It depends. For actors, they get three finished images, because they typically need three shots. For businesses, they get two because that's usually all they need. People can purchase additional images for $100 each, 3 for $200 or 5 for $300.
For individuals in my studio, headshots are priced per shooting session and the base session fee includes one retouched image. Additional retouched images from that session are billed separately on a per image basis. I generally try to give the client a good selection of images that they can use, and often times, I get requests many months after the fact for additional retouched images. Groups are charged on either a base day rate plus a per person charge for formal group headshots, or if it's a corporate event where they want the event documented plus portraits, that's charged per event hours and includes the documented event, then all other retouched images are sold separately. I think a mistake a lot of people make is that you are in the business of selling finished photos, not shooting sessions. Yes you need a shooting session to get finished photos, but what you're selling is the finished photos, not the shooting session. Nothing burns me more than seeing a photographer charge some session fee and include all the photos taken during the session. ?!?!?! You realize you're giving your value away right? The first finished photo is the most expensive because the costs incurred to make that photo in the first place was pretty high, but each finished photo afterwards is also worth charging for. This is why you always shoot at least a couple of different setups tuned for different common headshot usages. This is part and parcel to selling finished photos. Most clients don't even realize they could use or even need those additional photos until they see them and go "Oh, that would be really nice for xyz". Great! When you're ready to do that, we've already got an image captured that we can retouch and finish for that use. Just let me know when and I'll send you and invoice for the work. Working out a shot list of common headshot usages and taking a few extra minutes after getting the images for primary need (the reason they contacted you in the first place) makes for additional revenue in the future in the form of sold additional retouched images.
Whoa! The is AWESOME! I’ve never heard anyone explain a way to amortize equipment-and this is brilliant!!!!! I LOVE this! ❤️
7 місяців тому+2
Your way for calculate group photo price was really clever. It took me away a big pain in the ass. I just started my headshot business in Lima (Peru), that's why any good idea is well is recognized and received 💪
I really have to say that I dig that you have put the formula out there which helps the community instead of keeping it a secret. I have subscribed to your channel and looking for more great content. I may lead to the day rate+
I searched this topic for a corporate job with the county I live in. I usually just do individual branding headshots but this job has 9 people and I had no idea had to price it. I really appreciate you breaking down the 3 methods to price group headshots. The Lehmann scale seems to be the one that makes the most since. I always an issue with the per head rate because it does indeed leave gaps.
My goodness this really helped me. I have been doing commercial photography for a while, but am venturing into the headshot space. I have always had a 'day rate + cost per photo' model. But, if I apply my numbers to a 3-people team shoot, it's way too low. But if I bring them up enough for 3 people, then they're way too high for 13 people. I have really been struggling with this but I now have my answers. I'm going to charge the normal day rate, then X per headshot for the first 5 (let's say) shots, then a lower amount for any additional shots after that 5. Genius! Thanks for the help!
Headshots have become my favorite photography jobs, the repeat business is wonderful to have. For most sessions, I'm having them select the images at their session, no proof galleries to create, Yay! Problem is I live in a city where professionals are charging only 89.00 for headshots! So me charging 145. for 1 retouched headshot makes me expensive for my city. I always end up upselling every headshot session so I rarely only make 145. Sometimes you need the lower price to get them in the door and then surprise, take so many great photos and have them bring additional wardrobe, take a few 3/4, if it's a couple, ask to take some shots of them together instead of just individual headshots. If it's a young actor, take a variety of photos, the Moms always love them all and she buys way more than the 2 headshots they thought they were going to buy.
After listening to the pricing considerations segment, it's hard not to click the like button! Thanks for this one! I was subscribed by the end of the vid! Well said, thank you!
This is very helpful. I’ve been doing senior portraits and casual portraits for about three years and I’ve always just used 2 different packages, but now I am getting into studio headshots and packages just don’t work the same. I like the idea of a day rate, and I also love the last idea you mentioned. Thanks for sharing!
