BIGGEST Pricing Mistake Photographers Make + REAL Pricing examples!!!

[@DonaldCarltonPhotography]

I started out 13 years ago charging $40 per hour for whatever. Now my rates are the equivalent of about $350-$400 per hour and I specialize in headshots, but I don’t charge per hour anymore. I discovered early on that charging by the hour was working against me because the more experienced I became the more efficient I became, so I stared charging per session/person/image etc. The more value I provide, the more it cost.

[@andreiaustin4895]

There are so many parallels with the film/TV industry here. When I started out & had to negotiate my rate (I have an agent now) I used to find out the going rate, but then increase it to the nearest prime number. This gave the impression the it was a calculation, rather than a figure priced at the "going rate." In 12 years, no one ever asked how I arrived at the strange number.

[@danielkaranja7978]

That is cool, I will do so!!!

[@kimamey]

That's interesting. Nothing to do with photography but before I retired I was a dental technician. I moved to a new place and I asked how much they charged for a basic repair of a denture and they said £10.50. Apparently he reason for the 50p was so it appeared as if they had calculated rather than just choosing a round £10.

[@marcusmilukas478]

I think part of the value that we have to account for as a beginning photographer is the learning we’ll receive which just isn’t available in any other way than to do the work. I started with drone photography after I was hurt at work and had to reinvent myself at 55 years old. Always loved cameras and eventually made my way to portrait work which is my love and main pursuit now. For the drone work I priced the local competition which was flooded with Mavic mini’s and a few Phantoms. I invested in the Mavic 2 Pro and set my rate at $150 for a small package of pics and video clips. Didn’t get any pushback and picked up a few more real estate customers and mural painters. My first paid portrait gig was a family holiday shoot for a friend who I charged $75. We had fun, they loved the pics and I learned a lot!

[@tomarber6488]

I was paid with an extra battery so I could shoot the wedding. 😆

[@ohnoflicks]

Omg 😂 I was paid in a gift certificate for a small restaurant shoot many years ago 😂 They were nice people though, and even though I had no idea what I was doing, they liked the work.

[@shaunmaddox]

Oh wow.. Did the couple offer or did you offer doing it for a spare battery? Shoot that’s an investment lol

[@tomarber6488]

@@shaunmaddox the couple asked me to shoot it, I said my camera wouldn’t last a whole wedding… so they gave me the money to buy an extra battery.

[@shaunmaddox]

@@tomarber6488 Such generosity.. well, at least they give you something 😂

[@z.r.1415]

Very good advice Scott, I’d sum it up like this: If you’re in low demand and don’t charge much - your work probably sucks, improve If you’re in low demand but charge hefty fees - either your work sucks or you’re in the wrong market, or both; figure it out If you’re in high demand but feel you don’t make much - raise your rates, you undercharge If you’re in high demand and make very good money - that’s your sweet spot, keep up the good work

[@perin99]

Being a pro photographer would give me horrible anxiety but I am in another business. When I first started I would work out a price, considering my expertise, time, materials etc. I would write the invoice with that amount in mind then anxiety would strike and i would undercut myself by a significant amount. For a few months I just ended up being a busy fool, making very little. The customers loved it and it just made me more anxious. Over time I gained more confidence in my worth and my ability and I started to price accordingly. I love the idea of pricing for your stress. This is a massive consideration because when you are self employed it isn't a 9-5 job. People will ring you at all hours and your worries don't stop when your work does. It does get easier with experience but the first few months are hard, especially if you struggle with self confidence, as I do.

[@timmerrill]

