Can a Headshot session be too cheap?

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	Topic: Can a Headshot session be too cheap?
Posted : 15/08/10 / Views : 990 / Replies : 8 /
RobertLister 15 posts last on: 06/02/12 send private reply	Would a £99, pay when you order prints and nothing if you don't 'Headshot" session be too cheap?

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	Reply #1
Posted : 12/08/10
leeravitz 1543 posts last on: 4 hours send private reply	I think you do tend to pay for quality in respect of headshots and, although there are exceptions to every rule, it is often the case that the more money is being charged for the headshot, the better is the skill/reputation of the photographer, the more impressive the client base they tend to shoot, and the more 'finished' the final product tends to be. But it can't be denied that some things become madly overpriced in this marketplace, and that, sometimes, deals that are done very cheaply actually produce perfectly usable results (I put my own showreel together with a close friend for -effectively- nothing, for instance, and most casting directors I've shown it to seem to like it). I think it's safe to say that you will never get the sort of pin point brilliance and originality of conception that you would get in a headshot session that you paid, say, £500 for - and it might be these 'impactful' qualities that would get your headshot noted amongst hundreds of others in the first place. But, simply in terms of getting a usable, accurate, basic shot - there is no reason why paying less than £100 for one couldn't yield decent results. Your question should always really be - why is the session so (comparatively) cheap? If it's not a reduction on special offer (generally given to valuable sections of the industry who produce a lot of repeat work for well established photographers, such as new graduates), then the session is probably cheap because the photogrpaher is still young and inexperienced and has yet to establish their mark in the field - so is hoping to use your session to build portfolio. Another alternative is that they are only part-time photographers, whose main income is not derived from camera work, and see it as more of a sideline. Or they are a new startup, who need to build some initial customer/client momentum before switching to charging fuller prices. etc. etc. I wouldn't naturally assume a 'scam' or anything of that sort is in place - but I would suggest that there should always be an online site where a portfolio of material (however small) can be viewed before you enter into a paying agreement with any photogrpaher. If the photographer has literally no portfolio whatsoever, then I would refuse to work with them on any basis except doing the session for free, because you have no idea what the end product will turn out like (and most photographers would agree to this, so eager are they to establish basic portfolio). None of this means that you won't have a decent shooting session - many such photographers starting up are the wave of the future - but you should by and large expect less 'accomplished' results than you may get elsewhere, paying more money. Given this deal, where it sounds like you don't have an agreement to pay unless you like the shots when you come to review them, I suppose you are, effectively, shooting for free, and it sounds to me like the offer is coming from a 'new' photographer attempting to build portfolio, and then charging a bit of money on the side to cover their costs where they can. So long as you genuinely retain right of refusal on the prints, then I don't see you lose anything (except time) by undertaking the shoot on the off chance. I'm not sure there is anything dubious about it - but it is always worth trying to canvass the photographer involved as much as possible, chase their work as much as possible etc., to see if you can get a sense of where they are coming from, and why, if they don't appear to be full time professionals charging through the nose, they are offering reduced rate headshot photography.

Reply #1

Posted : 12/08/10

leeravitz
1543 posts
last on: 4 hours
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I think you *do* tend to pay for quality in respect of headshots and, although there are exceptions to every rule, it is often the case that the more money is being charged for the headshot, the better is the skill/reputation of the photographer, the more impressive the client base they tend to shoot, and the more 'finished' the final product tends to be. But it can't be denied that some things become madly overpriced in this marketplace, and that, sometimes, deals that are done very cheaply actually produce perfectly usable results (I put my own showreel together with a close friend for -effectively- nothing, for instance, and most casting directors I've shown it to seem to like it). I think it's safe to say that you will never get the sort of pin point brilliance and originality of conception that you would get in a headshot session that you paid, say, £500 for - and it might be these 'impactful' qualities that would get your headshot noted amongst hundreds of others in the first place. But, simply in terms of getting a usable, accurate, basic shot - there is no reason why paying less than £100 for one couldn't yield decent results.

Your question should always really be - why is the session so (comparatively) cheap? If it's not a reduction on special offer (generally given to valuable sections of the industry who produce a lot of repeat work for well established photographers, such as new graduates), then the session is probably cheap because the photogrpaher is still young and inexperienced and has yet to establish their mark in the field - so is hoping to use your session to build portfolio. Another alternative is that they are only part-time photographers, whose main income is not derived from camera work, and see it as more of a sideline. Or they are a new startup, who need to build some initial customer/client momentum before switching to charging fuller prices. etc. etc. I wouldn't naturally assume a 'scam' or anything of that sort is in place - but I would suggest that there should always be an online site where a portfolio of material (however small) can be viewed before you enter into a paying agreement with any photogrpaher. If the photographer has literally no portfolio whatsoever, then I would refuse to work with them on any basis except doing the session for free, because you have no idea what the end product will turn out like (and most photographers would agree to this, so eager are they to establish basic portfolio). None of this means that you won't have a decent shooting session - many such photographers starting up are the wave of the future - but you should by and large expect less 'accomplished' results than you may get elsewhere, paying more money.