Coming in late to this, I did market research for headshot shooters within 5 miles of where I live which is an upper middle class area. For this area a 2 pic + shoot rate is $350-425 so I pout myself in the middle of that. Not the cheapest/not the most. For group shots, I follow the base shoot rate and a PP rate. One of the things that frustrates me is people not valuing their time. I have a buddy who lives in a VERY affluent area and he is afraid to ask my rates. I told him to grow a set and charge it. Until he starts losing jobs on his rates then reconsider but I did a market analysis on his area and he could get more than me. It comes down to confidence !
Totally agree! Confidence is key. You do have to explain that you are a pro, you are bringing professional lights and essentially bringing an on location studio to separate yourself from the amateurs. My clients value my retouching and they know by looking at my website the photos have been retouched, that's why they call me and I know it. So no I don't let them talk me down from my rates.
With regard to your group pricing structure, you stated you charge $500 for the first person, $350 for the next four, and $200 for all additional people. But, you never said what you provide for that fee. Is it just the session fee? Do you provide any edited shots? If so, how many? If not, how much do you charge per shot? Thanks in advance...
I'm sure that includes 1 headshot. We have them select it immediately after they've been photographed. We have our Canon camera synced to our Ipad with an app so they can swipe through and view the images. This is for a fast turnaround, no proof galleries to create.
Great video. I like your Lehmann method. Since I'm in NYC and bring a portable studio to a corporate office I think I'd want to guarantee myself a certain amount so might do, say, $1000 for first 1 or 2 people (That's $1000 whether you have 1 OR 2 people) and then implement a per person amount for the next 4 and then the next amount for beyond the next 4. Thank you.
Something that should be considered is the market you are in. My little town has an average salary of $50k while Toronto has an average salary of $78K. If I tried to charge 400 per head for headshots I would be out of business in a very short period of time.
One more time for the people in the back. So I rent my own studio out. But I need to take into consideration the cost of my gear (A6600) plus the lense, plus rent of the studio, plus time and divide that by the year? I need the formula one more time. Lmao. I was thinking of adding headshots to my services and pricing is definitely something I'm shaky on.
After watching it a 3rd time :) 1. Let's say you have a group of 40+ I'm assuming that you just present the final quote, or do you break it down to them? 2. When you say that you begin to lower, a) at what number do you lower again the rate or do you keep it at 200? I wish that I had watched this video a month ago, may have gotten me a big-time gig as I have been pricing my headshots groups at 200.00. Worked for 6 or so, but for a group of 40 and another group, fo 80 not so much. How would you go about pricing something like this?
What is your technique when small businesses like coffee shops, restaurants etc tried to dropped the price all the time because they not expect , or we have another expensive or any reason they might have found?! Or even dealerships okay with phone content and don't want to pay for commercial look for instance 750$ for set of 12cars
@@StudioBuilder that is a point, but as a newcomer with quite good portfolio local still trying downgraded everything, especially video .. and the fight is between following their lead or be starving to death ... Negotiation is working, but still
I dont really understand what you are saying I Should Charge enough to Cover my Expenses in 1 JOB? Studio Cost 20$ And lets say 1000$ for rent Car Payments 300$ a month I need to charge Over 1320 for ONE headshot session? I'm not from America im just throwing out prices for the example
do you have a lower rate for non-profits? how long is each individual headshot session? Is there a minimum number of proofs you think is acceptable to deliver if you're only giving business clients 2 finished images? thanks for your video
No, I do not have a lower rate for NFPs. I have two rates: my rate and pro bono. If I believe in something I'll do it pro bono, but my images for NFPs are just as valuable as they are for corps. For proofs, I think at a minimum, 25 per look. I'm one of those photographers who shoots HUNDREDS of frames during a session and then culls out a ton of shots. Sometimes I deliver hundreds of proofs, and sometimes I deliver just dozens. I like to spend at least 60 minutes per client for exploration. If it's groups, then the setup is locked in and there's no exploration, just execution.