This will date me. I became interested in photography when I was six years old. I was spending a week with my uncle who lived in another city, during the summer school break, and he had a black and white photography darkroom in his house. I was hooked. In 1972, when I was 14, my skills in photography and the darkroom had improved a lot, and I had managed to scrape up enough cash cash to eventually buy a cheap 35mm camera. But, I was a kid and just liked photography. I had no career thoughts. A friend of my father had stopped by our house to drop something off and he noticed some of the photos I had sitting on a table. He asked who took them, and I said it was me and that I developed them too. He was a brick mason and welder, doing custom fences, gates, walls, etc. He was actually more of an artist that used cement, brick and steel. Fences, gates, and such was just they way he expressed it. He asked me if I would take photos of some of his work to use in advertising and how much I charged. I'm 14 and had not even thought about taking photos for money. I asked how many places and when did he need them. He had three locations for me to shoot around town and wanted them soon, so I said, $15.00 figuring that he would say no since to me that was a crazy amount of money (and I was a bit scared), but he said yes. I was not expecting that and then the fear set in. Anyway, deal made. I had about six hours total work time in taking the photos and darkroom work. He was pleased and used those photos in ads for quite a while. I know it doesn't sound like much money but to a jobless, 14 year old high school kid In 1972, it was. The minimum wage in the USA was $1.60 and hour at that time, so it seemed like a lot of money to me. It also lead to photography jobs for other businesses, and eventually, a litho house contacted me about dispatching me to shoot photos for some of their clients who had problems supplying good prints for half tone screens they made for their newspaper and magazine ads. Anyway, I never had a "real" job all during high school. I just took pictures for folks and charged them for it, sort of improvising as I went along. I probably could have charged more, but for me, it was enough money. I shot everything with a very inexpensive (compared to others) Petri FT II 35mm camera and it's normal 55 mm f1.8 breach lock lens. I shot either Kodak Plus-X (ASA 125) or Tri-X (ASA 400) b&w film. Manual everything, auto nothing. No complaints from anyone so I just kept using the same gear all through high school and college, though by my third year in high school, I did obtain a 135mm manual lens, though I never used it on a job for a customer. In hindsight, I should have gotten a 28 or 35mm lens. Live and learn.

[@blakegirouxphotography]

First ever job was $50 CAD because it was a portrait session and I didn't want to do it. I thought it was outrageous at the time, but little did I know a typical portrait session was going for $150-200. Now I do industrial photography and it was well worth the switch.

[@LucyLumen]

Hello legend! I would love to hear your take on the less traditional styles of photography like what I mostly do now which is being sent products, fashion, perfume etc. and then creating a suite of photos and video content without much brief really. I find there is infinite work in this area now due to social media and I would love to hear your take on this as part of the industry? I feel it’s something that gets left out of the convo when we talk about professional work but it’s a very lucrative and growing area to be looking for work in. Thanks for all your insight and passion as per Scott. We love you!

[@TinHouseStudioUK]

Yeah its something that wasn't really a thing before. I get a lot of requests but we turn them down as the budgets are too low and the deliverables undefined so it leaves us open to a bit of a mess should they not be happy. I do have 2 friends who do this pretty much 7 days a week though so I will ask them as they seem to be making a lot of $$$$

[@applepiephotoandvideo5936]

The best advice I've seen on YT.

[@danielpankoke]

I did my First Job 2016, they ask me to shoot a golf tournament and paid me 750€. I had No idea about pricing they chaeged that number and since then, Im a Sportsphotographer 😂 Love it switched from Golf to surfing. Thanks for your Videos ✌️

[@TheBenjaminBrowning]

I did my first paid job shooting a wedding for £90 about 13 years ago. The couple came into my college and passed their details onto the photography department and my tutor gave me the job. Been shooting weddings ever since and charge £1450 in the midlands

[@Selfpowered]

I charged $600 for 6 hours work to split between 2 people, I chose that number because it was easily divisible between the 2 of us, and it was within their budget (which I'd asked about). The job was easy, something I'd done as a volunteer many times because I was involved in the community, and valued the networking- so being paid to do it at all was a plus.

[@SimonAckerman]

My first wedding I shot I charged £500, it was a friends deal and and I still use one of the bride getting ready shots in my portfolio today. Off the back of that wedding I got referrals and it was the start of my wedding career, so it was actually worth way more money further down the line.

[@jacobh5817]

My first assignment was approx. 35y ago, so I can’t remember exactly how much. It must have been around 150 CHF + expenses for a day of corporate headshots. At the time it was serious money and the lawyer firm who hired me, suggested it themselves. I remember it gave me a lot of stress, knowing that I better shouldn’t fail. Nowadays, I do fashion and beauty (albeit slowly retiring), and working with large teams, requires some careful calculation upfront.

