WHATS THE GOING RATE?

whit~foto · 02-09-2010, 07:14 AM

I have a few questions. If anyone has helpful imformation on these questions it would be much appreciated. THANKS!

What is the going rate to outsource your wedding images to be post-processed?

What's the going rate for second shooters?

What's the going rate for non-shooting assistants?

Thanks!

PhotoXopher · 02-09-2010, 07:18 AM

I'm going to be a second shooter for a couple weddings this summer, one I'm doing for free and the other they've offered to pay.

I look at it as an opportunity to learn and didn't expect much for compensation. Both of these are an hour or slightly more for me to drive as well.

I think the pay would depend on the experience of the second shooter, in my case I have no experience shooting weddings and the photographer is someone I met selling some equipment.

**Big Mike** · 02-09-2010, 07:57 AM

I don't think there is much of a 'going rate' for those services. Each situation is different.

whit~foto · 02-09-2010, 08:10 AM

How about post-processing?

whit~foto · 02-09-2010, 08:11 AM

Is .22cents per image to cheap for oursourcing editing? This is my second year in wedding photography.

**Big Mike** · 02-09-2010, 08:32 AM

It really depends on how much processing you are talking about. Is it everything, from RAW processing right to finished images? Are we talking about simple color & tone adjustment or full out editing like skin treatments and some nip & tuck? What about album design, special effects, textures etc?

I was at a seminar last year and it came up that typical post processing is worth about $15 to $25 dollars per hour.
The point of the discussion was that is was a good idea to out source stuff like that, because if you are doing it, you are only making/paying yourself $25 per hour...and to run a successful business, your time needs to be worth a lot more than that.
Obviously, you make more money when you are behind the camera or out selling/promoting.
Although, given the nature of wedding photography, you aren't likely to be shooting a wedding every day, so many wedding photographers do do their own processing.

On that note, I know a photographers who got so busy that he fell hopelessly behind on his processing and finally had to restructure his business and hire someone to process his images.

PhotoXopher · 02-09-2010, 08:42 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by Big Mike

On that note, I know a photographers who got so busy that he fell hopelessly behind on his processing and finally had to restructure his business and hire someone to process his images.

Sounds like a good problem to have

**Big Mike** · 02-09-2010, 09:10 AM

Certainly a good problem to have, better than the alternative anyway.
It's not always an easy problem to deal with though. It forces you to take a hard look at where you are going with your photography business. Do you grow bigger or do you back off to a point where you can handle it yourself?

02-09-2010, 07:14 AM	#1
whit~foto No longer a newbie, moving up! Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Minnesota Posts: 45 My Photos Are NOT OK to Edit Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts My Gallery: (0)	WHATS THE GOING RATE? I have a few questions. If anyone has helpful imformation on these questions it would be much appreciated. THANKS! What is the going rate to outsource your wedding images to be post-processed? What's the going rate for second shooters? What's the going rate for non-shooting assistants? Thanks!

02-09-2010, 07:18 AM	#2
PhotoXopher TPF Junkie! Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 3,071 My Photos Are NOT OK to Edit Thanked 85 Times in 85 Posts Blog Entries: 2 My Gallery: (0)	I'm going to be a second shooter for a couple weddings this summer, one I'm doing for free and the other they've offered to pay. I look at it as an opportunity to learn and didn't expect much for compensation. Both of these are an hour or slightly more for me to drive as well. I think the pay would depend on the experience of the second shooter, in my case I have no experience shooting weddings and the photographer is someone I met selling some equipment. __________________ I am the french fry in a box of onion rings. Click to see the world through one crappy lens.

02-09-2010, 07:57 AM	#3
Big Mike I am Big, I am Mike Site Moderator Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Edmonton Posts: 22,093 My Photos Are NOT OK to Edit Thanked 222 Times in 210 Posts My Gallery: (91)	I don't think there is much of a 'going rate' for those services. Each situation is different. __________________ Edmonton Wedding Photographer Blog

02-09-2010, 08:32 AM	#6
Big Mike I am Big, I am Mike Site Moderator Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Edmonton Posts: 22,093 My Photos Are NOT OK to Edit Thanked 222 Times in 210 Posts My Gallery: (91)	It really depends on how much processing you are talking about. Is it everything, from RAW processing right to finished images? Are we talking about simple color & tone adjustment or full out editing like skin treatments and some nip & tuck? What about album design, special effects, textures etc? I was at a seminar last year and it came up that typical post processing is worth about $15 to $25 dollars per hour. The point of the discussion was that is was a good idea to out source stuff like that, because if you are doing it, you are only making/paying yourself $25 per hour...and to run a successful business, your time needs to be worth a lot more than that. Obviously, you make more money when you are behind the camera or out selling/promoting. Although, given the nature of wedding photography, you aren't likely to be shooting a wedding every day, so many wedding photographers do do their own processing. On that note, I know a photographers who got so busy that he fell hopelessly behind on his processing and finally had to restructure his business and hire someone to process his images. __________________ Edmonton Wedding Photographer Blog

02-09-2010, 08:42 AM	#7
PhotoXopher TPF Junkie! Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 3,071 My Photos Are NOT OK to Edit Thanked 85 Times in 85 Posts Blog Entries: 2 My Gallery: (0)	Quote: Originally Posted by Big Mike On that note, I know a photographers who got so busy that he fell hopelessly behind on his processing and finally had to restructure his business and hire someone to process his images. Sounds like a good problem to have __________________ I am the french fry in a box of onion rings. Click to see the world through one crappy lens.

02-09-2010, 08:10 AM	#4
whit~foto No longer a newbie, moving up! Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Minnesota Posts: 45 My Photos Are NOT OK to Edit Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts My Gallery: (0)	How about post-processing?

02-09-2010, 08:11 AM	#5
whit~foto No longer a newbie, moving up! Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Minnesota Posts: 45 My Photos Are NOT OK to Edit Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts My Gallery: (0)	Is .22cents per image to cheap for oursourcing editing? This is my second year in wedding photography.

02-09-2010, 09:10 AM	#8
Big Mike I am Big, I am Mike Site Moderator Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Edmonton Posts: 22,093 My Photos Are NOT OK to Edit Thanked 222 Times in 210 Posts My Gallery: (91)	Certainly a good problem to have, better than the alternative anyway. It's not always an easy problem to deal with though. It forces you to take a hard look at where you are going with your photography business. Do you grow bigger or do you back off to a point where you can handle it yourself? __________________ Edmonton Wedding Photographer Blog

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