How to sell photography

Best Ways To Make Money Selling Photography:

Im a beginner photographer...Id like to know how can I charge my work...like a hour?Anybody can help me?Thanks

Public Comments

1. You might want to hook up with a photographer in the next town over, someone that you don't compete with, either online or in person, and ask them this and other questions. That way you have the benefit of their experience, and are not going in blind. Also, as a rule of thumb, charge more than you think b/c you can always come down on your price and have the folks think you are doing them a favor, but you can't raise your price if the job turns out to be a pain.
2. There is a lot of great insight on Flickr.com, if you go to the group Pro Corner: Semi-Pro & Professional Photography. Below is a link to a threat with multiple links on such subjects as this. Before you jump there, consider what you are offering. What is your client going to receive for that fee, and what will be provided for an additional cost? For example, if you are doing a portrait session for one hour, maybe you take 100 shots. Of those shots, only 25 are 'good', some were out of focus, some were used to meter your light & get the right effect, etc. Will your client receive a CD of those pictures, and that is the end of your relationship? Or will you do some post-production editing of the photos first, and then give them the CD? Maybe you are going to give them proofs, from which they need to select the prints they want from you, and all they get are the prints, with additional ordering to be done through you. Each of these scenarios offers different pricing. In the first, you are charging for your time spent photographing them. You really are not spending any additional time on the photos other than transfering them to media for your client. In the second, you need to factor in your time spend editing and adjusting the photos, perhaps creating special effects, or duplicating some into B&W. Now your hourly charge needs to be increased to accomodate this additional service. Finally, if you are not going to give your client a CD, but instead keep the photos and only offer prints, perhaps your hourly rate will go down, because you will make profits off the number of prints. In this case, you can offer package prices as well as individual print costs. I hope this helps, and definitely check out what photographers in your area are doing, especially at your experience level. Many times, newly emerging photographers will offer their services lower to get clients & word-of-mouth.
3. Consider your overhead ... Cost of buying a new DSLR (or two) every three or so years, new computer every three years and upgrading your Photoshop software at each new version update. I work out of my home, so I don't have a separate monthly expense for an office or studio. I rent studio space if and when I need it and the client pays for that. Still, I need to make make about $300 per shooting day just to cover my expenses (includes taxes, health insurance, auto insurance on my business vehicle, retirement fund and the cost of doing business aside from the capital investment of equipment). Don't forget to charge for editing and PS enhancement time at about $150/hr. That is what I have to pay my PS Wizard.
4. If you're a beginner, you don't want to get carried away. You should figure out how much it will cost YOU first. I don't know if you are planning on using 34mm or digital, but just figure the costs of the chemicals and film or ink/printing, etc. Then you can figure how much you need to make in order to turn a profit. And pick a starter fee which includes the payment for your materials. After that, you can charge per photo that is proccessed. You might not want to charge per hour since you are a novice. This may sound obvious, but the more experienced you are, the higher people will be willing to pay.
5. I recommand you a Free Online Photography Course it include ten lessons on Photography. http://www.photography-tutorial.info/ Lesson 1: Composition And Impact - It's A Beautiful Photograph, But Do You Know WHY It's Beautiful? Lesson Two: Aperture And Shutter Speed - How They Work Together Lesson 3: The lens - choosing camera optics. Lesson 4: ISO, Grain, Transparency vs. Negative, Specialty Films Lesson 5: Fun Effects - Camera Filters, Soft Focus, Zooming And Panning Lesson 6: Landscape, Nature and Travel Photography Lesson 7: Portraits And Studio Lighting Lesson 8: Studio Lighting - Still Life and Product Photography Lesson 9: Tying It All Together Lesson 10: Special Requests http://www.photography-tutorial.info/ good luck !
6. As a beginner, it would benefit you waaaayyyy more to study photography technique and practice before you worry about how much to charge. If you happen across a spectacular photo-journalism event, like Laura Bush doing the hot cha-cha naked on a table top with John Kerry, then worry about how much the tabloids will pay. Otherwise, don't put the cart before the horse. Put in your learning time and dues, then when you have something to offer decide how much to charge. Good luck!