Minimum number of hours for hire?

12 years 6 months ago #156741 by Gabriel Photos
I have turned away a few smaller jobs that I believed my billable number of hours would be less than 2 hours. I'm wondering if others are turning away smaller jobs? Or do you take what you can get these days? Things are slowing down a little and I'm thinking about taking the smaller jobs just to keep busy.

But then again I don't want to sell my self short.


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12 years 6 months ago #156835 by Henry Peach
It just depends on the job. Some jobs are easy, and others require more effort.

For a Saturday wedding my minimum price is good for up to 6 hours. Even if they don't need me for 6 hours that's what I charge to book a wedding on Saturday. I am more flexible with smaller packages on other, less popular days for weddings.

If someone needs a site survey (quick, easy snapshots of a building lot) I could give a 1 hour price for that. If they want interior architecture shots for advertising, with more gear and set-up I'm going to want a half day minimum even if it might only take a few hours.

I'm going to be a lot more flexible for the job a few blocks from my house than I am for a job 100 miles away.

Just make sure you are charging what you need to, and being realistic about time estimates. I find many people consider photography quick and easy, and don't understand that good photography takes time and effort.
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12 years 6 months ago #156883 by Oscar Cohen
These days I take what I can get. I will just price out the job to cover my time. **And travel time if over 30 minutes.


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12 years 6 months ago #157121 by Monster

Henry Peach wrote: It just depends on the job. Some jobs are easy, and others require more effort.

For a Saturday wedding my minimum price is good for up to 6 hours. Even if they don't need me for 6 hours that's what I charge to book a wedding on Saturday. I am more flexible with smaller packages on other, less popular days for weddings.

If someone needs a site survey (quick, easy snapshots of a building lot) I could give a 1 hour price for that. If they want interior architecture shots for advertising, with more gear and set-up I'm going to want a half day minimum even if it might only take a few hours.

I'm going to be a lot more flexible for the job a few blocks from my house than I am for a job 100 miles away.

Just make sure you are charging what you need to, and being realistic about time estimates. I find many people consider photography quick and easy, and don't understand that good photography takes time and effort.


How many weddings are you doing per year? Is that the bulk of photography work you are doing?


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