Detroit Photographer Blake Discher - Photography Pricing Price Schedules

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.

Buyout: a term you want to avoid

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.

CLOSE WINDOW

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.

CLOSE WINDOW

Thank you for taking time to review my pricing pages. To be practical, I have included only the most commonly requested types of photography. In any case, please realize that the prices shown are merely estimates of costs based on my experience and many assumptions on what you may require. Whether or not your project can be neatly pigeon-holed into thecategories listed below, please contact me for a detailed estimate of charges.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING PRICING

My price structure is based on a variety of factors, primarily usage and the number of images created. With the exception of one type of photography, I do not embrace the concept of time-based billing. If you'd like to read more detailed information about how I've established my rates, please click here . (Opens in new window.)

To find out why I do not turn over receipts as a part of the invoicing process, click here . (Opens in new window.)

The following miscellaneous fees are applicable to all shoots:

Prep Days billed at 45% of the creative fee
Travel Days billed at 50% of the creative fee
Weather Days billed at 75% of the creative fee
Cancellation 48-72 hours before: 40% of creative fee
Cancellation 24-48 hours before: 65% of creative fee
Cancellation less than 24 hours before: 80% of creative fee

Please select the type of photography you require from the list below. Note, however, every shoot is different, and, while these estimates are based upon the most common types of photography requested, please contact me after reviewing these pricing guides so that I may create an estimate for your specific project.

Estimate for Corporate Photography
Corporate use is defined as: Photographs used in external corporate literature, promotional and sales brochures, catalogs, and annual reports.
Category	Creative Fee, per shot (first / ea. addt'l)	Notes
Annual Reports	$1750/1150	Minimum $2900
Capabilities Brochure, National	$1275/850	Minimum $2175
Sales Brochure, National	$2050/1350	Minimum $3400
Sales Sheet, National	$850/525	Minimum $1375
Catalog, National	$325/200	25K to 250K printed
Catalog, Regional	$175/125	Under 25K printed
Collateral Brochure, National	$1975/1250	25K to 250K printed
Collateral Brochure, National	$1475/875	Under 25K printed
Collateral Brochure, Regional	$1125/725	Per image, under 25K printed
Packaging	$3425	National, life of package, 2 images
CD Packaging	$2950	Life of album, 4 images
TV Stills	$2725	National, five seconds airtime
The rates shown are the "Single Use Fees" for one time use. Expenses including, but not limited to, assistants, film, processing, couriers, travel, models, props, stylists, producers, location scouts or managers, etc. are not included.

Licensing Fee Estimate for Web Site Placement
The rates shown are the fees to license 12 months media usage for a single image used as the main illustration on a corporate web site. Note no creative fee is included and expenses including, but not limited to, assistants, film, processing, couriers, travel, models, props, stylists, producers, location scouts or managers, etc. are not included.
Intended Web Use	Creative Fee
WWW Home Page:	$1,750
WWW 2nd Level Page:	$775
WWW 3d Level Page:	$650
WWW Banner:	$2,750
WWW Icon or Hot Button:	$495

Executive Portraits for PR Purposes

Public relations portraits are photographs distributed without charge to publications, to the editorial departments of regularly published magazines, newspapers, newsletters, and the wire services. They are used in unpaid articles about an individual, organization or event. This type of photography is generally widely utilized.

I offer several 'styles' of portraits for PR purposes. The background choice is yours: from left, plain white, environmental, and graduated gray to white.

Description

Creative Fee

First Subject, your location

$310 (may be invoiced)

First subject, at studio

$195 (payable with credit card only)

Each additional subject

$100

Web Gallery

$50 (remains online for 30 days)

Digital Post Processing, per select

$60

License is granted for 1) submission to wires services, 2) publishing images in newspapers and trade publications, and 3) in-house promotional use and press kits, for a period of one year. Images may be used for mementos, gifts, and other personal use without restriction.