freelancing

Beginner’s Guide To Pricing Photography

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This very long and meandering post is intended for new photographers. It outlines some general concepts behind setting a price on photography services.

 

Money is better than poverty, if only for financial reasons.

– Woody Allen

 

First rule: Never give a price over the phone or off the top of your head.

Second rule: You’re running a business. You’re supposed to make money by charging more than your costs.

Third rule: Like all businesses, you tell your customers what your services cost, not the other way around.

Fourth rule: Never base your prices on Cost + Profit Margin. Always base your prices on value to the customer. Charge for what you know, not for what you do.
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Canadian Freelance Union

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If you are an “independent media worker”, which is a terrible, politically-correct-sounding phrase, then this may be of interest.

The Canadian Freelance Union (CFU) (CEP Local 2040) is starting up with the support of  the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union (CEP).

The CFU is a child of the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union. The CEP is one of Canada’s largest unions, with over 160,000 members across the country. The CEP is also Canada’s largest media union, with over 25,000 workers already part of the organization. It is this existing strength that the CFU hopes to build on.

There are some freelance unions in Europe. In Canada, there is the Canadian Media Guild (CMG) which includes CBC freelancers. The CMG has negotiated freelance issues into the CBC collective agreement.

While I think the CFU will be accepted by a couple of larger media outlets, in these economic times, I wonder if this will be a case of too little, too late.

Had this union started 20 years ago, when times were good, then it would be in a good position today. It’s always a tough slog trying to build a shelter during the storm.

Here We Go Again

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I wish I could say, “back by popular demand.”

After a couple of years, I thought my first blog had run its course, assuming it was even on a course. That blog attracted a number of viewers from across the continent, which led to lots and lots of e-mails asking the inevitable, “how much should I charge for . . .”, “they stole my picture, what should I do . . .”, “what does this contract mean . . .”, and “how do I start my business . . .”

Unfortunately there are no easy answers or shortcuts. If there were, everyone would have taken that route by now. For any photo business to have a chance of succeeding, hard work and smart work are the only tools. I use the word “chance” because there are no guarantees.
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