What To Charge For On A Photo Shoot Assignment

Are you charging for your photo styling pre-work and post-work?  As Photo Stylists, we concentrate so much on the actual styling assignment, but sometimes we spend MORE time on preparing for the job than actually doing the job!  Remember that the time you take to pre-organize your styling assignment is necessary (& valuable!) and you should charge for it. (As a side note, we as Photo Stylists, also have to keep track of that scope creep in addition to tracking our expenses.)

Are you letting some time slip through the cracks? Are you charging for:

■ Research and Sourcing done online
■ Packing all your items (props/wardrobe/food) to go to job
■ Time it takes you to organize yourself for job
■ Packing up after the official “wrap time”
■ Travel time 
■ Travel Expense (Hotel or Mileage).
■ ALL time taken to do all the returns

 
What I find Photo Stylists having the most difficult time charging for is overtime. Think about how many hours you want your “day” to be.  For me, I charge a Day Rate and then for time after 8 hours, I charge a per-hour fee for overtime. (So, I consider my "day" to be 8 hours.) I have had many clients think that “day rate” means all day into the night! What?!  Determine how many hours your "day" will be.  Your "number of hours in your day" should go into your Styling Services Contract as you accept the assignment. (and remember, you can use an email as a binding legal agreement. You just have to make sure the client sends you back an email agreeing to your terms.)

There is so much pre and post work as a Stylist to keep track of (& to charge for!) Your rate will dwindle if you do not charge for your time and expenses.  All this being said, you can still charge for all this and go “above and beyond” for your clients to let them know you appreciate them. (I completely think we should go above and beyond for our clients. It's one of the ways you will stand out as a Stylist.)

On your next assignment, keep careful track of your time and expenses. (If you need organization help, we have Photo Stylist's Workflow Forms in our Shop.) I think at times we love styling and the career so much that it doesn't feel like "work".  I get it!  I'm right there with you!  But, in order to grow (& sustain) your styling business you have to keep careful track of everything.  (& definitely treat and splurge on your clients in different ways.) What I do is have a "line item" expense for client gifts, lunches, etc. per month. You can keep careful track of charging clients AND also have great client relations, client experience and customer service.

And, remember, you set your Photo and Prop Styling Policies within your business and in your Styling Services Contract.  You set what you charge for and what you may add to your services as an "add-on" that you give complimentary to your clients.  (It's a balance of keeping track or your expenses and time and lovin' on your clients and letting them know you appreciate them!) 

What are your thoughts? Do you feel you should be charging for things you are not right now, in fear that you will not be thought of as “treating your clients great"?


Bonnie ~


Credit Image ｜ Elevae Visuals