Field Notes · 011 · Pricing
Why does a photo day cost $4,000?
Short answer
You book one day, but you're paying for two: 6 to 8 hours on site and another 6 to 8 hours editing. Plus thousands of dollars in gear and more than a decade of knowing where to stand.
Talking about money shouldn't be awkward, so here's where it goes.
What you're paying for
- The shoot: 6 to 8 hours on site
- The edit: another 6 to 8 hours, every photo edited by me
- The gear: thousands of dollars of cameras and lenses, some of it rented for the job
- The experience: more than a decade on job sites, boats, fire scenes and in helicopters
- The result: 80 to 100 photos you own and can use anywhere
Travel
- Within 200 miles of Greenville, SC: included
- Farther than that: a travel day before and after the shoot, $2,000 each
- That covers flights, hotel and meals. One price, no nickel and diming.
- Book 21+ days out and there are no extra costs. Inside 21 days, if I have to fly, the only extra is the airfare at cost.
- Example: a two-day shoot 500 miles away is $12,000 all in. Two shoot days plus two travel days.
- Why half a day rate: I can't book other work on the days I'm traveling
The short version
One day on site is two days of work, plus the gear and the years it took to know when to take the shot. I'd rather do one great day for you than five rushed hours.