$35/hour and supply your own gear? Really?

[MissionMan]

I'm not a professional photographer by any standards but I'm fortunate enough to have a full time job that helps sponsor my hobby. I was trawling through seek.com.au the other day (I use it as a hunting ground to identify what projects are happening in our industry) and decided to do a search for photographers to see what the market was like. No intention of shifting across, pure curiosity.

One of the first ads that caught my eye was this one:

http://www.seek.com.au/Job/photograp...ourne/22592511

They're looking for a photographer, with the following equipment guidelines:

• Camera Body: Nikon or Canon
• Professional 500W-1000W Studio lighting
• 2nd Camera Body - Nikon or Canon
• Pro 24 - 70mm 2.8 lens
• Pro 70 - 200mm 2.8 lens
• Pro 300 or 400mm 2.8 lens

So, in short, they're looking for a competent photographer (outdoor and studio experience), with about $20k+ worth of gear and they're prepared to pay the sum of $35/hour?

Is it really that bad out there? Or am I missing the point?

[kiwi]

Seems to be a rate that is often put forward, eg for contract sport or event shooters

I don't bother for that personally but plenty will

[Kym]

$20,000 worth of gear inc insurance?
divide by $35 = ~571 hours or 15 x 38 hours weeks just to recoup the gear costs.
Bah!

[norwest]

You could also be assured there'd be a very grey area in the definition of hours of work and a silk purse end product expected in a sow's ear time frame.

[kiwi]

Yes, the rate is prob shooting time only which is maybe 1/3 of total time involved in a shoot


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[xxdrakexx]

O_o OMG

[kiwi]

I just got second in a quote to shoot team photos, I estimated 5 hours work , I was most expensive at $400, winner was $100 including 6 8x10's and there were 6 others between $100 and $300 !!!!

[AutumnCurl]

when deciding my hourly rate for myself for my business, i was researching, and the one i found, wanted:
10 years experience
all the equipment
a diploma or degree
retouching skills
printing experience preferred for the same amount of money!

who in the right mind would bother with that.. surely if you have those skills, your already doing what you want?

[fishographer]

Hey Guys,

I have to say that sounds a little insulting, I own my own retail business that allows for some of my photography to earn me some income, not much but enough to pay for gear and also make that gear tax deductible.....always a bonus.

However I have to pay completely unskilled adult labour a casual rate of $22.70 p/hour to stand behind a counter and punch numbers into a till (whilst maintaining a finger up their lazy ass at the same time) after about an hours worth of training just about any monkey could do it. No equipment needed nor any experience.

To think someone would expect a semi professional level of skill and experience plus top of the range equipment and be only willing to pay $35 p/hour is just plain rude. My work has been published on a regular occasion but I still wouldnt consider myself good enough to take on a professional job as a photographer for anyone, and if I do end up at that level I would demand a whole lot more than that an hour.

[norwest]

Actually, the add quotes $30 - $34.99 per hour and 'Independent Contractors'. So, the $30 - 35 has to also cover all your gear costs, personal and gear insurances plus public liability, without any employee benefits and be available all weekend and odd hours when the majority of work would be conducted.

I imagine the turnover of staff is regular and very, very fast. I never deny a proprietor or business the right to earn a quid through hard work and personal financial risk. However, if the intention is to profit through disadvantage and unfairness to others, i'd like to kick their ***** till they bled.

[Analog6]

They want creativity as well!

[MissionMan]

They want creativity as well!

You'd need to be creative to survive on that income

[norwest]

They also advertised for -

Field Manager
Immediate 10 casual positions available - Salary: $20 - $24.99 per hour
(Due to the nature of the business, this role will require mostly weekend and evening work and you must have your own car and license)

EVENTS ASSISTANTS
Immediate 10 Part time/Casual Positions available - Salary: $20 - $24.99 per hour
(The work hours will be required week nights (4pm onwards) and weekends (day time only) to service our sporting clientele.)

[Lance B]

Pay peanuts, get monkey's.

[kiwi]

The "problem" here is that there is a large number of people that would do this event on Spec

In fact, I get approached to do quite a few events and its not uncommon that they ask YOU TO PAY THEM for the priveledge of being their official photographer and the opportunity to sell to participants

HUH !!!!

[Lance B]

That's true. This would probably suit those trying to get a break in the profession and get recognised, but it could also just be a way to exploit cheap labour with their own equipment

[kiwi]

Its not really those new to the industry really, it's widely prevalent. It's desperate times out there if event or sport work is your business

[MissionMan]

Its not really those new to the industry really, it's widely prevalent. It's desperate times out there if event or sport work is your business

True, but times change and people in the market have to change or get left behind. The move from book stores to electronic devices is an example. I don't believe the solution to the ereaders is to drop their pricing to a point where they make a loss, the solution is to move with the market and provide a service that ties in with that. If the market for sports or event based work is dying, its a case of shifting your profession slightly so you can still make money by changing your strategy, rather than accepting second rate wages.

[kiwi]

Of course

Any suggestions welcome

[achee]

To me, the appeal of an hourly rate depends largely on the amount of hours on offer. It wouldn't be bad if that were full-time work. On the other extreme, if you had to turn up for one hour at a time, you'd have to be really desperate for a toe-in to do that!