights and uses contracts for my own use): Normally, with 10 or more items I charge $100.00 per base image chosen/purchased or $150.00 per base image chosen when 2-6 images (total) are purchased.Other national companies have dropped their jaw at this pricing. But now I do this for fun, not as my primary financial resource, and I am doing it as a favor to my boss. I will also be providing optional additional services to our clients as an "extra" service. I would charge them my standard retail pricing (where prices are just for time/labor and minimal editing. All prints, negatives, etc are an additional cost per client). <-- What would be the appropriate "cut" the company should receive on my (only) sitting fees (as I consider prints/negs/editing to be talent based on my skills, not their referrals). The base sitting fees range from $75-$300, with a $125pp sitting fee average per client before any of my private commission products. They are giving me complete rights to all images I shoot for them and for their clients (yes, we have contracts and model releases). Am I ridiculously low/off for these prices? Or am I high? Retail studios in my area charge $110.00 per person for a 10 minute sitting consisting of 6 head and shoulders images taken, no editing, 1 choice of image in a medium res jpg file and immediate purchase and decision is required with them. Any ideas what I should charge for these services for the company directly? And what about the percentage to them (company) for my "referral fee" (which could be on up to 100 clients per year, easily) for each outside sitting. THANKS Fellow Photogs, You rock!!! Edit notes: I will be setting up a full studio in an office space inside the building. In addition to that, since I last worked on-site in a manner like this it has been over a year (school was insane last year), and during that time my entire traveling studio kit was stolen from me by someone I was mentoring (so I must buy a new one/set). I still have the camera of course. Secondly, just FYI, I will not be getting paid my regular pay rate during the time I am there for photo shoots due to the fact that my "other" (primary) job, in which I perform within a medical and patient counseling education. I can't really combine the two. Any other ideas? P.S. --- "Screwdriver": Thank you greatly for your competent and intellectual thoughts, I appreciate it a great deal!!

Public Comments

I would give them a good deal. Seems a bit much since you dont have a studio.
Your pricing looks good, make sure you are competitive in your market and stick to your guns. I would offer the employer a 10% discount and 10% on referrals. Considering the small amount of work you will provide to your employer and the potential referrals, they should easily break even on your services and potentially profit.
As you are a time served Photographer (with a capital 'P') I would treat it as any other commission, work out a contract may be with a 'referral fee' discount and charge your normal fees, you would be using your own equipment, I presume creating a mini studio in one of the offices. Don't undersell yourself. It appears, on the surface, that they are trying to get a known good Photographer on the cheap, may be not, I don't know. Don't give them your Raw image files, only ever a high quality Tiff for printing purposes with lower res Jpeg for Web use. My usual contract was on a 'rights managed' basis, if they wanted the images for another print run they paid again, in your situation you may decide on letting them have an 'In perpetuity' contract (they can use the images as many times as they want and for as long as they want), but then my price (at least) doubled. I never sold my copyright. Bear in mind that down the line you may be back to being a Photographer again. Note also that I was (usually) dealing with large often Multi National Companies that had the resources to throw money at a problem. With that in mind your prices are cheap, but not unreasonable in these circumstances. EDIT: It's just occurred to me (slow on the uptake these days) that they will also be paying your normal wage for your time, you might want to reflect this in your pricing i.e. (slightly) lower. Chris
I think you are charging way to little. A copyright transfer is a minimum of $10,000 to $30,000 per image for most photographers.