Like many experienced commercial photographers and videographers, I charge based on the scope of a project rather than a flat daily rate.
Why Scope Matters More Than a Day Rate
Daily rates can be misleading. An accurate estimate depends on several factors: the specific tasks involved, the equipment required, the complexity of the project, and any image licensing fees.
To get a precise estimate, I'll need detailed information about your project — for example, if video is involved, what's it for?
Two projects can end up costing about the same even though they look very different on paper. One might take two full days and deliver 25 images. Another might wrap in a single day but require 25 retouched images. Both can land at the same price.
How is that possible? Because cost is driven by more than just time on-site:
- One project might need specialized equipment; another might not.
- One might require multiple assistants; another could proceed with none.
- One might involve work during non-standard hours.
- One might require eight hours of safety training just to capture a single image.
- Extensive retouching adds cost.
- A video project with audio interviews and a teleprompter costs differently than standard raw video capture.
In short, there's a lot more to project cost than a simple day rate — and relying on day rates alone often leads to higher invoices and budget overruns than expected.
A real example: if one photographer charges $3,000/day and another charges $1,500/day, the "cheaper" photographer's project can still end up costing $3,000 once all the other factors are accounted for.
A Day-Rate-Only Quote Is a Red Flag
If a photographer quotes only a day rate, it can be a sign of limited experience in commercial photography and videography — and a quote based on day rate alone is unlikely to hold up.
An inexperienced photographer may quote a low day rate to win the job, only to arrive on-site and demand your company pause production during the shoot. Halting production can carry hidden costs.
An experienced commercial photographer or videographer, by contrast, works efficiently and minimizes disruption to your operations.
So the real question is: what matters more — a low day rate, or high-quality commercial photography and video that sets your company apart from the competition?
What I Offer
I provide accurate, customized quotes tailored to your specific project, and I work to keep production running smoothly without delays. My work is publication-quality and backed by a 100% written satisfaction guarantee.
Getting Started
Share whatever project details you have. If you're not sure about the specifics yet, that's okay — my experience can help guide you on what's needed and how to approach it.