So I am looking to get into dealership photography as a side gig with my Nikon Z50 with two different lens (35mm 1.8 / 50mm 1.8) just to make some money through this winter season. I am considering about charging the dealerships in my area per vehicle, $30CAD (nearly $22 USD). That would include my time to take the photos, organize them, do some editing, fuel to get to the dealers, etc. Does this seem reasonable to do by the vehicle? Or should I just do an hourly rate at 20CAD (14.50USD)?
The reason why I thought of per vehicle is that I’m seeing some dealers not having a bunch of vehicles come in and out, with the need of better / or more photos. Of course I could work it out with the dealers I end up getting work with.
I do have another question for those that currently or have done car dealership photography, what mm lens would you recommend? I am currently looking at an 18-200 lens to buy. Or should I get an 18-24mm?
Your hourly rate is 14.50 USD?!
And the per car that seems really low. My local dealers will have like 15 pics of a given vehicle. I’m assuming to set everything up, figure out your compositions, take enough photos to get 15 good ones, editing and delivery would be like an hour of my time.
That said if that’s what you charge and you can live with it I have to think you are going to be in high demand and never lacking work.
It’ll be cookie-cutter though after a few cars. All the same angles and features for each car model. Once the car is staged, it’ll be muscle memory to get the pics quickly. Personally, I would shoot in .jpg and do almost no post processing.