[@brad_in_yyc]

My first job was a wedding I shot for $400 CDN. The photographer that recommended/hired me as the primary shooter borrowed my 55-250 lens and never gave it back. Then never paid me. So I made $100 minus the cost of the 55-250. So I lost money on my first job before even trying to calculate anything out in a business aspect. Don't worry. I learned from this.

[@jamesstone5768]

Just discovered your channel and really appreciate the solid advice your sharing. I’ve already forwarded on several of your videos to people who attend my workshops who are new professionals.

[@kristianvaarvik]

I like this and tbh I have never heard of the example of dividing ideal salary, days working etc. That's ridiculous! My first ever job was making a short promo video for a local speed skating club and I think I charged about $300-500. I then went on to bigger projects where the first one was for a commercial client, but they only paid me in covering a trip to Italy and document an event there. At the time, getting a trip like that covered felt good. For the next year most of my jobs were around $500 to $2500, making the mistake of charging by the final product's length (video). Today I do day rates and that's usually somewhere between $2000 and $2500 for a day out, and around $1500 for a day of post production. This obviosuly still depends on the client's budget, the use of it (licensing) and what gear I need to use. Doing a studio shoot for a clothing brand should be charged more imo, simply because the product you're providing is going to make og break their business.

[@Davion474]

Sounds about right. I done a high volume headshot gig. £1500 for 2 days. I think I might have undercharged though. It was the hardest I’ve ever worked as a photographer. I took 1800 head shots across the 2 days. They had 6000 people attending the event.

[@realamericannegro977]

Oh you most defiently undercharged. You were supposed to get 3x that much if it were 6000 people but then again who usual knows in the beginning stages?

[@shaunmaddox]

Salute 🫡

[@nickraypost]

Dear God! Well done, they got a bargain!!

[@claudianreyn4529]

1800 portraits?!? OMG

[@artficermedia]

That is a lot of head shots! Did you have to retouch and colour grade every single photo too? For me, it's the Photo Editing step that's takes a huge amount of time that the client is not paying for...

[@perrymacimages]

Thanks a lot for the advice. My first job was corporate party Event Photography w/prints on site $750.00 + $10.00 per print for 5 hrs.

[@patler5423]

my first job was when I was 16 and made photos for a real estate company for 50 bugs. And I was smiling holding the small money in my hands and did something I truly loved. Now my jobs a very versatile. I did my first wedding for 100 - and now I charge 2000+. My first commercial was 600 - now I charche 2500+. My first magazine/jounalist Job was for free. Now I charge 600+. My first festivals were for free, now I Charge 800+. The better I get in each topic, the more I Charge. for me it's a big psychological thing of how I make the prices and how much pressure I want to take to deliver. If I'm a total newbie in something, I'm "cheap". Never not learning, never hesitate to be a rookie in something.

[@j.miskovic7224]

Thanks for the helpful and straight to the point content, as always. 👍 For my first job I got 300 euros but not because I asked for it, as soon as they offered me the job they said that they have a "small budget" and it was the maximum they could spend, this saved me the effort of asking. It was work for a small municipality which however kept me busy all afternoon. It was the village festival during the Christmas period, to capture all the moments that were taking place at the same time in the different corners of the village it would have taken at least two photographers, I worked alone, running like crazy! Having no experience, it took longer than expected to deliver the photos, I wanted to make a good impression and I worked on the photographs as if they were to be printed, but they needed something to publish on the social network and on the site, as soon as possible. It wasn't a very encouraging first paid job I must say 😊, I never worked with them again but I learned my lesson.

[@steveperryphoto431]

Finally some common sense advice on pricing!

[@Popa_Bogdan_Light_Drawing]

thank you! i really need to give a pricing to someone in the next days!

[@eduardolima3936]

Man, you have a great channel for photographers hope you keep it going, I suppose it´s is hard to get viewers when you do not sell gear and tell lies ! Cheers from Portugal!

[@andrefelixstudio2833]

I don’t really remember the first jobs and how much I charged but I usually want $150 an hour, when I would shoot for popular magazines I will get $5000 for a shoot plus all my expenses which is great if I was flying to Hawaii or Jamaica or some other fabulous place but those days have gone, today is very hard to get money from magazines! I prefer the shoe catalogs which pay about $1200 for the day plus my expenses, assistance, stylus and hairdressers plus models get paid separately by the client!

