Howdy folks, so here’s my situation:

I need to start off and say that I have been told many times by multiple people that I often sell myself short. Not to hype myself up, just that I’ve come to not really trust my intuition regarding charging for my work.

I shoot comedy shows. Twice a month, I get $60 CAD to head across town to shoot a 1-1.5 hour long comedy show. 8 comedians, I deliver 10-15 edited photos of each to the host before 4PM the next day.

I need to stress these aren’t large venues, the shows are a couple steps up from open mics.

Now, since I’ve started with this promoter about a year and a half ago, I’ve greatly upgraded my setup (APS-C to full frame, new laptop and editing software) and I am very proud at the progress I’ve made quality-wise!

On top of that, the promoter I’m working with just let me know he may be securing a contract in the new year to host shows at a larger venue and wants to bring me along, so if I were to ask now would be the time.

Here’s what I’d want to propose to him:

  • At the lower-level shows:
    • $70
  • Larger shows
    • $100 for the shows at the new venue
    • The individual comedians would need to pay $10-15 for their photos on delivery and their approval (as of now the promoter shares the photos to the comedians to use and post, didn’t know he was going to do that when I first started)

I’m a little bit iffy on the last part, I have no clue if this is a standard; I am basing it off of a friend who did videography for another promoter where he would chop up the shows and sell the individual sets to the comedians on top of the base price from the promoter (with the blessing of the promoter).

I really don’t want to come across as greedy, but I want to start taking my photography more seriously and treating like a profession I actually want to pursue

Any thoughts folks?

  • Levithos@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    1 year ago

    Don’t base it on the size of the show. Base your pay on the amount of work you need to do. You have to shoot, edit, and deliver the photos.

    Since larger shows mean more work (more photos, picking, editing, etc.), then larger shows will require more pay.

    As for that last part, don’t do that unless the comedians ask you for photos for their portfolio. It’s not extra work for you, so don’t try to nickel and dime your client.

    When you breach the subject with the promoter, have a printout with your prices and the things included in the price. Don’t write paragraphs about it, just a small itemized list (the shoot, number of pics included, editing, and cleaning). Then let them know that, because of the current economic shift, you’ll have to increase your prices a little. Always bring up a change in pricing with the client before charging them differently. Even if the change is just $10, no one likes surprises like that.