Re: Rates

Posted by Donna Lafferty - Int'l Food Stylist on February 15, 1999 at 13:09:58:

In Reply to: Rates posted by Maureen Serrao on February 05, 1999 at 20:15:43:

Maureen:
Rates vary according to your experience and expertise in various aspects of the field. Ice cream, chocolate and pizza can demand more money. These are the most difficult foods to style, with, I believe, pizza being the most difficult of all.
If you are a beginner be content with charging nothing to around $200.00 per 8 hr. day. Video/film work (based on 10 hr. days) can demand a little more $ in the beginning (assuming they are confident enough to hire you). Most stylists with many years of experience can demand $600.00 + for still photography, depending also on where they live in the country. LA, NY and Chicago prices will be higher than if one works in Indiana or Poedunk USA.
Develop a rate sheet.

Ask for payment at the end of the shoot, and be up front about your payment requirements. That way you will not be waiting for months to be paid and they cannot come back to ask you to renegotiate your fee, which can happen with some clients. If a photographer is unwilling to pay you at the end of the shoot then you have the option of taking the job and waiting for payment or getting 1/2 now and 1/2 when he decides to pay you or just not taking the job at all. Always discuss payment at the time of bookings. This includes payment for your services and payment for the expenses incurred (which should always be paid for at the end of a shoot).
And always have a computer generated invoice ready to present and have SIGNED by the payer of your bill. If you don't and then he decides not to pay you at all, you will have a valid contract that you did, indeed, work for him. Otherwise the photographer and client have your work and you have nothing.

And last but not least: Always follow your instincts...listen to your gut about everything you do in life. It will never fail you. If you don't feel anything, ask for guidance from your Higher Power.

Best wishes,
Donna Lafferty - Food Stylist

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