There are some people just simply will never be your client. Photography, carpet cleaning, just about any career... They don't want to pay more than minimum wage, no matter what. I know of a lady who had heart problems. She decided she didn't want to spend money on a cardiologist nor treatment. She convinced herself it was a necessary expense. Now she has heart failure. She spent two weeks in the hospital and then to the nursing home she never wanted go to. It is not like she is poor. Up until a year ago, she would gladly tell you she was a millionaire. She had paintings on her walls she got a "bargain on" for $5,000 to $10,000 and someday they would be worth so much more. She has great insurance. Taking care of herself might have set her back $200-300. But she is so cheap, I would say it is an illness. Seems to be prevalent in this market to one degree or another. It is now going to cost her her life. The nursing home will keep her alive long enough to get everything. Her sons are the same way. In 1996, she attended my wedding. She regifted an ancient bottle of wine that had turned to vinegar and $50. To feed her and her now late husband cost me over $150 even then. Of course she had complaints. This is life. You will run into this person at least on some level, a lot more than you'd like. Learn to sort them out fast and go on chasing those worth chasing is the key to success at anything.
Try doing that in my city. No one would hire you. Absolutely no one. Hundreds of thousands of citizens and not a single one would hire you, not even the rich people. Prices is based on market. The only solution to charge more is to move to another market.
A slightly modified method could be to quote for the fees upto 4 ( or x) person headshots. Each additional member x more. This way if there are less people photographers time and investment gets compensated well. If more people his additional energies will be rewarded. Importantly lesser of calculations.
Whatever works best for the photographer as long as they're covering their costs and have money left over. How much money left over is up to the photographer and the market.
For corporate, on location work, I've just been charging a flat fee $$$ per person. I'd like to incorporate a day rate plus per person rate next year. For individual corporate and actors, I charge a 'session fee' with no images included, and then a $$ price per final edited image. One thing I don't do, and was actually having a conversation about this today, is the method which is popular with the Peter Hurley types, which is to do the shoot, then force the clients to make image selections/purchases on the spot after the shoot while telling the client 'anything you don't select/buy today will be deleted' It's a high pressure sales tactic, that while it may be making some photographers quite wealthy...I just can't get behind. My clients will always get a proofing gallery for them to go through, ask friends/family/agents for suggestions, and then make final selects for editing.
Yeah deliberately deleting the photos as a sales tactic should get that person 1 star reviews and is clearly a sign of a very unsavoury person. I've seen people do that with family photography... I mean it's so awful. Basically a scam....
Maybe if people shared what they charge, you’d realize something awesome: that there are photographers out there charging and making way more than you!
Good breakdown. I find a major problem with the professional headshot space is that you essentially have amateurs and pros working in the same space where the barrier for entry is way too low and unfortunately creates a 'race to the bottom' approach to pricing. I am a pro and price myself as a pro, though the amount of times that I am competing on price with shooters who charger $150 (or less) per headshot is becoming a little too often.
I use the the same scale as you for multiple headshots, though I never new the name of it. Only 1 pharma company gets a flat per person rate because they have me there every 4-6 months photographing 10-12 new sales reps and I'm fine with making $15-1800 before lunch for the limited usage those images see(ID's/internal email signatures). My biggest problem is the absolute glut of supposed 'professional' headshot photographers in the NYC area charging cut rate prices. I know they aren't actually making a living at their rates. Photographing lawyers/realtors/Jr executive types, I can't charge too much or they will go elsewhere. Charge too little and I'll need to pick up a few bar tending shifts. My solution to find a balance is offering on location sessions at clients offices and homes. Doing so saves me the cost of a studio rental and my clients are glad to pay a little extra for the convenience. One thing a lot of headshot photographers don't know about when starting out is usage, and that leaves a lot of money unearned. Typically my clients get usage for social media/the company website/business cards/small advertising mailers/etc included in my basic rate. Once they start getting into the realm of bus stop ads additional usage fees kick in.
So I have an upcoming headshot session with a Honda dealership. New GM wants the whole staff shot. We’re looking at possibly over 75 ppl. I did it for them the first time for $900 for 53 ppl. It was my first time doing it. Never again. I took 2-3 days editing 53 ppl. How would I charge for 1 photo per person this time around?
You could do a flat rate, or a base rate plus per image fee. My colleagues and I are finding, at least here in southern Ontario, that charging what we would consider an actually appropriate fee, is just something that companies aren't paying for right now. Now. So, we're doing base rates and sometimes per image fees on top of that. But I wouldn't charge less than $2,000 for that.
