Pricing for Triathalons/Bike Races

[willmcauliffephotos]

Hey guys, I have been asked to shoot photos for a few triathlons and bicycle rides coming up this spring/summer. I have never shot events like this for clients. I am wondering if anyone has any ideas of what a reasonable price is for an event such as this. I was thinking $200 for each separate event but I don't know if this is too high or too low of a price. Any feedback would be great! Thank you!

 

[EOV]

I am no professional but this seems low for the amount of work that I foresee you putting into the events. YMMV

 

[tirediron]

What's your hourly rate? How many hours (plus travel) would you be required for each event? What are the deliverables and how much time would that take? Any number plucked out of the air is meaninglesss unless you actually have thought behind it.

 

[BlackPoet]

I'm no pro photographer either, but in my field of work, when I give estimates I have to think of every little thing that'll consume money or time, even if it doesn't seem like such a big deal.

 

[KmH]

Yes. $200 per event is a lot less than what a professional action sports photographer would charge.

How will the photos be used and by whom - contestants or the race organizers?

Are you being hired by the race organizers?

 

[gsgary]

You say youhave never shot events like this before, is your equipment and your skill up to it ? i have shot loads and you have to know what you are doing because it all happens quick

 

[Steve5D]

You say youhave never shot events like this before, is your equipment and your skill up to it ? i have shot loads and you have to know what you are doing because it all happens quick

I've never shot power boat racing, but I have no doubt that my equipment and skill are up to it.

What to charge should, of course, be dictated by the amount of work required. I shot youth football last year, and all I had to do was take the card from the camera and hand it over. I made between $200.00 and $300.00 a day. If I could do that every day, I wouldn't hesitate an iota...

 

[gsgary]

You say youhave never shot events like this before, is your equipment and your skill up to it ? i have shot loads and you have to know what you are doing because it all happens quick

I've never shot power boat racing, but I have no doubt that my equipment and skill are up to it.

What to charge should, of course, be dictated by the amount of work required. I shot youth football last year, and all I had to do was take the card from the camera and hand it over. I made between $200.00 and $300.00 a day. If I could do that every day, I wouldn't hesitate an iota...

Your 5D would struggle

 

[tirediron]

Your 5D would struggle

Not if he holds it really tight!

 

[Steve5D]

You say youhave never shot events like this before, is your equipment and your skill up to it ? i have shot loads and you have to know what you are doing because it all happens quick

I've never shot power boat racing, but I have no doubt that my equipment and skill are up to it.

What to charge should, of course, be dictated by the amount of work required. I shot youth football last year, and all I had to do was take the card from the camera and hand it over. I made between $200.00 and $300.00 a day. If I could do that every day, I wouldn't hesitate an iota...

Your 5D would struggle

Are you saying the 5D would struggle shooting power boat racing? Well, yeah, it probably would.

Which is precisely the reason I wouldn't use it; it's not the proper gear for the job. I would use the 40D.

If you're talking about shooting youth football, both bodies performed well...

 

[pixmedic]

It's always interesting to me when people talk about how older gear isn't "suitable" to shoot things....how have any of these events changed in the last decade....When that older gear was state of the art?

How did photographers shoot football games, boat racing, weddings, and other sporting events with film cameras and manual lenses? Before iso 10000 and 51pt AF systems?

Or did we only start shooting these things after the advent of the D800 and 5DIII?

Would the 5D struggle? Maybe. But probably not as much as an F2 with MF lenses.

 

[gsgary]

Are you saying the 5D would struggle shooting power boat racing? Well, yeah, it probably would.

Which is precisely the reason I wouldn't use it; it's not the proper gear for the job. I would use the 40D.

If you're talking about shooting youth football, both bodies performed well...

Im not saying the 5d wont do it, its just if you are trying to make money the 5d does not get enough keepers the only time I used to use mine was shooting dont agility at iso3200 and pre focus with the 300f2.8 even my 2 1Dmk2's could not track the dogs at full speed not even a D4 would

 

[tirediron]

[...I used to use mine was shooting dont agility at iso3200 and pre focus with the 300f2.8 even my 2 1Dmk2's could not track the dogs at full speed not even a D4 would

What the heck kinda dogs are you talking about Gary? I remember doing some with my old D300 and it didn't have a problem.

 

[Steve5D]

Im not saying the 5d wont do it, its just if you are trying to make money the 5d does not get enough keepers...

So, lemme' get that straight: It does do it, but it does it by not getting enough keepers?

I'm sorry, but that's nonsensical.

At the end of the day, though, you're wrong. I know you're wrong because I know my 5D worked, and works, very well when I need it to.

If yours did not, I would submit that the issue may not have been the camera...

 

[Robin Usagani]

Large companies like brightroom usually hire bunch of newbie photographers. You shoot jpeg small resolution. Then they pay people to identify bib # and upload the photos to the internet for people to find it. To start you make $35/hr. If you have been with them for a while you may be promoted up to $50/hr. How do I know? I did it once. Never again.