quote:

Originally posted by KWSmith:
[qb]I think the worst thing for me about shooting digital is that I can do the shoot much faster. Far too often I've had to cut my shoot fee to a half day rate because I can do the job in half the time it took on 4x5.[/qb]

Exactly why I don't charge based on time. When I was estimating the project I'm currently on the architect asked me what my hourly/day rate was. I told him I calculate based on a price per view + expenses and I quickly came back with the analogy of beginners taking longer and thus would be paid more than a seasoned pro. Besides I don't think they would want to pay me $100+/hour as it would cost more than I'm already charging. I still am eating it because I'm putting so much time into post that I'm not charging for. Mainly because I need the $ and it's a nice house that will look good in my book. So half of what I'm doing is for my satisfaction in addition to theirs. And hopefully I'll continue to look like cream rising rather than spoiling milk.

I don't charge by the hour, I have a tiered project rate. Basically it's a day rate, and a half day rate that's 65% of the full day rate.

In initial conversations I always give them both options and am honest about the differences in cost and quality. Which puts me in a bit of a bind but that's life. If they don't need the quality of 4x5 there's no reason they should pay for it, both in film and scanning costs plus the extra time it takes to shoot with it.

The good news is that since using the digital creates more billable post prod time I nearly make up that 35% difference between my two rates anyway. Nearly. I don't get the markup for film, scanning, etc. but it's not that much anyway, and I don't have to drive across town 2 times to get the result, which at $4.25 a gallon is a loser anyway, these days.

>I am in a very small market where all photographers include retouching, meaning, they do it for free so it is expected by clients.

And who's fault is that?

I told him I calculate based on a price per view + expenses

John,

The license is included in the price per view?

Scotti

yes