CanadaHow much do I charge for shooting a live concert?
I'm late to the game on this question, but I do shoot performances, including music and theater, for a major NYC performance space and thought it would be worthwhile to chime in. My client gets to use the images, usually 15-30, for unpaid publicity (i.e., press releases, their website) for a flat rate. Paid advertising usage would be additional, on a per image basis. If the performers want to use images, that, again, is additional, and between me and the performer, and depends on usage: social media? their website? posters?
For the usage you describe, given the number of images, and assuming it wasn't Lada Gaga or Justin Bieber you were shooting, my suggestions below.
Sam; My first thought is: Why on Gods green earth did you shoot a job, do post processing, deliver it, wait for it to be published - without discussing price with the client ?! You had ample opportunity even if it was a last minute booking. At the very least I would have been on the phone with that event producer the very next day - before - I did any additional work or delivered the finished photos. They have your images and have used them - even taking ownership of them by not giving you credit. You have absolutely no leverage now.
OK lesson learned - hopefully they won't give you any pushback when you submit the invoice. I would charge about double what your friend suggested (I'm in the US - rates might be lower north of the border)
Thanks Jim... Point well taken. There is a relationship with the organization, and by extension, the event producer. I guess I'm counting on their integrity, assuming that integrity will not be sent up the creek just to cheat me out of fair compensation for service.
Your original post did not mention any relationship with the client. I would still stand by my numbers though.
This was a live concert and television taping for a small Canadian network. The event producer hadn't booked a photographer and when she saw me there, asked if I would stay and shoot the event.
I canceled other plans, shot the concert and some candids as well as some VIP schmoozing.
I was on site for 5 hours, shot about 400 photos, sorted and selected 19 shots that fit the requests that came later, edited 19 photos and forwarded the jpegs via Dropbox.
These photos were then sent to the artist who used them to promote the telecast that came two weeks later.
The television station who hired me got the photo credits, not me.
I've been told by a local photographer who knows my work, that he thinks $400-900 would be right for an "event" but added that this was more of a commercial shoot.... Help????