The labor theory of value is often popular, but never right. Just calculating your expenses and then charging that plus profit ignores the elasticity in your market. Or in other words, you may not have a viable business if your expenses are more than your customers are willing to pay. Alternatively, you may be leaving profit on the table if your calculated rate, based on expenses plus an arbitrary profit (that this guy never bothered to discuss how you determine) ends up being less than your customers are willing to pay. The reality is more simple. If you have more jobs than time, that you are turning customers away, raise your rates until the number of jobs starts to decrease below the amount of time you have available. Then experiment increasing further, until the number of jobs coming in falls faster than the increased profit rises due to higher prices. Once you find the local maximum where you maximize your profits. THAT is the price you should charge.
@StudioBuilder Again, the labor theory of value has been tried over and over again, but it never results in an optimum price, because customers don't care about your costs. They care about the end result. I saw you commented to someone else a month ago that customers don't seem to want to pay what you consider a "fair" price these days, or some such, so you had to charge differently. Exactly.
Love The Lehmann Scale! that would work for me. I have a question, how many shots do you deliver per person and, how many do they get for the final images?
It depends. My friends think I overshoot. I used to deliver 75-100 proofs on my DSLR but now with mirrorless I deliver about 300 proofs. Actors get three retouched images and business headshots get two.
@@StudioBuilder Great video! Just to make sure I get it... you deliver 300 proof - actors get 3 retouch images including those other 297 images and business get 2 and they keep the other 298 images, are the proof images watermarked?
This problem is true with videography amd editing. Nowadays everybody can call themselves editor or photographer because they have the gear and watched hours of YT videos. It’s killing the business for people who want to start out.
1) Time is irrelevant. If I do 90 minutes or I do 5 minutes, they're getting the same level of skill. 2) Currently, they get 3 images, but they can purchase more. A lot of people do. This is what the market will bear in my area right now. 3) Yes, $500. It's incredibly reasonable for a headshot in one of the world's largest filmmaking areas.
Depends on the budget and client. New clients always require deposit or full payment in advance - deposit of 50% to initiate production on jobs over $2000. Full payment on jobs under $2000. If they're unwilling to do that, walk away. If the job is with a client I've been working with for a while, I'll do the job and send an invoice the day of the job
How would you advise going after companies to take group headshots , where you can see that they need an update. Direct phone calls to the general managers or email them with interest and a price package?
Depends on how much time is allocated for the shoot and how many people need to be photographed. Divide the shoot time by number of people and that's what you get. However, I always ask for 5-10 minutes per person as a minimum, but don't always get it. At 5 minutes, I can do 12/hr or 84 in a day, including a 1-hour lunch break. I might go to 96 but then my assistant would shoot during my lunch and we'd take separate lunch breaks.
Love this! How many photos does per person get for the pricing you’re doing?
It depends. For actors, they get three finished images, because they typically need three shots. For businesses, they get two because that's usually all they need. People can purchase additional images for $100 each, 3 for $200 or 5 for $300.
For individuals in my studio, headshots are priced per shooting session and the base session fee includes one retouched image. Additional retouched images from that session are billed separately on a per image basis. I generally try to give the client a good selection of images that they can use, and often times, I get requests many months after the fact for additional retouched images. Groups are charged on either a base day rate plus a per person charge for formal group headshots, or if it's a corporate event where they want the event documented plus portraits, that's charged per event hours and includes the documented event, then all other retouched images are sold separately.
I think a mistake a lot of people make is that you are in the business of selling finished photos, not shooting sessions. Yes you need a shooting session to get finished photos, but what you're selling is the finished photos, not the shooting session. Nothing burns me more than seeing a photographer charge some session fee and include all the photos taken during the session. ?!?!?! You realize you're giving your value away right? The first finished photo is the most expensive because the costs incurred to make that photo in the first place was pretty high, but each finished photo afterwards is also worth charging for. This is why you always shoot at least a couple of different setups tuned for different common headshot usages. This is part and parcel to selling finished photos. Most clients don't even realize they could use or even need those additional photos until they see them and go "Oh, that would be really nice for xyz". Great! When you're ready to do that, we've already got an image captured that we can retouch and finish for that use. Just let me know when and I'll send you and invoice for the work. Working out a shot list of common headshot usages and taking a few extra minutes after getting the images for primary need (the reason they contacted you in the first place) makes for additional revenue in the future in the form of sold additional retouched images.
