CREATIVE FEE: Day rate: $2,000, Half-day: $1,200.
Estimates or quotes can be provided. Work for Hire arrangements and barters can be negotiated as well.
POST-PRODUCTION: Transferring the files from the camera to storage, creating back-ups, and organizing for editing. Files are converted from RAW to PSD for editing, and later converted to TIFF, JPEG, and, if requested, CMYK. Final discs and backup discs are created and prepared for delivery. Files receive basic corrections for sharpness, color, contrast, lens distortion, color fringing, and parallax. Basic corrections are followed by “composite editing,” where discreet elements such as the view, the incandescent lights, natural light in the room, strobe fill and highlights are all combined into a single image. Post-production is billed at $100/hour. A photograph without supplementary lighting or composite elements will take twenty minutes, an average interior photograph that includes additional lighting and composite elements will take one hour, some will require more than two hours. For an average shoot, plan on the cost of post-production being near $100 per photo.
RETOUCHING: is separate from post-production, and billed at the same $100/hour rate. Retouching includes everything from small alterations such as the removal of unwanted wall outlets and switches (takes one minute), to major changes such as swapping out a rainy day for nicer weather (takes half an hour or more). Other examples include removing door hardware, wires and cords, ventilation grills, smoke detectors, fire sprinklers, non-working light fixtures, nicked/scratched trim and furniture, stains, missing artwork, fabrics requiring smoothing and/or color & pattern changes, reflections, signs and wires eliminated, cars, trash cans and pedestrians eliminated, etc. If you know in advance retouching will be necessary, please let me know so I can include it in the estimate.
Even if there is an option to fix a problem on site, I may opt to retouch it on the computer instead. Time on site is more expensive than retouching time.
FEES AND EXPENSES: All expenses related to producing the photographs, including but not limited to travel, accommodations, meals and gratuities, work permits, and background checks. The client is responsible for fees or expenses that could not be confirmed in writing because of immediate proximity to shooting time. For trips to faraway places, I charge a $400/day travel fee.
STYLING, FLOWERS, AND PROPS: It is always nice to hire a stylist if the budget allows. A stylist will make the shoot run more smoothly, and more photography will be accomplished in less time. If a room is already furnished to one’s taste, a stylist isn’t necessary, but there is still usually a need for flowers and a few props, the procurement and cost of which is the responsibility of the client.
PAYMENT: Full payment is due within two weeks of delivery. No rights to use are granted prior to full payment. Larger projects will require a 50% deposit based on the day rate.