How Much Should Event Photographers Charge In 2019/20?
It seems I have a serious side. I write an annual article to help event photographers with one of the toughest parts of their job: pricing their work.
However in the 2018 version, I have added some new elements such as a little advice for event photography buyers such as yourselves.
Hobbyist: Free or (under £25). There are many people who love photography, they have a job in another industry, and, most likely, don’t follow many of the best photography business practices, but they can get the job done.
Amateur: £25 – £75 per hour. These photographers are like hobbyist, However, they have a little more experience selling their imagery. For instance, they may have a blog or a basic portfolio of a few events, portraits, family etc
Student: £50-100 per hour As with all types of photography, the student rate varies, depending on their photographic discipline, industry experience, and interaction with, or assisting, professionals. Some advanced students do – and should – command as much as professionals. With that said, the photography schools are cranking out a lot of newly pressed photographers and many are trying to earn some income and attempting to get their foot in the door.
Semi-Pro: £75–£125 per hour. These are photographers who have ambitions to join the ranks of the professional. They may have another job or income source to keep them afloat, but which they aim to leave behind. Sometimes their additional skills are compatible with their photography. Many compete with professional photographers for jobs, but are not quite ready to jump in with both feet.
Professional: £125-£175 per hour. We can argue that a professional is anyone who is paid at least once for his photography. For the purposes of categorisation, a professional in my eyes is someone who depends on photography to make living. More precisely, professionals who have a solid portfolio to represent their speciality.
Specialist: £175-£1000+ per hour. In any industry, there always will be an élite group of socialist. In the case of photographers, some of the top image makers command over £10,000 per day.
I hope this helps when booking your next event.
