MicrostockGroup Sponsors


Author Topic: Is there any money in product photography for clients?  (Read 2498 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

« on: November 26, 2015, 15:16 »
0
Does anyone know if there is any decent money that can be made in doing product photography for clients directly? And what would one charge that is typical for a medium size US city of 0.5 million? I'm thinking of branching out from stock photos. I've never tested the waters of photography outside of stock photos, so I'm not sure what to expect. I fear product photography is also low margin and low paying, like photography is in general. For stock photos, at least that is a one to many relationship. I would dread low margins on a one to one relationship.

EDIT: I did a google search after posting, and saw the earnings were very average. https://www.glassdoor.com/Salaries/product-photographer-salary-SRCH_KO0,20.htm
« Last Edit: November 26, 2015, 15:19 by charged »


« Reply #1 on: November 26, 2015, 18:39 »
+2
Well, I went the other way from product photography to stock thinking it provided some artisitic freedom then discovered most stock photos are product photos at a fraction of the price.

I dont think the size of the city has much to do with what you can charge: its more how difficult the subject is to shoot. There are some items where you are doing your client and yourself a favour by saying, do it yourself with a decent point and click. On the other hand, if you have to go underwater in scuba gear for ten minutes for each picture you can pass that charge on.

You have to think what your good photography is going to add to any product shoot.  If its a used car, probably nothing. If its the factory where something is made, potentially lots. If you can differentiate the product from the clients competitor then, again, lots.

What I can charge is the wrong way to think. You need to allow for your transportation and maybe hire costs and a reasonable allowance for your time (often as an economic opportunity cost weighed against what you would otherwise be doing) and quote that to the customer, If they wont pay that they are either not worth bothering about or you should be doing something better with your time.


 

Related Topics

  Subject / Started by Replies Last post
4 Replies
6380 Views
Last post January 04, 2008, 00:42
by ParisEye
4 Replies
6270 Views
Last post January 11, 2008, 06:58
by Fred
34 Replies
41344 Views
Last post July 10, 2010, 07:40
by PaulieWalnuts
3 Replies
2613 Views
Last post November 26, 2012, 12:49
by Elenathewise
2 Replies
3171 Views
Last post September 19, 2016, 03:25
by cathyslife

Sponsors

Mega Bundle of 5,900+ Professional Lightroom Presets

Microstock Poll Results

Sponsors