there's a company that might hire me to photograph their events/parties during the superbowl next month. i'd have to rent some lighting equipment to to portrait shots of guests and football stars, and maybe a lens or to to use on the other occassions. but i'd basically be at their mercy for when and how long they needed me each day. they'll pay for my hotel, if they can find one, and gas expenses...but i have no idea what to ask as a daily rate.

like $250-$400 a day? i've never done anything like this before...never had a paying client/photoshoot or anything. so i was thinking of $200 a day, and if they hated what they got, they're only out $800, which i think is totally fine seeing as i've been told they are a large corporation.

and i don't feel i have the right (as i've never proven myself) to ask for much more than like $200 a day. is that even too much do you think?

any thoughts or insights are appreciated. thanks so much.

Mac...you do really work from what I've seen on your site, despite your self deprecating signature line. Seems to me that might be a little low. I would not go below 400/day. If you think about what you might charge per hour for a regular gig, I would factor that times at least 5 or 6 to account for the hours you might be in need. So even at a cheap rate of 100/hr your still coming in way low at 4 hundy. On top of that you have to rent equipment, no way should you think about 200. Obviously they know you can produce quality stuff otherwise they wouldn't have you doing the gig. I can understand your reluctance not to want to charge more because this is something new to you but don't sell yourself short.

Definitely don't sell yourself short. $50/hr is probably on the low end for some but compromise. Make enough to buy that piece of equipment you've been wanting or something. Again, don't sell yourself short. Let us know what happens.

Mac,

I and everyone else wanna know what happened?

M.J.