Two main factors determine fair pricing for photography, usage and the number of images created. Details follow:

Usage: Usage addresses the manner and frequency that an image will be utilized. An image that is created for use in a small, regional, consumer magazine is priced far less than one created for use in an advertisement in a national consumer magazine or annual report for a major corporation.

Number of Images: The number of images you require is an important factor. Of course, discounts come into play when I am asked to provide photography for an entire annual report, entire brochure or other project requiring many images.

Time: I do not charge based on my time, day rates are a thing of the past. Many of my shoots involve some sort of disruption to your facility and I know you've hired me for my experience in order to keep that interruption to a minimum. Many clients have expressed their gratitude for the quick, courteous manner in which I work. This working style is a benefit to you; I've never understood why clients provide photographers the incentive to work longer by utilizing the 'day rate' system of pricing.

When asked to quote on a shoot, these are some of the elements I consider in creating the estimate. The following items may not be itemized in the quote, but they are, in one way or another, included in the quote.

• Assistants
• Other crew
• Make up stylist
• Wardrobe stylist and coordinator
• Production coordinator
• Casting
• Models' fees
• Lighting tests
• Props
• Wardrobe
• Set construction
• Location fees
• Delivery charges
• Transportation
• Travel days for photographer and crew (location)
• Weather days (once on location)
• Rentals, equipment
• Rentals, car or truck (location)
• Meals (once on location)
• Kraft Services (catering and lunches)
• Sets/expendables
• Digital charges ­ downloading, conversions, web proofs, paper proofs, etc.
• Retouching
• Web Galleries
• Prints
• Other miscellaneous items.

For some photo buyers, the term "buyout" is interpreted as meaning the client can use the photo for unlimited placements for an unlimited time. Other buyers interpret "buyout" to mean a copyright transfer, or outright ownership. Unfortunately, the term "buyout" is not a legal term, is vague, and has different meanings to different people. In almost all cases, the client knows how the images he or she requires will be used and for how long.

Unlimited usage requests are costly and in most cases will result in an estimate that well exceeds the buyer's budget set for photography as we attempt to determine all the possible ways in which the images we'll be creating will be used.

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We do not supply clients with receipts for any expenses for several reasons:

We are independent contractors, not employees. When tax time comes, the IRS requires us to provide receipts to verify expenses on our Schedule C. The IRS (Internal Revenue Service) does not require you to have those receipts on hand. They do however, require you to have our invoice on hand.

It is critical to the success of our business to maintain a proprietary suppliers network -- an absolute cornerstone of a profitable business, and in an insecure environment we do not wish our competitors to learn who our suppliers are. While this is less applicable on film and processing than on unusual items, and from time to time, applies to assistants as well, it is nonetheless critical throughout our supplier chain.

By way of example, publishing houses do not request receipts from printing plants for the cost of ink and paper, nor A receipt for the wholesale prices paid on the repair of a copier, nor a gasoline receipt from the delivery service who delivers the copies of the magazine.

Please discuss with us any issues you have with this policy before signing our contract for photographic services.

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