Rates (Product Photography with multiple products)

D

DDirector

Veteran
Heya!

I have a question about shooting product photography.

My focus of work is shooting lifestyle photography of products intended to be used in the outdoors. For example, hiking gear, camping gear, ski gear, biking gear, etc.
I shoot lifestyle images with models in real environments, not in a studio.
I typically have a flat day shooting rate, and I charge for each individual photo that needs to be edited thereafter. I let the client select the photos and I edit the ones they selected. This prevents me from overworking on editing photos the client doesn't need/want, and it lets them base their budget.

I am getting more clients who want to shoot multiple products simultaneously in a single shoot. For example;
SKI Gear; jacket, gloves, helmet, goggles
BIKING Gear; helmet, pants, shirt

I haven't specified the number of products I can shoot at once. I often just shoot one product, but if I can shoot an additional item or two if it's not an issue.

I try to get as much done in a full days shoot, but if needed I tell them it would be two or three days of shooting.
But for clients who have multiple products, how would you recommend pricing for multiple products? Should there be an additional fee for that? How would you do it?


**My latest potential client has 8 products with several colour variations of each product.
 
You may want to break your fees down, both by the amount of time something takes, and the number of photos/videos you need to produce (film, edit, grade, etc.) You may also charge for studio time, gear used, the distance you have to drive to a shoot, etc., separately. I don't think this would actually matter much but gives your customer a little more say in a project. The most important think is to reflect the local market rates and be fair to your clients.
 
Unless the project fee is above and beyond a no brainer or it's guaranteed you can finish things very quickly, I think your best bet is to stick to time based rates. Charging per product can be problematic because your time is no longer worth anything. If you're in charge of sourcing additional help as you scale up, this way of working is also a nightmare where everyone else is quoting based on time.
 
Charge by time. As said above some products are fast and simple then you get nailed on ones that may present reflections ect
 
Unless I am looking at this wrong, wouldn't charging by time work? If shooting 1 product takes X amount of time, and then they add 3 more products then now it will take more time so you are still covered. And whatever photos they choose to be edited are still charged for so more photos mean more charge and it all works out right?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top