Brilliant!
Whoa! The is AWESOME! I’ve never heard anyone explain a way to amortize equipment-and this is brilliant!!!!! I LOVE this! ❤️
Your way for calculate group photo price was really clever. It took me away a big pain in the ass. I just started my headshot business in Lima (Peru), that's why any good idea is well is recognized and received 💪
I really have to say that I dig that you have put the formula out there which helps the community instead of keeping it a secret. I have subscribed to your channel and looking for more great content. I may lead to the day rate+
I searched this topic for a corporate job with the county I live in. I usually just do individual branding headshots but this job has 9 people and I had no idea had to price it. I really appreciate you breaking down the 3 methods to price group headshots. The Lehmann scale seems to be the one that makes the most since. I always an issue with the per head rate because it does indeed leave gaps.
I'm glad I was able to help! I hope you land the gig!
My goodness this really helped me. I have been doing commercial photography for a while, but am venturing into the headshot space. I have always had a 'day rate + cost per photo' model. But, if I apply my numbers to a 3-people team shoot, it's way too low. But if I bring them up enough for 3 people, then they're way too high for 13 people. I have really been struggling with this but I now have my answers. I'm going to charge the normal day rate, then X per headshot for the first 5 (let's say) shots, then a lower amount for any additional shots after that 5. Genius! Thanks for the help!
Headshots have become my favorite photography jobs, the repeat business is wonderful to have. For most sessions, I'm having them select the images at their session, no proof galleries to create, Yay! Problem is I live in a city where professionals are charging only 89.00 for headshots! So me charging 145. for 1 retouched headshot makes me expensive for my city. I always end up upselling every headshot session so I rarely only make 145. Sometimes you need the lower price to get them in the door and then surprise, take so many great photos and have them bring additional wardrobe, take a few 3/4, if it's a couple, ask to take some shots of them together instead of just individual headshots. If it's a young actor, take a variety of photos, the Moms always love them all and she buys way more than the 2 headshots they thought they were going to buy.
After listening to the pricing considerations segment, it's hard not to click the like button! Thanks for this one! I was subscribed by the end of the vid! Well said, thank you!
This is absolutely brilliant! Thank you. That Lehmann scale sounds ideal.
Just to note, I rarely use the Lehman scale these days. I've shifted to a base rate plus a per image rate.
Thank you for the nitty gritty reality for setting prices. Subbed because this is a refreshing, practical take on it.
This is very helpful. I’ve been doing senior portraits and casual portraits for about three years and I’ve always just used 2 different packages, but now I am getting into studio headshots and packages just don’t work the same. I like the idea of a day rate, and I also love the last idea you mentioned. Thanks for sharing!
Coming in late to this, I did market research for headshot shooters within 5 miles of where I live which is an upper middle class area. For this area a 2 pic + shoot rate is $350-425 so I pout myself in the middle of that. Not the cheapest/not the most. For group shots, I follow the base shoot rate and a PP rate. One of the things that frustrates me is people not valuing their time. I have a buddy who lives in a VERY affluent area and he is afraid to ask my rates. I told him to grow a set and charge it. Until he starts losing jobs on his rates then reconsider but I did a market analysis on his area and he could get more than me. It comes down to confidence !
Totally agree! Confidence is key. You do have to explain that you are a pro, you are bringing professional lights and essentially bringing an on location studio to separate yourself from the amateurs. My clients value my retouching and they know by looking at my website the photos have been retouched, that's why they call me and I know it. So no I don't let them talk me down from my rates.
With regard to your group pricing structure, you stated you charge $500 for the first person, $350 for the next four, and $200 for all additional people. But, you never said what you provide for that fee. Is it just the session fee? Do you provide any edited shots? If so, how many? If not, how much do you charge per shot? Thanks in advance...
I'm sure that includes 1 headshot. We have them select it immediately after they've been photographed. We have our Canon camera synced to our Ipad with an app so they can swipe through and view the images. This is for a fast turnaround, no proof galleries to create.
