Pricing?

D

digitalskylight

Active member
Hey everyone,

I'm both a small production company owner and freelance videographer. For the latter, I'm not sure if I'm just being paranoid, but I've had a handful of contractors ask this of me:

A number of times I have been asked to work on projects where the contractors have asked me to give them a breakdown of what I charge for this or that gear (basically, give them a quote of my rate with all a la carte options on lenses, bodies, peripherals, etc.).

This might be fine if a company, like an ad agency, was asking to understand exactly where I was pulling my quotes from. However, these contractors are, themselves, independent shooters with similar gear (DSLRs and all the accessories). I'm wondering if some contractors are just trying to get a pricing structure out of me to use for themselves....

How do I deal with something like this without being rude? I'd rather not give potential competition my rate breakdown, but also don't want to lose work necessarily.
 
With all due respect to clients, I share your paranoia. This is a growing thing, and we bloody well ow eachother and our business not to give them that breakdown unless you have actually COMPLETED a job for them and they are worried about the invoice.
Or you could do another thing... if they are competitors, set the price high when they are just asking, and then finish off with saying that the price ofcourse is negotiable. Then they'll have no clear bearing on how to outbid you etc.

It's a cutthroat world today. There are more and more pro-sumers who suddenly think they are cinematographers because they bought a video camera, and there are more and more clients that have no sense of critique who only look at prices....

The only thing we can do is keep our cards close to our body and keep pointing out the that price and quality almost always go hand in hand and give rebates to the right clients.
 
Most people starting up have no concept on what to charge, they get their figures all wrong, too low.

Sharing price information is great.

They might only undercut you by 10% not 50%

S
 
I agree, you should share pricing information all you can. If everyone knows what everyone else is charging, everyone will know what they can get. Sure they also know what they have to charge to drastically undercut everyone, but they're the less experienced ones and their clients shouldn't be your clients.
 
legrevedotcom said:
With all due respect to clients, I share your paranoia. This is a growing thing, and we bloody well ow eachother and our business not to give them that breakdown unless you have actually COMPLETED a job for them and they are worried about the invoice.
Or you could do another thing... if they are competitors, set the price high when they are just asking, and then finish off with saying that the price ofcourse is negotiable. Then they'll have no clear bearing on how to outbid you etc.

It's a cutthroat world today. There are more and more pro-sumers who suddenly think they are cinematographers because they bought a video camera, and there are more and more clients that have no sense of critique who only look at prices....

The only thing we can do is keep our cards close to our body and keep pointing out the that price and quality almost always go hand in hand and give rebates to the right clients.
Click to expand...
with camera getting cheaper nowadays, it's scary how many people are entering the business. It's even worse for photographers.
 
I've a regular client who really hates my long day, short day approach and want itemisation. I think the way it works is fine, and he does get a good deal, so I won't do it. So it's not just new 'clients' who want details. I know for a fact that he'd had quotes from others for what I do - and they can't offer the same package. people nowadays need information because they think equipment, people, and skills can be replicated if they just have this breakdown - as if it means much?
 
As a professional..one has to have the confidence to state a price for services and rates for equipment etc....

I charge a rate that I confidently will inform anyone ....is based on my time and my experience. I dont just turn up for the day and charge for the day.

eg...It took me thirty five years plus to learn this from experience... and that is what I bring to the shoot on that day. Next I say...want to see my reel?

If anyone wants something different. No problem to me and unspoken satisfaction is ..."caveat emptor"

Win some ...lose some. You will never win all ...so get over it.
 
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