[@filibertkraxner305]

Had to think real hard about my first paid job. Turns out it was a reportage in Budapest, for a Dutch newspaper, during a one week study trip there. Paid for my trip, which was around 200 euros, way before there were euros ;-) The pricing you mentioned roughly matches what I get here in the rural Netherlands. Weddings I don't do anymore so couldn't say.

[@GB-AK]

Back in the days of film (around 1980) I did a wedding for $150.00, however my deliverables were a set of 3X5 prints and the negatives. The couple did all the enlargements.

[@ralphgeronilla]

Wow this is gold

[@ac1320]

I charged a stand up comic $100 for a multi camera 30 minute video. $50 up front & $50 on delivery. That was 2 years ago. I'm still waiting on his final notes to finish up the edit & deliver. I just needed my fuel for the trip taken care of. Photo & video is still now, a hobby & passion project for me.

[@tcphoto]

I regularly get inquiries on my half and full day rates, I usually take a deep breath and tell them that my rate is determined by a number of factors including the difficulty, number of deliverables, how the images are to be used and for how long. What I don't tell them is that the more ridiculous the questions, the higher the quote. Why are people still asking this question, are they stuck in the 80's or do they not understand Intellectual Property Law? My first paid shoot was a model test in the early 90's, three looks on three rolls of 35mm film for $250. My first published shoot was for a local free magazine that paid $100 including the roll of film I shot. Thankfully, my best day shooting added a couple zeros to that number.

[@corbinpearce7686]

It seems to me that if you're working at the point of having inquiries about half/full day rates, that you should go with the fees+expenses model. Your day rate will be a fixes number, say $1000, and that's for you showing up and shooting. Then the client is also responsible for all the expenses, which includes the consumable items, meals, editing costs, etc, anything money you don't keep. Licensing would also go under the fees section as a separate line item. In summary, have a number ready to tell them, and just let them know it won't be the full price tag.

[@michaelfrymus]

I'm changing up my business strategy and pricing. I've been charging around $750 for my time to shoot, but realized that wedding photographers charge more just to shoot, about $75-100/hr as a second shooter. and I'm here shooting commercial work. I'm now increasing my rates to about $140/hr just to shoot. This doesn't include the fees for my pre-production work, editing, and expenses. So, it looks like my starting rate for a commercial shoot is about $5K. This is not my income as in getting just a percentage of that as there are several expenses like rentals, transport, and hires. I'm just hoping that this isn't too much for a typical small to medium-sized outdoor brand

[@Barrrt]

I think my first job was an event where it was indeed for the going rate of that scene (new age hippie stuff

[@Barrrt]

Strangely, the jobs that lead to more jobs are the most well paid ones (for me). Taking myself seriously and being at high value events brings me high value customers

[@zoltantolgyesi645]

My first payed assignment was 2 days on a boat, shooting wildlife and researchers at work. They covered my food and transport. I charged 200 Euros. I am sure now I could have asked much more, it actually sounds ridiculous that I worked for such wage, but I really wanted to get started and went for a number that they couldn't say no to. I didn't regret it after all.

[@digitaltraveler1000]

Spot On!

[@hogg1media627]

I was approached by a friend to videograph their wedding. I only been shooting for little under a year. While videoing different events (on my channel) I understood what it took. I know the long hours of shooting, finding good shots worthy of post. Understand how to shoot with edit already in mind. And then, thr editing process. If you know, you know. I learned the hard work it took this early in my journey. So when I approached, I said 1k of my style of shooting. I always was approached to photograph a prom party. Photos only, I charged $400 it was a good friend of mine. He needed for about 5 hours. I look forward to learning more, and charging more and as I upgrade my skills and gear. And I shoot with a Nikon D3200 DSLR...

[@MoBarends]

My firt job was shooting a nightclub free beer and entrance for me and two frends. I did this about a year. I had a great time, made lots of contact what helped me a lot the coming years.Learned a lot to was with the old nikon D70 and 4.5 kit lens. Realy pushing the limits of the gear.

