A Quick List of Photography Pricing Terms Every Client Should Know
If you have never hired a Photographer, the process can be a little confusing. It gets even more confusing if you have worked with another Photographer. Because every Photographer does things a little different than the next. Here are a few photography pricing terms that may help you understand things a little better 🙂
Retainer Fee
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One of the most common fees for photography is a retainer fee. A retainer fee is a portion of the overall cost of photography which is paid before the session takes place. There are many reasons for this – but it is mostly to ensure that your spot is reserved on the Photographer’s calendar. In the case that the session is cancelled, on the side of the client, this may not be refundable. Make sure to double check with your Photographer to see what their policy is on this. If you fill out a contract, this should be spelled out in it.
Sitting Fee
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A sitting fee is something that some Photographers charge – and it is a little confusing. A sitting fee is a fee that is charged for the Photographer’s time to take the pictures for however long the session lasts. Photographers who charge a sitting fee also typically charge for the purchasing of digital images or prints. For example, the client pays a $200 sitting fee and then would pay an additional fee for the images.
In my experience, clients like things to be as simple as possible. I charge a flat rate for the session and the client receives a minimum amount of images; and there are no additional charges after the session has taken place.
Day Rate
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Lastly, there is something called a day rate. A day rate is typically a charge that Photographers charge for event photography. For events that are scheduled for a certain amount of hours, clients may be able to pay for a “day rate.” For example, anything over 5 hours would fall under the Photographer’s day rate and would cover an entire day of photography. These are common for corporate events 😉
With anything involving pricing, it is VERY important to thoroughly read through your photography contract. If you are confused on anything, this is where everything will be spelled out. Thanks!
