Author Topic: Typical Charge for shooting dance-signing performance (Staged) (Read 4117 times)

tab62 · « **on:** July 28, 2013, 12:06 »

What do you folks think the charge for doing a photo session of a dance group prior to the live performance would be for 2 hours of shooting? I will have my lights setup as well with a background to ensure iso 100 quality. I plan on doing some processing on photos that are later requested plus a quick batch process (jpg) for their website.

Thanks

Tom

Perry · « **Reply #1 on:** July 28, 2013, 12:11 »

There is no "typical" rate for this. It all comes up to you: Where are you living? How much do you need? What is your skill level?

tab62 · « **Reply #2 on:** July 28, 2013, 13:03 »

I would say $50 per hour for an average photographer in Seattle would be fair.

WarrenPrice · « **Reply #3 on:** July 28, 2013, 13:16 »

Quote from: tab62 on July 28, 2013, 13:03

I would say $50 per hour for an average photographer in Seattle would be fair.

Just comparing numbers ... Truck Stuff guy wants $75 an hour just for installing truck tool box -- Minimum of One Hour.

We all are prone to under-pricing our value. $:-\$

tab62 · « **Reply #4 on:** July 28, 2013, 13:38 »

being in the Microstock Business we are all prone to underpricing ourselves

gostwyck · « **Reply #5 on:** July 28, 2013, 14:35 »

You might want to take into account whether they are an amateur or professional group and whether you enjoy supporting the arts by donating your time cheaply rather than trying to maximise your profit.

Most professional art groups barely scrape by and often depend on sponsors and/or government grants to survive. One of my relatives wrote the music for War Horse (the stage show, not the film version). It's currently touring the world but the costs of putting on the show are so high that they need to sell 80% of the tickets just to break even __ and that's with many of the supporting staff working for next to nothing.

tab62 · « **Reply #6 on:** July 28, 2013, 16:00 »

This is exactly where these folks are- their tickets sales barely cover their costs. This Pro Bono work for me but good experience...

CD123 · « **Reply #7 on:** July 28, 2013, 16:44 »

Many pro's might differ from me on this point, but what I will do is ask them straight how much they can afford (budget) and tell them you need this info as to establish what your offering can include. This put the ball in their court. If you just ask how much, they will say $10 an hour, but linking your scope of your offering to their indication will force them to be realistic, as they know now that the less they offer, the less they will get.

If you have this roundabout figure, you can now also make an educated estimation of what will be reasonable for you, effort wise, to include into the deal and what not. I will then give them a modular quote, where I will indicate what will be covered by their indicated price and separately, what additional add-on services you offer and at what price. Now you are getting them to stretch their pockets, within reason, to get exactly what they want.

In the end, this method should result in 2 happy parties. You got the most money they can afford and they will feel they got the best product for their money.

Imagenomad · « **Reply #8 on:** July 29, 2013, 03:24 »

What about doing it cheap or even pro bono but make it conditional on them signing releases? Time permitting, you could then have a separate shoot where you bring some suitable stocky props.

Beppe Grillo · « **Reply #9 on:** July 29, 2013, 09:28 »

Take care, somebody with a mobile phone could propose to do the job for free (instagram fx included, of course)…

By the way, consider how much asks your dentist for 15 minutes of work and ask the same price for one hour.

etienjones · « **Reply #10 on:** July 29, 2013, 09:43 »

I would give them the jpegs as a gift and sell nice prints for your time.
If you end up with some releases you might make a few $$ on the Stock Sites.

WarrenPrice · « **Reply #11 on:** July 29, 2013, 09:54 »

Quote from: etienjones on July 29, 2013, 09:43

I would give them the jpegs as a gift and sell nice prints for your time.
If you end up with some releases you might make a few $$ on the Stock Sites.

Shooting plays and stage performances has caused release problems in the past. Most are copyright and rights (along with costumes, etc) are licensed to producer/directors/promoters.

You would have to get release from Agents -- which does not happen.

Imagenomad · « **Reply #12 on:** July 29, 2013, 10:11 »

Quote from: WarrenPrice on July 29, 2013, 09:54

Quote from: etienjones on July 29, 2013, 09:43
I would give them the jpegs as a gift and sell nice prints for your time.
If you end up with some releases you might make a few $$ on the Stock Sites.

Shooting plays and stage performances has caused release problems in the past. Most are copyright and rights (along with costumes, etc) are licensed to producer/directors/promoters.

You would have to get release from Agents -- which does not happen.

Bum. In that case, listen to Beppe and charge like a dentist.

tab62 · « **Reply #13 on:** July 29, 2013, 10:32 »

"Bum. In that case, listen to Beppe and charge like a dentist."

If I could charge like a dentist, especially the Seattle area, I would make more than 99% of the folks on this site lol!

Pixart · « **Reply #14 on:** July 29, 2013, 10:42 »

The other thing.... learning to shoot dance is a skill - like learning to shoot macro etc. Posed "school" photos are a piece of cake, but action shots take a bit of practice. You are shooting something you anticipate to happen- does that make sense. You have to know that when they leap there is just a fraction of a sweet moment when they reach the height of the jette before the legs whip back together - if you wait to see it you have missed the shot - you have to use your 6th sense to trust it will be there. The dancers won't like the photo if their legs aren't perfectly split. It does come, but to charge professional fees for your first time doing this type of shoot might be a bit much. But if you have experience shooting action sports, or skateboarding it should come quite quickly. And what shutter speed do your lights synch at? Hopefully at least 250. It's a challenge, but if you hit that sweet spot perfectly they are almost frozen anyway so shutterspeed doesn't matter, if you have missed the shot a foot or hand will be blurry.

For posed shots, just remember to fill the frame. Deeper poses, longer stretches, watch the lines, arms parallel with legs for example, and hands exactly the same or exactly the opposite. For school photos I use almost a portrait setup. For action shots side lighting adds beautiful drama with just a bit of fill in the front.

Of all the sports I shoot, dancers are hands down the best to work with. They will try ANYTHING and want to look superb at the same time (opposed to shooting hockey players....) I had a break dancer last month, he was doing his moves, on one hand with legs windmilling about and I yell joking "Again, but look at the camera, hold it and smile" and holy crap he did exactly the same move, whips around, upside down on one hand, facing the camera and held it smiling. Beautiful things happen with dancers - and they happen way more often than they do with real models.

And yes, if this is pro production the costume, lighting and set designer will all have copyright.

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Author Topic: Typical Charge for shooting dance-signing performance (Staged) (Read 4117 times)

tab62

Perry

tab62

WarrenPrice

tab62

gostwyck

tab62

CD123

Imagenomad

Beppe Grillo

etienjones

WarrenPrice

Imagenomad

tab62

Pixart

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