[@TheOlandex]

Well my very first paid job was pure luck - I fell into it by chance. Long story made short, working with a writer I shot a roll of film for an outdoors magazine on a specific topic and they paid me about $250 for the whole thing. That was around 1987 (ish). The first paid job beyond that where I intentionally went out and got a client and did a job... geez, I don't really remember for sure but I think it was a dance studio. I did discounted portraits for dancers as a fundraiser and donated 50% of the proceeds back to the club. I did the shots over two days and the club and I each earned about $1200. That was for something like 40 portraits. I still do work now with athletes and performers, as well as some headshot and portrait stuff. Occasionally family portraits. I build job-specific pricing based loosely around a day rate of $800 per day (6 or 7 hour day max). Depends on the job and the demands of the job, but I need to average in that $800 per day or better range to make it worthwhile. Otherwise I'd rather be out just shooting for charities or for fun.

[@RollinLeonard]

Photographed an art show for $100 in Cleveland OH two decades ago. My work was shit but so was the artwork.

[@shaunmaddox]

🤣🤣🤣

[@DavidHarperPhoto]

Great video Scott and it's something I am trying to workout. at the moment I am targeting the craft/micro brewery industry as it interests me but either finding that they do it in house by someone with their phone or just obviously can't afford to spend hundreds and hundreds on set of images. I have recently sent out a load of emails to breweries I'd like to work for but almost non get back in touch, I feel my work is pretty good but perhaps I need to add more to my portfolio to show I am capable, Maybe if I offer them a couple of free photos, I get new images for me and they get some good images, and it opens the door for future paid work whilst building on my portfolio.

[@benharris3949]

I have similar interests and opportunities. I’m not sure if this applies to your area but after talking to a few brewers/distillers I discovered that there is a distributor that they use and part of the distribution service is product photography. Find the distributor and pitch to them, they have much more money to play with.

[@UrbanSipfly]

Have you tried shopping for refurbished camera gear instead of brand new to possibly save money?

[@bryanladdphotography]

I appreciate your videos. Great work and thanks for taking the time to do it! What you said about discovering what the market will bare is exactly where I am currently. Sadly, most local targets I have approached are scared of prices higher than $100 USD for product photography - and they expect 100's of images to choose from. I'm not sure if business will work out locally. My first wedding compensation was the dinner provided at the reception.

[@ViewportPlaythrough]

almost at the same boat as yours... have you found your answer? do you think it would be a viable business?

[@bryanladdphotography]

@@ViewportPlaythrough Not a full-time business in my local market, but I will find some clients.

[@alex199273]

First job was product photography for a fertilizer company in California. I was 20 at the time and charged them $1,200 USD. Quick tip for anybody that is doing photography for a farmer (at least in California) they have deep pockets. Don’t be afraid to charge premium. You won’t believe how much expensive things they own, tractors ain’t cheap!

[@dougpittman9446]

You just hit the nail on the head about working rates out! Wise words sir, cheers :) and for my first job think it was 40 quid to shoot an afternoon event for abar.

[@TinHouseStudioUK]

Boom!

[@josephsherlock9140]

500 danish crowns (60 quid) for an actor's headshot. My lighting rig was one of those SAD lamps that is supposed to wake you up naturally in the morning.

[@matthewsinger]

Do you have any advice for fine art photographers for marketing and pricing prints?

[@estebanrestrepo9256]

My first shoot was for a local sleep-clothing brand (pijamas) and I charged $400 for half a day. Nowadays I charge somewhere between 600-750 for that same work.

[@ianstenson7045]

I was told by a client/charity organisation that I was too cheap and they doubled my fee to £100. This was for a whole day on site and processing the pictures afterwards. I thought it was great and charged £100 per day for ages after that.

[@dahrrg]

Don't charge for your stress in the beginning. After some similar jobs your stress level decreases which would result in a price reduction. Makes no sense. You should even deduct the thrill and the ton of lessons you learn in the beginning from the price. The more you do and learn the faster you grow your business and photography skills. Just like in sports - you need constant training. Step by step you will get better paying clients - it just happens if you focus on reputation and improving yourself and your business. My first job back then: 400 EUR for some product photography stuff. Took me a week instead of a day. Nightmare client, learned a lot.

[@IncognitoSprax]

I charged $150 for a Sweet 16. I looked around the internet and asked my HS mentor who did videography. It was the right price for the time.

[@Officialhooligin]

First paid job was corporate headshots which paid $1000. For portrait sessions I typically charge $250 for an hour session!

