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I will be taking corporate photos for some marketing activities, including:

1. Group shot of 7 people.
2. Group shot of 3 people.
3. (TBC) Individual shots of 7 people.

PP would be required, but not to the point of touching up skin - just any adjustments to WB and exposure, if necessary.

No printing required.

For the pros out there who do this, what would be your charge rate for this? If you don't want to publish it on here, a PM would be fine. I need to be able to give an indication that my discounted rate is competitive.

Many thanks, in advance.

have you tried calling a photogrpahy studio as a "Customer" asking for a price?

also do Pro's charge a call-out fee?

chasem wrote:have you tried calling a photogrpahy studio as a "Customer" asking for a price?

No I didn't because I thought this was a more efficient process.

If you are unsure of what to charge per image, then charge per hour of work.

$95 per hour, including part there-of, i.e. 30 minutes travel time = 1 hour.

So, if you take 2 hours to do your shots, then you have 30 minutes each way travel time, then an hour or two PP it works out not to bad. Also, with your releases, stipulate you can still utilise the images for self promotion. Corporate images aren't worth heaps to you in 'day to day' terms, but you never know what someone in the images is going to go on and do.

Thats the easiest way to charge them in my opinion, rather than looking at usage, print runs, expected length of time the image will be used etc. But, thats just me....

Raskill wrote:If you are unsure of what to charge per image, then charge per hour of work.

$95 per hour, including part there-of, i.e. 30 minutes travel time = 1 hour.

So, if you take 2 hours to do your shots, then you have 30 minutes each way travel time, then an hour or two PP it works out not to bad. Also, with your releases, stipulate you can still utilise the images for self promotion. Corporate images aren't worth heaps to you in 'day to day' terms, but you never know what someone in the images is going to go on and do.

Thats the easiest way to charge them in my opinion, rather than looking at usage, print runs, expected length of time the image will be used etc. But, thats just me....

Thanks for that - your comments make sense. However, I was after an indication of what the market rate is, not what I should charge. I have a figure in mind and want to make sure it is competitive to take into account my skill level.

Also, I have hopefully corrected the subject heading to make it appropriate for the internet.

Patrick, congrats on getting paid work!

surenj wrote::ot: Patrick, congrats on getting paid work!

Thanks Surenj, however, it is for my own company, and hasn't been approved yet. (And, the amount would only be a token amount, but a bit is a bit.)

Reschsmooth wrote:

surenj wrote::ot: Patrick, congrats on getting paid work!

Thanks Surenj, however, it is for my own company, and hasn't been approved yet. (And, the amount would only be a token amount, but a bit is a bit.)

Paid work is paid work no matter who it is for. Congrats!! (fingers crossed with the approval)

Reschsmooth wrote:Also, I have hopefully corrected the subject heading to make it appropriate for the internet.

I don't think I can advice you, but I hope you get paid well.

ATJ wrote:

Reschsmooth wrote:Also, I have hopefully corrected the subject heading to make it appropriate for the internet.

I don't think I can advice you, but I hope you get paid well.

Thanks. Which lense do you think I should use? If I take too many, I am scared I may loose one of them.

Reschsmooth wrote:

ATJ wrote:

Reschsmooth wrote:Also, I have hopefully corrected the subject heading to make it appropriate for the internet.

I don't think I can advice you, but I hope you get paid well.

Thanks. Which lense do you think I should use? If I take too many, I am scared I may loose one of them.

You can never take to many, well not with any great affect. And if it does effect you, your a better man than me.

ATJ wrote:

Reschsmooth wrote:

ATJ wrote:

Reschsmooth wrote:Also, I have hopefully corrected the subject heading to make it appropriate for the internet.

I don't think I can advice you, but I hope you get paid well.

Thanks. Which lense do you think I should use? If I take too many, I am scared I may loose one of them.

You can never take to many, well not with any great affect. And if it does effect you, your a better man than me.

As long as their kept safe, I guess. If I was going to chose one, I would of chosen the 17-35mm for the group shot. That would compliment the types of shots very well.

The client should have blood coming from the ears and require some medical intervention
when considering your quote, otherwise it is too low. You should be slightly embarrassed
at the amount you are asking (but never admit it). Just say that you have discounted
significantly from your normal rate because you are a top bloke.

Your skill level does not come into play. If you produce photos which meet the requirements,
then you have all necessary skills, and they could get the bastard child of Annie Liebowitz
and Ansel Adams and it wouldn't be any better.

Greg B wrote:...because you are a top bloke.

These people know me, so they would never buy it.

Anyways, we have agreed to a mutually uncomfortable figure.

Reschsmooth wrote: If I take too many, I am scared I may loose one of them.

First of all, Patrick, I need to pick you up on yore error. You should of says "If eye take two many,"

Which lense do you think I should use?

And too answer you're question, I think you should take three along, and youse both of them.

Reschsmooth wrote:

ATJ wrote:

Reschsmooth wrote:

ATJ wrote:

Reschsmooth wrote:Also, I have hopefully corrected the subject heading to make it appropriate for the internet.

I don't think I can advice you, but I hope you get paid well.

Thanks. Which lense do you think I should use? If I take too many, I am scared I may loose one of them.

You can never take to many, well not with any great affect. And if it does effect you, your a better man than me.

As long as their kept safe, I guess. If I was going to chose one, I would of chosen the 17-35mm for the group shot. That would compliment the types of shots very well.

Why don't you hold lenses infront of the lens so you can get maximum effect?

ATJ wrote:

Reschsmooth wrote:Also, I have hopefully corrected the subject heading to make it appropriate for the internet.

I don't think I can advice you, but I hope you get paid well.