Thanks for making this video, greatly appreciated.
This made so much sense. Thank You
Glad it was helpful!
Great video. I like your Lehmann method. Since I'm in NYC and bring a portable studio to a corporate office I think I'd want to guarantee myself a certain amount so might do, say, $1000 for first 1 or 2 people (That's $1000 whether you have 1 OR 2 people) and then implement a per person amount for the next 4 and then the next amount for beyond the next 4. Thank you.
Something that should be considered is the market you are in. My little town has an average salary of $50k while Toronto has an average salary of $78K. If I tried to charge 400 per head for headshots I would be out of business in a very short period of time.
Solid reality check. Great video!
Glad you liked it!
How do you display the Lehmann Scale pricing to your customers for them to understand?
AWWWWEEEEESSSSOOOOMMMMEEEEE
Hey dude! Loved your vid. I'm in toronto and charge in a very similar way to you!
What is included? Prints? Jpg/tiff? Copyright? Retouching?
In a regular session, 3 finished, retouched images, JPEGs. Copyright stays with the photographer.
One more time for the people in the back. So I rent my own studio out. But I need to take into consideration the cost of my gear (A6600) plus the lense, plus rent of the studio, plus time and divide that by the year? I need the formula one more time. Lmao. I was thinking of adding headshots to my services and pricing is definitely something I'm shaky on.
After watching it a 3rd time :) 1. Let's say you have a group of 40+ I'm assuming that you just present the final quote, or do you break it down to them? 2. When you say that you begin to lower, a) at what number do you lower again the rate or do you keep it at 200? I wish that I had watched this video a month ago, may have gotten me a big-time gig as I have been pricing my headshots groups at 200.00. Worked for 6 or so, but for a group of 40 and another group, fo 80 not so much. How would you go about pricing something like this?
What is your technique when small businesses like coffee shops, restaurants etc tried to dropped the price all the time because they not expect , or we have another expensive or any reason they might have found?! Or even dealerships okay with phone content and don't want to pay for commercial look for instance 750$ for set of 12cars
My technique is to simply say, "Okay, thanks for letting me know and good luck on your search."
@@StudioBuilder that is a point, but as a newcomer with quite good portfolio local still trying downgraded everything, especially video .. and the fight is between following their lead or be starving to death ... Negotiation is working, but still
Raise your prices and get better at sales.
Raise. Your. Prices.@@swansproduction
I dont really understand what you are saying
I Should Charge enough to Cover my Expenses in 1 JOB?
Studio Cost 20$
And lets say 1000$ for rent
Car Payments 300$ a month
I need to charge Over 1320 for ONE headshot session?
I'm not from America im just throwing out prices for the example
oh i think you answered the Question i asked before the 3min mark
Let me know if you have any other questions!
Hey Kevin I have a question , do you pre-qualify your clients before you give a price for head shots or do you have standard rates.
I have standard rates. $500 is where I START. It's on my website. That qualifies out a lot of people looking for passport photos.
do you have a lower rate for non-profits? how long is each individual headshot session? Is there a minimum number of proofs you think is acceptable to deliver if you're only giving business clients 2 finished images? thanks for your video
No, I do not have a lower rate for NFPs. I have two rates: my rate and pro bono. If I believe in something I'll do it pro bono, but my images for NFPs are just as valuable as they are for corps.
For proofs, I think at a minimum, 25 per look. I'm one of those photographers who shoots HUNDREDS of frames during a session and then culls out a ton of shots. Sometimes I deliver hundreds of proofs, and sometimes I deliver just dozens.
I like to spend at least 60 minutes per client for exploration. If it's groups, then the setup is locked in and there's no exploration, just execution.