[@alexanderow1268]

I started my career at 23 years old with my first commercial job for a optical shop, shooting a pair of spectacles for SGD$50.00, lols ......... fast forward 28 years now, my photography day rate is SGD$3,000.00.

[@FernandoSLima]

My first job it was food photography for a restaurant and I receive 10 dinners as payment.. :D

[@matrixphotodesign]

Hey How do you figure out what the going rate is , I just find photographer rates so ranom its hard yto know.

[@TerrenceJonesPhotography]

How do you find out what the market will bare?

[@ricjg]

How are the prices in UK concerning architecture photography...not real estate. I'm talking about commissions made by architecture offices? Do anyone knows? I know it can be very diferent concerning the kind of project...apartment, houses...buildings...museums...hospitals...sky scrapers etc.

[@dbllck]

My first job was a $50 US ($40 UK) real estate job. I actually had more kick back because I was too cheap and realtors didn't trust I knew what I was doing. Spoiler: They were right, I didn't. 8 years later I've moved into a proper range, then overshot, and moved back down and found the middle ground. Which in my area is roughly that $125-$200 US ($100-$160 UK) as my base price depending on size, plus add-ons.

[@webersteve1547]

I really like your presentation. Also a good way to learn english 😂

[@whileriding]

When it comes to the portfolio building are you mostly doing that between jobs?

[@TinHouseStudioUK]

Yes very much so

[@baz8084]

Got my first Wedding for £500 then did a shoot for petrol money last week as it would look mega in my portfolio but the couple were skint. I'm conscious the quicker I can build my portfolio, the quicker I can reflect my value and increase my prices. Am i heading in the right direction?

[@jonfairriephotography3799]

If you're buying the latest and greatest to shoot headshots (or anything that doesn't really require quicker shutter speeds) you're doing it wrong. Buy a Canon 5d Mkii and you're golden, I've been shooting sport work with a Nikon D800 (which is about 10/11 years old now) and a Tamron 100-400mm, with pretty decent results. Biggest pet peeve with social media these days are all the people that think they're "pro" photographers because they have a Sony a7v or Canon/Nikon equivalent and their post processing goes no further than bumping the blues and pinks.

[@corbinpearce7686]

My first "batch" of headshots that went into my portfolio, including some paid jobs, were done on a Rebel T7, and then for most of the last year, I've used an M50. A 50mm 1.8 did fine on these as a lens upgrade since stopped down it's sharper, and the 50mm crops to 80mm on the APSC sensors. I've only recently moved over to an R6MII because I got it for Christmas, but I've done several 4 figure jobs with the M50. You can really do great headshot with just about any camera.

[@tammosiemers2478]

good question how much to charge for the First job, for me as a newby a big question

[@avokid136]

I got 200€ for shooting a local half marathon with Canon IXUS 40 (2003). I loaned a motorbike from my friend to do it. When I was picking the bike up, my friend dropped the camera and LCD got broken. Still shot the gig with only tiny viewfinder and got paid. The bike even broke on the way home 😅

[@nickraypost]

First paid gig was $750 for 3 days as a production assistant carrying gear and running errands($250/day) in a mid level city. Did my first wedding for free - declined the $500 offer just to build portfolio with less stress/demands. Recently my day rates are $400-750/day until I build a quality mid level portfolio. It’s a journey! Be sure to put in the work and don’t forget to grow professionally on unpaid personal projects! Great channel/advice!!

[@MichaelTodaro]

first paid gig was a live concert set for $65 in 2010

[@corbinpearce7686]

My first paid job was headshots for someone. They wanted one in a "studio" setup, and one environmental. I charged $70 for that, and they also decided to kindly tip me an extra $5 to get a beer. I think it was a fair valuation for what I gave them which was good, clean photos, but nothing special about them. I was just starting, and while I'd done some test headshots for people so I had work to show, I had no consistency to my shooting, and they were going to get what they were going to get. They basically paid for my time doing the work, more than the result. Still, it was a good first job, and I've come a good way since then.

