Frequently Asked Questions about Invoices and Money/Time Stuff:
Clients often wonder how we bill for shoots...
What kind of shoots are billed at Day Rate, and what kinds are billed Hourly? Why do you have a minimum shoot charge?
Well, I can't promise it'll be gripping reading, but here's the easy answer to clients most asked invoice questions.
Click on the titles to open and close the info areas below:
When do you charge Day Rate and when by the Hour?
The
normal split between 'day rate' and 'hourly rate' is
the type of shooting and the usage. A quick publication
shoot is billed by the hour. Long shoots, Annual
Reports, Viewbook and large file shoots all bill by the
half-day.
I'm always happy to give you an estimate in advance so you know, and if there's ever a great project you need, and you just don't have the budget... you could tell me the budget and I'd be happy to suggest ways to get the job done within what you can afford. I even have associates that can put a less expensive shooting package together for you when you don't need the full 'Ken treatment'.
I'm always happy to give you an estimate in advance so you know, and if there's ever a great project you need, and you just don't have the budget... you could tell me the budget and I'd be happy to suggest ways to get the job done within what you can afford. I even have associates that can put a less expensive shooting package together for you when you don't need the full 'Ken treatment'.
What Does an Estimate Mean?
For
the finances of it, I look at the price estimate as the
client saying 'I agree that these photos are worth this
amount of money'.
If it is day rate and I'm able to hustle and work quicker, then I still bill for the half-day (and as I noted elsewhere, I've turned down all other work for that time anyway).
I think it would be a bit odd in business to say when I work faster than estimated by rushing and working hard, that I should make less than agreed for the photos... I hope that make sense... You know I'm not nasty-mean about things :-) ... so please don't read that part with a snarl in my voice...but just my suggesting what seems fair to me.
In the same way, If for some reason I was feeling poorly and worked slower than the estimate,
I'd never charge you more than the estimate.
When would I go over an estimate:
I'd only ever go over the estimate if a client adds a bunch of shooting beyond the original estimate, and agrees to pay for that as an overage.
If it is day rate and I'm able to hustle and work quicker, then I still bill for the half-day (and as I noted elsewhere, I've turned down all other work for that time anyway).
I think it would be a bit odd in business to say when I work faster than estimated by rushing and working hard, that I should make less than agreed for the photos... I hope that make sense... You know I'm not nasty-mean about things :-) ... so please don't read that part with a snarl in my voice...but just my suggesting what seems fair to me.
In the same way, If for some reason I was feeling poorly and worked slower than the estimate,
I'd never charge you more than the estimate.
When would I go over an estimate:
I'd only ever go over the estimate if a client adds a bunch of shooting beyond the original estimate, and agrees to pay for that as an overage.
Why a minimum time?
A
note on why I bill for any minimum time.
For short Publication shoots, I have a 2 hour minimum shoot fee. That covers the fact that to drive to the shoot (from where I live it's 1.5 hour round trip), I need to have a certain length of shoot to make it financially viable. I also have clients needing things prepped for publications, digital shows created, etc... and so, honestly, if I can't do 2 hours of shooting, I'm really shorting my other clients that need things from me.
If you wrap up early, can't you give me a discount from the estimate we agreed to?
Once I get that time booked for a client, all other clients are told they can't have that time for shoots or image prepping... so in committing the time to your organization, I do turn down other things because I'm expecting a certain amount of shooting time that day (and frankly, billings). So I do need to stick to the 2 or 4 hour minimum, even if I'm able to work really fast and get done early.
I think it would be a bit odd in business to say when I work faster than estimated by rushing and working hard, that I should make less than agreed for the photos... I hope that make sense... You know I'm not nasty-mean about things :-) ... so please don't read that part with a snarl in my voice...but just my suggesting what seems fair to me.
In the same way, If for some reason I was feeling poorly and worked slower than the estimate,
I'd never charge you more than the estimate because of that.
For short Publication shoots, I have a 2 hour minimum shoot fee. That covers the fact that to drive to the shoot (from where I live it's 1.5 hour round trip), I need to have a certain length of shoot to make it financially viable. I also have clients needing things prepped for publications, digital shows created, etc... and so, honestly, if I can't do 2 hours of shooting, I'm really shorting my other clients that need things from me.
If you wrap up early, can't you give me a discount from the estimate we agreed to?
Once I get that time booked for a client, all other clients are told they can't have that time for shoots or image prepping... so in committing the time to your organization, I do turn down other things because I'm expecting a certain amount of shooting time that day (and frankly, billings). So I do need to stick to the 2 or 4 hour minimum, even if I'm able to work really fast and get done early.
I think it would be a bit odd in business to say when I work faster than estimated by rushing and working hard, that I should make less than agreed for the photos... I hope that make sense... You know I'm not nasty-mean about things :-) ... so please don't read that part with a snarl in my voice...but just my suggesting what seems fair to me.
In the same way, If for some reason I was feeling poorly and worked slower than the estimate,
I'd never charge you more than the estimate because of that.
How do you bill for additional time?
I
bill for total time on the clients site, including
hauling lights in and setup when needed, planning out
the shoot with the client, scouting locations, etc...
and I have a 2 hour minimum for publication shoots and then bill for each additional half-hour.
and I have a 2 hour minimum for publication shoots and then bill for each additional half-hour.
A few last notes and price example:
My
current rates for future shoots are
HERE
As an example:
If you had me come in for 2 hours for a publication shoot, or an event, you could expect an estimate around $450 with the new rates. Larger shoots for viewbook, file, etc would be more.
A personal note...
For my last camera upgrade, I spend $7000 on new equipment and over $30,000 in the last 5 years... I pay my own health care, etc... and I've been shooting for over 20 years in Rochester, so my rates are based on real financial needs and my experience and skills.
As an example:
If you had me come in for 2 hours for a publication shoot, or an event, you could expect an estimate around $450 with the new rates. Larger shoots for viewbook, file, etc would be more.
A personal note...
For my last camera upgrade, I spend $7000 on new equipment and over $30,000 in the last 5 years... I pay my own health care, etc... and I've been shooting for over 20 years in Rochester, so my rates are based on real financial needs and my experience and skills.
But I don't have a budget big enough for that??
I
understand that a client's budget might not always make
the 2 hour minimum (around $380 for the shoot before
image prep).
I can help by suggesting an associated photographer that can do the work for less, or in some cases, like my 'Hit and Run' Portrait Service or when I have a other shoots that day near the time you need, I can drop down to a 1.5 hour minimum if it's combined nicely with other client's work.
I can help by suggesting an associated photographer that can do the work for less, or in some cases, like my 'Hit and Run' Portrait Service or when I have a other shoots that day near the time you need, I can drop down to a 1.5 hour minimum if it's combined nicely with other client's work.