Selling images advice

[Caroline B]

Hi,

I have recently started taking photos of babies doing toddler baby swim classes. These are on the surface as well as underwater. I have only done one session and supplied, for free, a disc to the parents with low res JPEGS. On the better photos I do some basic cleaning and I think that in relation to some of the photos the parents may want a higher res image or even a good quality print. Any idea how much I ought to charge for these?

Thanks

Caroline

[eeyore]

Originally Posted by Caroline B

Hi,

I have recently started taking photos of babies doing toddler baby swim classes. These are on the surface as well as underwater. I have only done one session and supplied, for free, a disc to the parents with low res JPEGS. On the better photos I do some basic cleaning and I think that in relation to some of the photos the parents may want a higher res image or even a good quality print. Any idea how much I ought to charge for these?

Thanks

Caroline

This is an odd one , as unlike most of the photo work people do on here the market is very narrow, ie you can only really sell the photo to the parents (and personally i'd do it on a commision only basis - ie I wouldnt take photos of their children unless they had already ordered the pics)

So basically you are doing portraiture - and the charge for that is usualy for your time rather than per picture, and pros range upwards from £250 per day

now of course you arent doing it for a whole day plus you are presumably doing multiple subjects in one session - so a reasonable plan would be to work out you equivalent day rate and divide it by the time spent and the number of clients

for examples when I do weddings I charge about 600 quid for a 12 hour day - ie £50 per hour - so for a 2 hour session (dont forget the time spent in post processing etc) I'd be looking at about £100 - say five clients during the session that would be £20 ea

If that seems low (which it does to me) the otherway of looking at it is to work out what people will reasonably pay, which will depend on the personal wealth of your clients so isnt something we can really work out here.

4 possible complications

a) The swiming baths are presumably private property, and may have rules about comercial photography, ie you might have to pay for the priviledge, and you would need to factor that into your charges

b) If you are doing it for money then you are working comercially and really ought to have liability insurance - this is pretty cheap, check out the BFP for advice there

c) In todays paranoid society you probably ought to get a CRB check done so you can prove to clients (and the leisure centre) that you arent doing it fopr any nefarious purpose - that will cost about £35

and d) dont forget that if you are earning money from your photography you are liable for tax - its easy to say ahh its only pin money, but what happens if one of your clients has a partner who works for the revenue ? - that said you probably wont have to pay any as you can set the depreciation on your equipment (40% in the first year and 25% of remainder thereafter) and any ancillarly expenses against it, but it does mean you will need to keep meticulous records and at least ask your local tax office if they want you nto do a return (mine had me do a return in the first year, then told me not to bother unless i started actually showing a profit). If you do become liable for tax you need to factor that into how much you are charging.


As wab is a wildlife site there arent likerly to be many here who have experience in the feild you are in, so it might be worth asking on a photography forum - I would recomend talk photography - where there will be more pros able to give you expert advice.

[nigel_b]

£10 per 10x8 unframed.

As of the latest legislation although this is due for review you cannot get a CRB for yourself. (The whole situation is stupid beyond belief - I have 3 CRB clearances for 3 separate employers... and I can't get one in my own right)

The swimming pool will almost 100% certainly reject your application to take pictures.

[eeyore]

Originally Posted by nigel_b

£10 per 10x8 unframed.

As of the latest legislation although this is due for review you cannot get a CRB for yourself. (The whole situation is stupid beyond belief - I have 3 CRB clearances for 3 separate employers... and I can't get one in my own right)

The swimming pool will almost 100% certainly reject your application to take pictures.

Surely if you have an enhanced check on behalf of an employer they are bound to give you a copy of the certificate ( I certainly have a copy of mine), which is all that is needed. If you are self employed there are other agencies such as volunteer centres , and buisness link which can request one on your behalf.

also presumably the swiming pool have already given permission for the photos to be taken, as caroline is already taking them, what bi was saying is that if she is making money from said pics the pool will considr it comercial photography and want a fee

[nigel_b]

Only offering my opinion, which was after all what was being asked for, and what forums are all about.

[JennyS]

The swimming pool will almost 100% certainly reject your application to take pictures.

My ex runs a swimming pool (SW Ireland) and they have a total and no-exemptions policy of no cameras in the pool or observation area.
I'd agree with nigel that any application to take photos would be turned down!

[eeyore]

Originally Posted by JennyS

My ex runs a swimming pool (SW Ireland) and they have a total and no-exemptions policy of no cameras in the pool or observation area.
I'd agree with nigel that any application to take photos would be turned down!

I understand what you and nigel are saying jenny, and I would usually think tht that would be the case too - however caroline apears to already be taking pictures there so may be not in this case

Originally Posted by Caroline B

Hi,

I have recently started taking photos of babies doing toddler baby swim classes. These are on the surface as well as underwater. I have only done one session and supplied, for free, a disc to the parents with low res JPEGS.

[Caroline B]

HI,

Thank for all the replies, Just so you know, the pool is privatly owned by a friend who runs the baby swim classes. Thus I have her full permission, and have had a CRB check done. She encourages me to take the photos and we always make sure we have the parents permission in writing first. We were thinking about a tenner which has been suggested, so I think we are on the right track. Thanks again