[@etiennevogelproductions]

My first job was a wedding and I charged 400€ for a full day. I was happy at the time but it was stressy :)

[@kwa_nguyen]

first few gigs was shooting night clubs in sydney australia 9pm ish to 1am 4hours for $100 - $150 . did that for about 3-4 years and was able to get upto $250 so some weekends it was friday,sat $500 AUD when i was around 24-29 Now i charge $350 - $400 an hour for events . but as scott said above. the markets changing..people are getting tighter so i might need to do research and change my rates to match the market because if i just stick to my guns i just wont get much work + i have to lower my living and spending cost >.

[@wolfgvming5855]

My first ever job was for $250 doing senior portraits. It was for a friend of mine and they decided to double it and give me $500. My first job were someone reached out to me for work was $1200 for a quinceanera. I was there from 11am to midnight. Learned a lot. Had more fun.

[@IntelWond]

I was always interested to make the best possible results, which, if course, demand some time and, therefore, have to cost properly. So that's, I guess, the most interesting question if life - how to shoot for the price higher, then the market is willing to pay you.)

[@hejmRage]

1300 for a wedding was my first job. Shot a mix of film and digital. Was a full day until the end of the party.

[@BoB2011yay]

£250 Amazon product photography with graphics! It was 3 years ago now, boy I don't miss Amz work.

[@williamcrawford7857]

I don't know if this counts, but I charged 200.00 dollars for a local off-road 4x4 racing builder. He builds some pretty exotic stuff. Never got paid. He paid for the model he brought in. But he always gave me the run around. Lesson learned.

[@realamericannegro977]

I bet that model had a contract and got a deposit

[@williamcrawford7857]

@@realamericannegro977 Nope she was friend of a friend type of deal . Also thats what I was referring to when I said lesson learned, next time I get a contract, I took it for granted that I live in a small town and that a a handshake was a done deal. Silly me.

[@realamericannegro977]

@@williamcrawford7857 Yeah people are predators. Plus people with money be acting the dustiest in many sitiations. Makes more sense why Jesus has his foot on their neck in the Bible

[@williamcrawford7857]

@@realamericannegro977 Yse sir we reap what we sow, I chalked it up as a learning experience. He has to live with himself.

[@geranraath]

First job in 2021 paid R500 (£22) for corporate headshots and equestrian events. Now at least we have a minimum level of engagement of around £200 and work out the final details from there.

[@frits1463]

I charge between 300 and 400 a daypart + expenses like parking and travel. Works fine for me. When I will get to much work I will rise prices. Ik will not lower prices ever.

[@MarkoNara]

I live on Paraguay, so the economy its way diferent than the United Kingdom. But seems that Im charging good for where i live, comparing to the numbers that you´d given. My first Job probably was a wedding and i charge really poorly... like 300usd... When i printed the Photoalbum i was left with almost nothing XD

[@jsimes1]

I'm not a pro photographer I studied art in university. So I painted portraits in watercolor. I'll never forget one of my first commissions was a portrait for a woman who's husband had passed away from cancer. Right out of the chute I was screwed because I immediately built an emotional attachment to the woman and her story. I agreed to do the portrait for $350 and this was in the late 80's. At the time I was working at an art supply shop for $4.00 and hour and a 40% discount on supplies so you know I was not bringing home much money. When the woman brought her reference photos to the shop my hear sank. He had passed away in his 40's, she handed me his high school graduation photo (age 17) saying she liked the pose. She also handed me his last driver's license which was a horrible picture to begin with and it was taken the year he passed so he was really sick and thin. Somehow I managed to capture his likeness as an older man not yet in the throes of cancer and there were many tears when I delivered the final painting ... but I must have spent hundreds of hours on the painting. I joked with my boss at the art shop that painting portraits payed even shittier than she did. She was not amused. 😁 I'm not sure painting portraits correlates to photography because you really can't accomplish anything in a day and to be fair I was always painting anyway so it was a nice bonus to have a paycheck, even a small one, at the end of the process. I did a few more portraits at this beginner rate just to make sure the first one wasn't a fluke ... luckily it wasn't. Once I was confident I could get a pleasing likeness I did raise my rate to $700 - $800 and I have to say the commissions dried up. Granted I'm in rural New Hampshire not New York city or even Boston so it was difficult to find clientele that could afford the work. Now I'm a (self taught) software developer because I like guitars and camera gear and painting portraits doesn't bring in the dosh! 😆

[@johnhagen31]

£400 for a wedding in 1990, building to £2000+ in 2018 (digital costs are a fraction of film!) and now I just do friends & famiy for fun. Today I'm back to £400 digital and £600 if they want a book, but they get the same service as at my peak.

