[Dave]

With an exhibition underway, I have 5 examples of portrait work, with 2 of young children that will hopefully lead to some commission work. Problem is I have no idea what to charge

Can anyone with experience of selling portrait work advise ? I'm assuming I have to cost up following :-

- Travel to & from shoot
- Time at shoot (persons house)
- Cost per print / package

I would be looking to shoot above with natural light (as per below shots), or flash as last resort.



I currently have an attached double garage to house that I could convert to a Studio with correct lighting etc. I estimate £2K to convert & provide lighting . Not sure what difference in pricing for people coming to yourself ?

Any advice welcome

[Whipspeed]

Obviously depending on travel & time, I suppose you'd have to average it out and charge a standard price for the shoot. I think studios like venture have that offer on permenantly where the shoot is £25.00 and you get one small free shot. A local pro I'm friendly with also charges this for a basic studio session. Then you need to price the prints to make the profit.

[Gary Bagshawe]

Well I can only tell you what I charge and hope that it helps,
Studio or location (I sometimes take a family out into the countryside for a dramatic backdrop, even did one shoot in a snow storm) £200.00 including 5 A-5 prints. extra prints are £8.00-A5 £16.00-A4 and £32 for an A3. May sound expensive for the prints but then look at what venture charge.

[gsgary]

Originally Posted by Gary Bagshawe

Well I can only tell you what I charge and hope that it helps,
Studio or location (I sometimes take a family out into the countryside for a dramatic backdrop, even did one shoot in a snow storm) £200.00 including 5 A-5 prints. extra prints are £8.00-A5 £16.00-A4 and £32 for an A3. May sound expensive for the prints but then look at what venture charge.

That sounds too cheap for an A4 when you look around at what people are charging for crap, I had some shots of Chatsworth Horse trial in a mag and was emailed by the rider for a print didn't know what to say so said £12, when i took it round she had bought one on the day for £25 and it was A5 and rubbish

[Whipspeed]

Prices for event photography are usually cheaper than portraits, I charge £14.50 for a mounted 10x8 for the cycling shots, which, after a bit of market research on other sites is the average. Some only charge about £3.00 for a 7x5.
Gary, yours do sound reasonable. Friend of Brother in Law has Venture canvas on wall that was well over £1K.

[Markulous]

Pretty good way of handling it: Portraiture pricing

[M1ke A]

Originally Posted by Whipspeed

Prices for event photography are usually cheaper than portraits, I charge £14.50 for a mounted 10x8 for the cycling shots, which, after a bit of market research on other sites is the average. Some only charge about £3.00 for a 7x5.

Ooh that sounds familiar . Hi Sarah (tis a small world this ere interweb forum thang.....)

[Whipspeed]

Tut, Mike, you could increase your prices with no complaints, your shots are very good.
Yes, very small world.

[Summerleft]

Think it all depends on where you are, I lost a portrait shoot to Venture other week although they will end up paying more for thier prints something silly like £800 for a small canvas as apposed to my £140 plus the shoot itself but because I charge for the work not the print and franchises have offers like £25 sitting as said.

However I've got my make over one offers at around £150 plus prints and petrol
and Just a basic portrait at £85 plus petrol plus prints.