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_gail
Posts: 2876
From: So FL
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How to charge for image editing - 12/6/2002 7:23:10
I just completed a large photo editing job: cropping, color correcting and fine tuning and adjusting selective areas of digital images. I also scanned a good number of photos and edited them in like manner. All photos were then printed out on premium photo paper on a photo quality printer.
Question: any thoughts on how to charge? By the hour (time + materials) or by the piece?
Fortunately, I have a " blank check" on this one and have not locked myself into any price, but I do want to charge fairly.
thanks, gail
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Helene
Posts: 213
Joined: 9/17/2002
From: a small island in Canada eh?
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RE: How to charge for image editing - 12/6/2002 18:01:32
Hi Gail:
If it were me, I' d charge by the hour; period. Even if image editing isn' t ' worth' quite as much as some of the other work I do, (no offense intended here, it' s just not quite as much a brain strain to me as something like, say, e-commerce) I' d stick to my hourly rate and then include the materials. (er, ahh, unless the materials cost " a lot" .) (Now how wishy washy is that eh? )
I prefer not to lower my hourly rate for any reason. The rate applies to MY TIME as an experienced, qualified ( ) ' professional' , regardless of what I' m doing. I' m diligent, and my clients know that I only invoice for the time I spend working on their sites, and really, that' s a good deal as I' m not charging for all the time I spend THINKING about their job as I' m driving, washing dishes etc.
The kind of job you describe is what I would consider " dessert" . It' s the icing-on-the-cake of having this sort of a career. Some of the work we do is so darn frustrating and, if you' re like me you end up under-charging. Image editing is the pay back for all the aggravation, it' s pretty black and white compared to some of what we do...
- sorry if I sound cynical, it' s been a tough week...
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websitemanagement.ca
Personal Site:
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pageoneresults
Posts: 1001
From: Orange, CA USA
Status: offline
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RE: How to charge for image editing - 12/9/2002 3:13:11
$90.00 per hour + materials.
Image editing work is tedious. The going rate here in Southern California is anywhere from $60.00 per hour upwards to $150.00 per hour depending on the type of editing being performed.
P.S. Don' t forget to reasonably markup your materials.
< Message edited by pageoneresults -- 12/9/2002 3:14:32 AM >
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_gail
Posts: 2876
From: So FL
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RE: How to charge for image editing - 12/10/2002 5:50:35
Hmmmm, I' m moving to CA or TX.
So what is the type of image editing you' re talking about to be able to charge $90 or more per hour? For this job, there was no major image manipulation; no composites, or the like.
Most images simply needed resizing, cropping and a few clicks in Photoshop to make some minor color corrections; or enhance the brightness or contrast, sometimes selectively.
Granted, some images needed additional tweaking to focus on key areas: eg. select the background and blur it; or reduce brightness and contrast on a foreground object and lighten the main subject further back so the eye would focus on it.
They get $90+ per hour for this type of stuff?!
gail
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pacific77
Posts: 34
Joined: 11/30/2002
From: Coos Bay , Oregon
Status: offline
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RE: How to charge for image editing - 12/10/2002 9:36:17
ive ran into this stuff in business situations before, charge by the hour but ,dont charge for learning time if you had to find out how to to something. if you feel confident that your work is up to speed charge for the time. i gather your experienced at this stuff anyway.its hard when you dont have any sort of labor rate guide like they do in auto repair (where a book tells you how long a certain job should take , if it tells you 1 hour then you charge 1 hour even if it takes you 2)
< Message edited by pacific77 -- 12/10/2002 9:36:48 AM >
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_gail
Posts: 2876
From: So FL
Status: offline
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RE: How to charge for image editing - 12/10/2002 10:05:40
pacific77,
I probably do charge a little less than someone with a storefront but not that much, I suppose. And this is an area where I do have a good amount of expertise. But most of my work has been optimizing photos for websites not printing out, and there is a slight difference. I think the fairest way because of the large number of photos is to charge by time and materials.
I just didn' t know if the cost should be more or less than, or on par with my hourly web design fee. Designing a website takes different skills than image editing. Are they both in the same price category.
Any thoughts?
gail
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pacific77
Posts: 34
Joined: 11/30/2002
From: Coos Bay , Oregon
Status: offline
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RE: How to charge for image editing - 12/10/2002 11:12:48
different type of work i was doing but same principals , we used the same rates we were also using same eguipment and facilities, unless your just going to lose out which doesnt sound like thats happening. same as your web rate is probably good ,the time you spent working on their stuff could be used for designing webs ,unless for some reason the bill sounds unreasonable
by the way how do I copyright my photos
< Message edited by pacific77 -- 12/10/2002 11:41:37 AM >
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garyb
Posts: 208
From: North Clarendon Vermont USA
Status: offline
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RE: How to charge for image editing - 12/16/2002 15:00:52
Generally, we charge by the picture, not by the hour. For one, people don' t understand that when you say it will be xx dollars per hour that you have to also cover the cost of your equipment etc. That' s why we charge quite a bit even for scanning. Sometimes people will say ' I can by a scanner for what you want to scan my pictures' . I answer, ' not a good one' , ' not with the expertise of the scanner operator' etc. I have to pay for that wonderful scanner etc. Even if I am ' simply' editing digital photos, I' m still paying for all the equipment, overhead etc. Also, if you are busy, it gets to be a pain trying to track how long you took to do certain pictures etc. Besides, if you work out of your house, how often do you get interrupted? Do you then deduct the 10 minutes on phone with wife...12 minutes going to the powder room...8 minutes talking to another client? It is simply easier to bill by the photo. Sometimes you may end up charging too little but in the end, its a lot easier to me.
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caywind
Posts: 1479
From: USA
Status: offline
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RE: How to charge for image editing - 12/17/2002 2:31:32
I subcontract out graphics and design work at $75 an hour. By working with the graphics artist and the client I can usually save them an hour or so...
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garyb
Posts: 208
From: North Clarendon Vermont USA
Status: offline
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RE: How to charge for image editing - 12/18/2002 16:06:05
Yes, if I have to do color printouts for them, I charge per page of printing. Cost depends upon the size of the image... Of course, if it were for web work, most likely I would simply pop them on a page for them to see in a browser and save time and money.
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And with all that money they can' t purchase a little sun, sonE?! 