Andrew, I agree totally. Good luck on the gig Patrick

17-35 will include lots of background so recommend it be a background your client wants to include in the intended style/theme. I'd start with a 28-70 (regardless of crop or non-crop sensor).

look forward to seeing the results.

If you lose your job, and also don't cut it as a photographer...

You could always get a job as a gag writer!

Don't charge by the time you put in. Clients don't care. Charge by the output. If each gets a photo pack of the group and individual photos use the school photo model and multiply it by maybe 2 or 3 for a corporate shot. Offer to frame them and put on some on costs here also. Your time is important but the end product is what they want.

'One off' jobs never make much money but can lead to other opportunities. Deliver a bit more and they will all be happy campers. Have some fun.

Just some thoughts.

Peter Mc

the foto fanatic wrote:If you lose your job, and also don't cut it as a photographer...

You could always get a job as a gag writer!

Or wearer.

Can't believe that someone corrected Patrick's spelling....

Thanks for the info guys. I will have the 50 & 17-35 for group shots and 85 for individual shots.

As mentioned in the 3rd or 4th post, this is for my own company so, I am the client.

I would like some ideas on lighting a group of 7 people - Bic or Zippo. Seriously, I will have available up to 4 lights, including 2x110 watt Qihi lights, SB800, Metz (if the slave works) plus 1 large softbox, 1 small softbox, 2 reflector umbrellas and 1 shoot through brollie.

I am keen to keep it as simple as possible, so maybe the 2 qihis with softboxes or reflecting brollies and the SB800 as a hairlight. Thoughts?

Reschsmooth wrote:Thanks for the info guys. I will have the 50 & 17-35 for group shots and 85 for individual shots.

As mentioned in the 3rd or 4th post, this is for my own company so, I am the client.

I would like some ideas on lighting a group of 7 people - Bic or Zippo. Seriously, I will have available up to 4 lights, including 2x110 watt Qihi lights, SB800, Metz (if the slave works) plus 1 large softbox, 1 small softbox, 2 reflector umbrellas and 1 shoot through brollie.

I am keen to keep it as simple as possible, so maybe the 2 qihis with softboxes or reflecting brollies and the SB800 as a hairlight. Thoughts?

Good lens selection Patrick, but I would've thought that the 50mm may be a bit tight for the group shots? I think the 17-35 would be perfect.

As for the lighting of the group shots, how have you thought to have them arranged? Standing I'm assuming? Height considerations? Background? I'm thinking that the large softbox will be your best bet on this one and the one/maybe two SB800's as some extra oomph/fill if required. How long have you allocated to the group shots?

Honestly I've not done any corporate type indoor shoots like this so my suggestions aren't founded, but more of what I think may work best for you.

Hopefully there will be some other input here that will help your cause.

When's the shoot?

Patrick, what kind of environment is it, and industry? Lets assume suits in modern offices, somehting like this is pretty safe, reliable etc. Is this the kind of thign you are thinking? Sorry if I am starting too basic... Take care if you make two lines of people that the main light is minimum 3-4 times the distance between faces of front row to backrow so they anjoy similar exposure.

here is a safe line up.


A pretty standard corporate headshot setup;


is this the kind of thing you are after?

Thanks Bruce - that is exactly what I was after.

I had used a similar set up for the individual shots previously. although my main light was more to the front and I used a strip light for the hairlight.

The enrivonment is office, suits, professional (well, as professional as we are considered to be )

The set up you show for the group shots looks easily achievable - I have two speedlights (Metz & SB800) available.

Patrick, good luck with your shoot! Show us some results if you are allowed to do so.

Oz_Beachside wrote:
A pretty standard corporate headshot setup;


is this the kind of thing you are after?

Edit******* just saw the website at the bottom of picture

Is there anymore of these anywhere? i havent seen them before and they look really helpful.

I just whipped up those drawings using a very nice template that has all the common equipment used.

in addition to using a large main light, you could bounce camera lights off the wall behind camera if in a suitable room, not much directional lighting, but certainly helpful for even lighting.

I reckon the shoot went well, even thoguh I wasn't always the shooter (by virtue of being the subject, at times). It is quite interesting explaining how to frame a shot to a complete newbie - the standard approach is to focus on the eyes (with focus point in the centre) and keep the camera there. The result is a hell of a lot of space above the head. Some instruction helped this.

Here are some quick and nasty images with a bit of PP on a completely uncalibrated laptop. C&C appreciated.

Hope they paid you big money because these are sizzling!

Is this a three light set up with a red background?

Very nice work there Patrick. I am sure your company will be pleased with these results!

Thanks Suren.

The group shot is very much like Bruce's set-up image, however, there was a light on either side to the rear of the group acting as hairlights.

The individual shots were shot with a large soft-box to camera right, shoot through as fill camera left and the metz and another slave flash behind pointing to the background.

Thanks for the info Patrick, How big was the softbox used to light the whole group from the front? The shadows are quite soft and I am guessing the box was humongous!

surenj wrote:Thanks for the info Patrick, How big was the softbox used to light the whole group from the front? The shadows are quite soft and I am guessing the box was humongous!

It was about 140 cm by about 80cm or so (if I recall correctly). It is quite big and works very well, even though the lights were 'only' 110w.

And the lighting mechanism? The pop-up flash on the D200. Which goes to show I would have had difficulty if I had the D3(x). Lucky, eh?

wow, a great result. Love the graduated red, was that the wall color or a paper?

the group shot is very nice, its tough to get good expressions / eyes etc with so many.

congrats to the stylist too!

if my memory serves me right, you could have added a prop... http://www.metaformdesign.com/images/02-abacus.jpg

Oz_Beachside wrote:wow, a great result. Love the graduated red, was that the wall color or a paper?

Thanks Bruce

The background was a wall with a flash aimed up to it. Hence the graduation. It's amazing what a $30 flash unit can do!