Question: I was approached by a photographer I used to service while I was in my old photo lab who now would like me to handle some editing and album layout. He's thinking of giving 15 hours a week my way but didn't throw down any numbers. I know his wedding packages go from $2,500 to $6,900 and he's pretty steady.

He shoots RAW. I'll have to learn his RAW workflow, which I need to learn one kind or another one of these days!

Right now I get paid editing-way around $100-160 for 5-7 hours of editing work. $20 per hour? Does that sound right to quote him?

It sounds on the low side of reasonable to do design work, unless you are just dropping images into a template. I believe in paying people well though , so I may not have the most conservative opinion here.

I'd say go one of two ways, either 20-35 per hour or flat rate by the job.

Regardless, quote him what you think your time and skills are worth, if he can't agree then tell him why you're worth it and negotiate.

I have a friend that I paid to design an album using templates. Since it was her first one and she had no experience, I paid her $4 per spread. It took her about 3 hours to do an 18 page album...which turns out being about $24 per hour. She did a good job so in the future I will likely up it to $5 or $6 per spread.

I much prefer paying per spread rather than per hour. That way, I know exactly what it will cost.

Queensberry charges something like $6 or $7 per spread I believe for them to have their folks take your images and design an album for you.

I don't mind being a little low- money here buys a little more than it does in New York in terms of housing. I might go $25 per hour.

Thanks guys!

Let's learn a RAW workflow together!

More proof of random server posts? Under.Grace... I think some of this depends more on your confidence as a designer than it does where you live, etc to help determine what to charge. What is your time worth? As life gets busier and busier, your time gets more valuable, yea?