[@seralegre]

the first time I earned money with photography, i charged 30CHF (around 25e) for some portraits for a musician in my conservatory. Yes, I'm a terrible salesman and not value myself as i should.

[@shaunmaddox]

Yeah, that’s about right lol. That old pricing structure doesn’t work for everybody. You just took us to the school of hard knocks. -- My first paid gig was a mighty $100. I remember being so happy about it. If I get that offer now I do this 🙄🤣

[@Aaron_DeKeulenaer]

First paid gig was 200 aud and then shooting gigs Friday and Saturday night 100

[@UrbanSipfly]

What resources are available to photographers to garner useful information pertaining to their business what their local market will bear?

[@E777eve]

This is soooo true!!!! the bad advise is coming from fake KZbin photographers :D also UK market is sooo different from USA. there are some exceptions

[@davidfisher92]

I... I was too cowardly to send an invoice so ended up with an honorarium (yes, I had to look it up too) for my first evening event. £220.

[@bkkphoto]

Back in the mid 90’s I was freelance assisting around Manchester and Cumbria on 50 pounds a day.

[@TinHouseStudioUK]

How does that compare with inflation? Was it beter or worst than today?

[@bkkphoto]

I’m not sure what an assistant in the UK would earn today (I’ve worked in Asia for 12 years) but I’d say based on your comment about third assistant being paid £200 ish, according to the BoE inflation calculator £50 in ‘95 is worth £95.17 today.

[@joaoborrega4594]

First job 250€ for the all day shooting backstage and doing the lighting setup for the photographer, note the photographer was my teacher 😂.

[@JamesParsons1]

I’m glad I’m not the only one who thinks the overheads price calculation strategy is so backwards ahaha It must have been created by people who only make money by selling courses. It sounds good in principle until it’s actually applied and ruins someone’s business

[@oneeyedphotographer]

It doesn't tell you how much to charge. It tells you the absolute minimum you can afford to charge.

[@agnieszkajakubowicz7485]

My very first paying job got me $300 USD. 🤣My day rate is $3500 now (shooting interiors in California)

[@shaunmaddox]

You have a talent in business and a eye to back it up ✊

[@trancer03]

I shot for free for 4 years. Now i charge 175/250 and they get me for 4 hours.

[@FranklinLiranzo]

Not sure i would recommend people to adjust their pricing based on what people can afford. Often they can afford a lot more but are trying to low-ball every creator they can. I recommend photographers research their targeted audience, plus their competitors and price accordingly.

[@simonrhys]

£110! I win! God knows how I worked that figure out! But it did get the ball rolling. You live & you learn 😂

[@driatros]

I photographed autopsies and made power point presentation slides for med students / residents, when I was still in medical school, many years ago. $2.50 per slide... Not worth the smells I had to endure.

[@Fleet42]

I charged $200 for a family shoot. I was happy with that but now I charge $800 starting and the package goes up from there.

[@capturedbyquinn]

First job was $200 or $250 CAD for a 4 hour club night. I probably spent 40 hours editing the album 🤦‍♂️

[@ravholly]

1999 shot my first wedding for $500 on a Nikon F5 with a Nikon N90s backup both 35mm film cameras

[@RyHallPhoto]

I charged £75 for a family photoshoot 😅 ( first official job).

[@MiguelCharles]

When I started, I charged a customer 180€ for a birthday afternoon and 100€ for her shop’s advertising

[@alexis_keith]

I charged $100 for a couple shoot

[@j.conyersphotography169]

I charged $50 US (about £40) for a wellness coach's website photos. It was a side hustle at the time and honestly I just wanted to pay for a night out with my wife.😅😅. I have also worked for beer and whiskey (close friends).

[@j.conyersphotography169]

Edit: pay for a night out... 😵‍💫😵‍💫

[@andrewjacksonmusic]

£150 for headshots and edits, travelled to clients house, think I may have over charged but seemed happy with the pictures.

[@elpinchimaniaco]

My first wedding i charged $200 (dollars) thats so messed up lmao