Hi,
Let me start be saying, I am pretty new to this business. I have been "officially" in business for no more than a year.
Having said that, I received a call from a potential client wishing to hire me for a corporate event.

I was somewhat ill prepared for her questions of price and services, as I had not given this area of photography much consideration as an option for my business. (My mistake of course.) I kinda faked my way through the conversation though, and came up with prices on the fly.

My question is, what, and how, do some of you who do corporate events, charge for them.
Is it by the hour? Packages, like with Bridal work?


Thanks for any sage input,

I charge by the hour with a minimum of $600 for corporate events ($150/hr). I started out much lower, but found they will run you around and keep you for hours if you don't value your time with $$. If the images are going to be used for anything other than web work or headshots, etc. I may charge a usage fee per image. Keep in mind you won't receive any portrait sales, although you can host the images in hopes you might get an order or two.

Don't undercut yourself:) Have fun!

Wow, thanks so much. That's actually what I asked for.
Yes, they just want the images for web stuff only. They reallly were not interested in on-line proofs.
It seems like it will be fun, no fuss, no muss.

Thanks!

I charge $350/hr or a dayrate of $3,200 w/high res images. If I have to travel, I automatically charge the dayrate. Even if they're not interested in online proofs, put them up anyway in case someone (and they WILL) wants to buy them.

I just found out I'm going to Vegas in May and Dallas in July... and possibly South Korea later this year. Corporate event photojournalism is taking off and there aren't many people offering it... I'm doing a business expo show in May to pimp my services as well.

Good luck on your job!

Thanks so much Shane,
I gave a verbal quote for this one already, but next time I'll try your advice.
Sounds like a great niche market for you. It would be a funny twist of fate if I were to do more of this type of work too. My first job out of college was live video and audio visual work for corporate events.

If you go to South Korea, will you still charge 3,200 a day ? How many days would that be? (If you don't mind me asking.)

Thanks again

I priced a corporate gig in November at $150 per hour which at this particular event meant 12 hour days, or $1800 per day. I covered a convention for a national organization and enjoyed every minute of it. I also travelled to Columbus, Ohio for a sales convention and charged the same. I really enjoy this type of work. Shane, if you have any tips on hoe to drum up more work, let me know!

I recently heard that this is a trend that is catching on. Can you elaborate on what you liked about it? I imagine it as being dull as dishwater, but clearly I'm missin' something!

Can I assume a pretty fast turnaround and limited post processing for these types of events? What do they use the photos for? Wouldn't they often be in rotten lighting and convention center type surroundings, making them a bear to shoot in any interesting way, or do they not really want interesting and just want a record of the goings on?

Love to hear more about it from those that have done it! (Travel sounds like a sweet perk, if you get it!)

First, I have to say - Shane, you're the man! I'd love to hear more about your experience!

I shot a two day conference here in Vancouver last year, and it was a blast. Fun like a wedding, but without so much emotional stress. You are right, SaraH about the lighting, though. One small group room had daylight, flourescent and halogen spots. Crazy!

And about a safe vs. interesting shots - they only used about 8 shots on their website (of the 800 or so I gave them), and they DIDN'T use any 'safe' shots, just the more interesting and creative ones (i.e. different perpective, shallow DOF, etc).

They also requested a slideshow to project at the closing remarks, and a slideshow for their preferred vendors.

I haven't shot photography at one yet, but I have been involved in and with corporate events.
Often they are held at very beautiful hotels or locations. (My Husband's last one was at the St. Regis and lasted several days.)
Often they have top entertainment, it can be quite a bit like a very upscale reception.
When I worked them in my 20's as a CG operator for live video, the companies would have motavational sessions for their employees that were often very creative sparing no expense for a good time.
These companies have very large budgets for these parties. It's not just a convention where people are milling around looking at things to buy, and going to seminars.
The group that has inquired about my services is the Annual California Judicial Reception, which has a sit down dinner, a notable speaker, then entertainment.

Corporate events can be fun. They can be dull too but as with just about anything in life... it is what you make of it. I have covered a few events lately for a local magazine and ended up with some really cool stuff. Here is a link to one of the events that I was particularly happy with.

Blog post

and a few individual images:
image 1
image 2
image 3
image 4

Nice work.

It's been a great experience for me! It really helped me get the extra biz to leave my job back in January. When I go out to Dallas in July, I'll make about 13k. Then, I'll come home and have a wedding on the weekend. It will end up being a 20k week for me, and most of the work will be without albums. It can be as boring or as interesting as you want to make it. I can get fun shots out of a simple meeting. I really enjoy the challenge of it.

By next year, I'm hoping to have several solid regular clients and I'll be able to farm some of the work out to local (and national) photogs.

On getting more business: I joined my local chamber of commerce and I'm doing a business expo show. There will be hundreds of companies there looking for vendors. I'm really pushing that I'm doing something different. I don't put the grip and grin pics on my site. Slideshows are really key... they are the big payoff for the company and the employees.

Last note: DO NOT UNDERCHARGE. Aim for big companies and big tradeshows. I'm planning on raising my dayrate within the year. Think about it this way: a high-end wedding may have a budget $30,000-$40,000. A tradeshow or convention will have a budget of $1 million to $2 million and up.

Good luck!

I loved every minute of it. If your clients are the tradeshow sponsors, the energy is tremendous. They need snapshots (literally) of every booth, candids of participants, (people listening and milling around), lots of perfect speaker shots,( shoot 50 of each speaker, 'cause open mouths are not flattering, wait for a smile after a joke!) and well lit group portraits, ( bring lightstands).

I stayed in a $250 a night hotel and only used it for 5 or 6 hours a night. The work was speedy and they expected delivery of the disk within 48 hours of the end of the convention. They had photo ideas from 7:30 am until 11:00 pm, so it was exhausting. On the plus side I was done in 6 days, delivery included, and paid $8000 +.

I am thinking of making albums of the events so far to show future clients, but I don't know how to prospect the other clients. Anyone? Shane?

This sounds insane, but I had a blast!

Sounds insane, but lucrative and challenging, and that's what we love best, right?

Matt, those shots are excellent. Really good stuff. Good reminders too about the more upscale events where they do, indeed, pull out all the stops.

I have one corporate client that I've worked with for just over a year and have occasionally photographed seminars, partner meetings, and such for them. While they were very happy with the work, I remember tearing my hair out over terribly unflattering light. But it was small potatoes, in house stuff, and I know that it doesn't compare at all to these big annual whoop-dee-dos that you guys are talking bout.

Shane, sounds like you're headed in the right direction there. Keep us posted!

I've thought about doing asuka books and making corporate packages... like "The CEO, The Chairman, and the Water Cooler" or something like that. The problem is that they usually have someone handling all publications and really aren't all that interested in books. I think your best bet is to do a batch of asuka soft covers just to show your work, or direct them to a showit show.

Who know, maybe I'll have some work for everyone soon!!!