There are some people just simply will never be your client. Photography, carpet cleaning, just about any career... They don't want to pay more than minimum wage, no matter what. I know of a lady who had heart problems. She decided she didn't want to spend money on a cardiologist nor treatment. She convinced herself it was a necessary expense. Now she has heart failure. She spent two weeks in the hospital and then to the nursing home she never wanted go to. It is not like she is poor. Up until a year ago, she would gladly tell you she was a millionaire. She had paintings on her walls she got a "bargain on" for $5,000 to $10,000 and someday they would be worth so much more. She has great insurance. Taking care of herself might have set her back $200-300. But she is so cheap, I would say it is an illness. Seems to be prevalent in this market to one degree or another. It is now going to cost her her life. The nursing home will keep her alive long enough to get everything. Her sons are the same way. In 1996, she attended my wedding. She regifted an ancient bottle of wine that had turned to vinegar and $50. To feed her and her now late husband cost me over $150 even then. Of course she had complaints. This is life. You will run into this person at least on some level, a lot more than you'd like. Learn to sort them out fast and go on chasing those worth chasing is the key to success at anything.
Shocked at $150.00 you say , Ive had people wanting to pay $50.00 and are genuinely surprised when refuse.
As long as you know what's best for you and don't go into debt for your clients, you're gold.
Try doing that in my city. No one would hire you. Absolutely no one. Hundreds of thousands of citizens and not a single one would hire you, not even the rich people.
Prices is based on market. The only solution to charge more is to move to another market.
That's not true at all. Market conditions are only one factor.
If you gonna wear your hat backwards, in the NY Corporate worlds? You’re going backwards.
It's 2024.
Thank you sir! This was great video. liked and subscribed!
A slightly modified method could be to quote for the fees upto 4 ( or x) person headshots. Each additional member x more. This way if there are less people photographers time and investment gets compensated well. If more people his additional energies will be rewarded. Importantly lesser of calculations.
Whatever works best for the photographer as long as they're covering their costs and have money left over. How much money left over is up to the photographer and the market.
$150 for headshots is a terrible joke..
For corporate, on location work, I've just been charging a flat fee $$$ per person. I'd like to incorporate a day rate plus per person rate next year.
For individual corporate and actors, I charge a 'session fee' with no images included, and then a $$ price per final edited image.
One thing I don't do, and was actually having a conversation about this today, is the method which is popular with the Peter Hurley types, which is to do the shoot, then force the clients to make image selections/purchases on the spot after the shoot while telling the client 'anything you don't select/buy today will be deleted' It's a high pressure sales tactic, that while it may be making some photographers quite wealthy...I just can't get behind. My clients will always get a proofing gallery for them to go through, ask friends/family/agents for suggestions, and then make final selects for editing.
Yeah deliberately deleting the photos as a sales tactic should get that person 1 star reviews and is clearly a sign of a very unsavoury person. I've seen people do that with family photography... I mean it's so awful. Basically a scam....
Maybe if people shared what they charge, you’d realize something awesome: that there are photographers out there charging and making way more than you!
What's your point?
Good breakdown. I find a major problem with the professional headshot space is that you essentially have amateurs and pros working in the same space where the barrier for entry is way too low and unfortunately creates a 'race to the bottom' approach to pricing. I am a pro and price myself as a pro, though the amount of times that I am competing on price with shooters who charger $150 (or less) per headshot is becoming a little too often.
I use the the same scale as you for multiple headshots, though I never new the name of it. Only 1 pharma company gets a flat per person rate because they have me there every 4-6 months photographing 10-12 new sales reps and I'm fine with making $15-1800 before lunch for the limited usage those images see(ID's/internal email signatures).
My biggest problem is the absolute glut of supposed 'professional' headshot photographers in the NYC area charging cut rate prices. I know they aren't actually making a living at their rates. Photographing lawyers/realtors/Jr executive types, I can't charge too much or they will go elsewhere. Charge too little and I'll need to pick up a few bar tending shifts. My solution to find a balance is offering on location sessions at clients offices and homes. Doing so saves me the cost of a studio rental and my clients are glad to pay a little extra for the convenience.
One thing a lot of headshot photographers don't know about when starting out is usage, and that leaves a lot of money unearned. Typically my clients get usage for social media/the company website/business cards/small advertising mailers/etc included in my basic rate. Once they start getting into the realm of bus stop ads additional usage fees kick in.
Well donne, if folks watch, you'll help them profit and avoid REGERTS!🤣
1:09 lol "i took this" . That was so funny. You did a great job. Alex looks so clean
Thanks so much!
