Cost of professional photography

[Matblack]

Our MINI club is investigating the cost of some photos of members cars and recieved the following quote

Thank you for your email requesting a quote for photographing your members cars in our studio.

As you will have seen from the Downsmail we have a drive in studio, which will take a mini with ease. The studio has been designed to undertake this type of work, and we have even taken photographs of a 1950's Rolls Royce just recently.

It is a little bit difficult to give you an exact price for the shoot as I am not totally sure quite what your members are looking for from this shoot?

1. Normally if we are mainly photographing the exterior of the car (both as a whole and close-up) I would recommend about 3 hours time, this allows lighting to be setup for the shots and any background change to be made. This would normally cost £165.00 + vat (total including vat £193.87).

2. If a client requires both the exterior and interior of a car photographed we would normally recommend about 4 hours, which would normally cost £ 210.00 + vat (total including vat £ 246.75).

As you are looking to book in a possible 10 or more members cars, we will need to do this over a couple of days (Maybe across a weekend - there will be no extra charge for working on Sunday for this group booking) and we will offer the following package to your members:

1. Each member will be allocated 1.5 hours studio time for exterior and a few interior photographs per car
2. A selection of photographs will be taken of the member and their car
3. A link to the website containing each car will be sent to you to pass on to all members
4. A CD-ROM will be supplied to each member containing all their images (low resolution files for viewing on screen only)
5. Your members will receive a 10% discount on all prints ordered after the shoot

The cost per member will be £80.00 including vat (Not including any prints) which is payable by your member on the day.

I hope that this helps you, and should you have any questions please feel free to contact me directly.
Kind regards


Now my understanding is that that the cost of prints won't be included in that, the guy who got the quote is going to speak to them about prints but how much would one expect to pay?

If one of you Pro/ Pro-ams want a crack at the contract that might also be a possibility ;)

MB

[Mark]

I'm no pro, but I am aware of this trick. It's quite common (maybe even the norm) for the prints not to be included, and to end up with a nasty surprise afterwards if you don't realise this.

The less reputable studios are very well-known for charging next to nothing for the shoot, showing the results, then demanding hundreds of pounds for the prints. I'm not suggesting for one second that the studio you've looked at is one of those (in fact, I'd say the opposite), but there's no harm in being prepared.

Even with a reputable studio, I wouldn't be at all surprised if the prints cost as much as the shoot, maybe even more.

[petemc]

That seems close to what I would do. If I went by their time I'd be charging £150 for 3 hours or £200 for 4hrs. Thats before any studio costs. I don't know of any studios that could support a car so I'd go for a location shoot. Based on that I doubt it would take 3 or 4 hours to do the shoot. 1hr, maybe 2 at a push. I don't have any fancy lighting, so if I had to rent that it would push the cost up. Not really sure about lighting in the middle of a field though :D I've managed so far without it. Then there would be the cost of prints on top of that, but I tell people that at the start. I hate the way Venture con people into their studio and then say "Great eh. £500 for a print." Prints depend on the person. I've never really known what to charge for prints so I just charge something like 150% on top of Photobox's normal prices.

Basically, if they've got a studio, lighting and the know how then I'd say its a good deal. But its quite easy for people to rent a studio, buy lighting and cameras and take pictures. That's only money. Its whether they're any good or not thats the question.

[Flibster]

I'd definately find out how much the prints are at various sizes and on various materials.

The rest of the prices doesn't seem too bad.

Last pro shoot I went to was a private one and the two chaps charged 1.5k - that was for the whole day *ended up being nearly 9 hours* and prints started at 7x5 at £7 and went sharply upwards.

Simon/~Flibster

[Matblack]

That seems close to what I would do. If I went by their time I'd be charging £150 for 3 hours or £200 for 4hrs. Thats before any studio costs. I don't know of any studios that could support a car so I'd go for a location shoot. Based on that I doubt it would take 3 or 4 hours to do the shoot. 1hr, maybe 2 at a push. I don't have any fancy lighting, so if I had to rent that it would push the cost up. Not really sure about lighting in the middle of a field though :D I've managed so far without it. Then there would be the cost of prints on top of that, but I tell people that at the start. I hate the way Venture con people into their studio and then say "Great eh. £500 for a print." Prints depend on the person. I've never really known what to charge for prints so I just charge something like 150% on top of Photobox's normal prices.

Basically, if they've got a studio, lighting and the know how then I'd say its a good deal. But its quite easy for people to rent a studio, buy lighting and cameras and take pictures. That's only money. Its whether they're any good or not thats the question.

If you wanted to quote for the job Pete I'm sure we could find a venue be in inside or outside

MB