Assignment Pricing

If you have been unable to find the exact image you need, I would be happy to discuss your assignment photography needs in detail and prepare a quote for the required services and usage. A number of fee structures are available, depending on the nature of the assignment. My goal is to meet your budget and time requirements, while providing the most professional service possible. If you would like a price quote for a specific use, please contact Jim Hunter Photography.

Licensing Fees are based on usage and content
My fees are based on the reproduction rights I license to my clients. The more rights they need, the higher fees they pay. This is why it is always more reasonable to license for the only exact usage needed. If more usage is needed later, additional licensing can be acquired. Copyright and reproduction rights remain my property at all time. The physical possession of prints, slides or digital files does not grant ownership of any images.

Costs of assignment photography
A Creative fee is what I charge when I produce photographs on assignment. Although the time factor has a role in pricing assignments, it is not the main one, and this is why I do not consider "Day Rates" "Hourly Rates" or “Half-day Rates”. A creative fee is separate from the production costs. It is usually based on different factors detailed in the job description received from the client. Such factors include the total time (including pre and post-production) spent on producing the photograph(s), deadline, usage, media type (film or digital), size and format, complexity of the shoot, technical difficulty of producing the photograph(s) and its originality. Creative fees appear only at the creation stage of the photograph.

Editorial/ Corporate Photography Assignment Fees are usually calculated as a Creative Fee + Production Fees + Usage. What this means is, if an assignment is given and it is expected that only one photograph will be used at one-quarter page or less inside, then that is stated in the Usage Fee on my estimate. However, should the client decide that the photograph would be used on the cover, then the difference between the one-quarter page inside rate and the cover space rate would be added to the final invoice as additional usage.

If more usage is expected to be needed at a later date, a “ Contingency Fee Schedule” can be provided detailing costs of the various additional uses.

Advertising Photography Fees are usually calculated as a Creative Fee + Usage + Production Fees. Creative Fees are typically based on such factors as the total time (including pre and post-production) spent on producing the photograph(s), deadlines, film type, size and format, complexity of the shoot, technical difficulty of producing the photograph(s) and its originality. Usage fees are generally based on a percentage of the Media Buy.

Media Buy Percentage for Usage Fee
under $10K 10-20%
10-100K 5-10%
100-500K 3-5%
500K+ 1-3%

Other Fees That May Apply
Pre-production fees are billed only when more than the normal pre-production work is involved or required like scouting, casting, etc…

Postponements or cancellation Fees. If Client postpones or cancels any photography "shoot date" or other service, in whole or in part, without first obtaining my written consent, Client shall pay 50% of the quoted fees. If Client postpones or cancels with less than two business days' prior written notice, Client shall pay 100% of the quoted fees. Client shall in any event pay all expenses and charges incurred in connection with any postponed or canceled shoot date or other service.

Production fees cover all of the production costs that are necessary to produce the photograph(s) on demand. They usually include but are not limited to the minimum of the following items:

Assistant(s) Fees
Digital Post Production
Film & Processing if shooting film
Expendables
Transportation and mileage
Meals or per diem