So I have an upcoming headshot session with a Honda dealership. New GM wants the whole staff shot. We’re looking at possibly over 75 ppl. I did it for them the first time for $900 for 53 ppl. It was my first time doing it. Never again. I took 2-3 days editing 53 ppl. How would I charge for 1 photo per person this time around?
You could do a flat rate, or a base rate plus per image fee. My colleagues and I are finding, at least here in southern Ontario, that charging what we would consider an actually appropriate fee, is just something that companies aren't paying for right now. Now. So, we're doing base rates and sometimes per image fees on top of that. But I wouldn't charge less than $2,000 for that.
@@StudioBuilder I appreciate your quick response! Yes I figured no less than $2000 would be appropriate
The labor theory of value is often popular, but never right. Just calculating your expenses and then charging that plus profit ignores the elasticity in your market. Or in other words, you may not have a viable business if your expenses are more than your customers are willing to pay. Alternatively, you may be leaving profit on the table if your calculated rate, based on expenses plus an arbitrary profit (that this guy never bothered to discuss how you determine) ends up being less than your customers are willing to pay.
The reality is more simple. If you have more jobs than time, that you are turning customers away, raise your rates until the number of jobs starts to decrease below the amount of time you have available. Then experiment increasing further, until the number of jobs coming in falls faster than the increased profit rises due to higher prices. Once you find the local maximum where you maximize your profits. THAT is the price you should charge.
That is only one way of doing it, It's not the only way of doing it.
@StudioBuilder Again, the labor theory of value has been tried over and over again, but it never results in an optimum price, because customers don't care about your costs. They care about the end result.
I saw you commented to someone else a month ago that customers don't seem to want to pay what you consider a "fair" price these days, or some such, so you had to charge differently. Exactly.
Love The Lehmann Scale! that would work for me. I have a question, how many shots do you deliver per person and, how many do they get for the final images?
It depends. My friends think I overshoot. I used to deliver 75-100 proofs on my DSLR but now with mirrorless I deliver about 300 proofs. Actors get three retouched images and business headshots get two.
@@StudioBuilder Great video! Just to make sure I get it... you deliver 300 proof - actors get 3 retouch images including those other 297 images and business get 2 and they keep the other 298 images, are the proof images watermarked?
I've been doing a set rate for individuals and the day rate + per head for groups and the head rate varies depending on how many people there will be
This problem is true with videography amd editing. Nowadays everybody can call themselves editor or photographer because they have the gear and watched hours of YT videos. It’s killing the business for people who want to start out.
Great information!
Glad it was helpful!
How much time do they get and how many photos do they get. 5 hundred dollars??
1) Time is irrelevant. If I do 90 minutes or I do 5 minutes, they're getting the same level of skill.
2) Currently, they get 3 images, but they can purchase more. A lot of people do. This is what the market will bear in my area right now.
3) Yes, $500. It's incredibly reasonable for a headshot in one of the world's largest filmmaking areas.
thanks such great info. Question about working for corparate clients, do you take a holding desposit? or just bill them at the end of the work?
Depends on the budget and client. New clients always require deposit or full payment in advance - deposit of 50% to initiate production on jobs over $2000. Full payment on jobs under $2000. If they're unwilling to do that, walk away.
If the job is with a client I've been working with for a while, I'll do the job and send an invoice the day of the job
How would you advise going after companies to take group headshots , where you can see that they need an update. Direct phone calls to the general managers or email them with interest and a price package?
Add them to your email list. Don't have an email list? Start one today.
Hello. I like the video. Does the price include editing and prints ? And do you just put them on a thumb drive?
In a regular session, 3 finished, retouched images, JPEGs. Delivery is via online gallery.
Great video! For multiple clients, how much time do spend on average with each client?
Depends on how much time is allocated for the shoot and how many people need to be photographed. Divide the shoot time by number of people and that's what you get.
However, I always ask for 5-10 minutes per person as a minimum, but don't always get it. At 5 minutes, I can do 12/hr or 84 in a day, including a 1-hour lunch break. I might go to 96 but then my assistant would shoot during my lunch and we'd take separate lunch breaks.
How do you find people that are willing to pay this price
They find me. My SEO is great and this is actually market value in my area.
Great information! Thanks a lot! 🙌🏻🤠
You're welcome!