Given this deal, where it sounds like you don't have an agreement to pay unless you like the shots when you come to review them, I suppose you are, effectively, shooting for free, and it sounds to me like the offer is coming from a 'new' photographer attempting to build portfolio, and then charging a bit of money on the side to cover their costs where they can. So long as you genuinely retain right of refusal on the prints, then I don't see you lose anything (except time) by undertaking the shoot on the off chance. I'm not sure there is anything dubious about it - but it is always worth trying to canvass the photographer involved as much as possible, chase their work as much as possible etc., to see if you can get a sense of where they are coming from, and why, if they don't appear to be full time professionals charging through the nose, they are offering reduced rate headshot photography.

	Reply #2
Posted : 12/08/10
leeravitz 1543 posts last on: 4 hours send private reply	I suppose, reading that back, it might have implied there are no full time photographers out there who don't charge cheaply - of course there are, aand many have long standing reciprocal agreements with certain members of their client base in order to specifically peg their prices low. So, I am not suggesting you have to pay over, say, £500 for a good headshot! On average, though, most long term pros seem to charge in the region of £150-£300 a session, which I would assume is simply good market sense in order for them to cover their own costs, and remain buouyant in a competitive marketplace. Charging low is generally either a sign of great confidence that the number of individuals who are going to take up the offer will offset the lessening of the price (this tends to be why e.g. student offers are offered at much cheaper rates) or it tends to reflect on the fact that the photographer is, for one reason or another, not yet reliant on the income from headshot sessions to sustain their whole lifestyle.

Reply #2

Posted : 12/08/10

leeravitz
1543 posts
last on: 4 hours
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I suppose, reading that back, it might have implied there are no full time photographers out there who don't charge cheaply - of course there are, aand many have long standing reciprocal agreements with certain members of their client base in order to specifically peg their prices low. So, I am not suggesting you have to pay over, say, £500 for a good headshot! On average, though, most long term pros seem to charge in the region of £150-£300 a session, which I would assume is simply good market sense in order for them to cover their own costs, and remain buouyant in a competitive marketplace. Charging low is generally either a sign of great confidence that the number of individuals who are going to take up the offer will offset the lessening of the price (this tends to be why e.g. student offers are offered at much cheaper rates) or it tends to reflect on the fact that the photographer is, for one reason or another, not yet reliant on the income from headshot sessions to sustain their whole lifestyle.

	Reply #3
Posted : 12/08/10
RebeccaProbyn 1208 posts last on: 04/02/12 send private reply	So if you don't likethem you dont have to pay and if you do like them and think they are good they are £99 Sounds good to me.

	Reply #4
Posted : 13/08/10
Simon30 236 posts last on: 5 hours send private reply	Nothing to lose! No likey no pay-ee = no gamble of money. Might do it myself :0)

	Reply #5
Posted : 13/08/10
MiaT 31 posts last on: 03/02/12 send private reply	It really dose depend on the photographer though. i didnt pay a lot for mine this time and my last lot were £400,the ones i have now are so much better and less than half the price ,and i do think its best to shop around . im having more done on monday actually. say cheese :-)

	Reply #6
Posted : 13/08/10
peterhalpin 236 posts last on: 3 hours send private reply	My last batch of headshots, for both acting and presenting, were done for free and are the best I've ever had done! I had them inside a week, fully touched up and had several of each style. Brilliant. Something doesn't have to be costly to be good.

	Reply #7
Posted : 13/08/10
leeravitz 1543 posts last on: 4 hours send private reply	No, I suppose that's all true, Peter - you never can tell what sort of results you may get! It's also true that, if you aren't responding well to the photographer, then it doesn't matter what you pay for the shots, they may not end up looking decent - as reciprocal trust and understanding is vital during the session! But I stick by the idea that, if what you are looking to get is the sort of picture that matches what casting directors consider to be the highest standard of reproduction, then generally, the prices charged are appropriate (i.e. high). It is sometimes possible (and wonderful) to find either a high priced photographer who is prepared to work with you for minimal rates while producing work at the same level of quality, and not uncommon that a very decent photographer is charging low initially whilst they work to establish a reputation - which may well be the case here. But, to be honest, as soon as a photographer knows they are producing fantastic results, and coming into wide demand, I think all sensible business people would start to raise their prices! Still, as I said, there are no absolutes in this game - and it may just be that the headshot you get taken by your best friend's camera mad dad is as great as any you could have had taken elsewhere. I mentioned my showreel, which I basically cut together for free - I don't think the 'professionals' would have done a vastly better job- but then I am lucky enough to have a friend who edits for a living and has his own suite of machines running Final Cut Pro - which isn't the case for everyone. I guess it's whatever works. As regards this offer, I still think it's good, so long as all the cards are on the table, and a prospective client can preferably get to see some samples of work before they commit to a session. After that, there is nothing to lose - on the basis that no charge will be made if the actor doesn't like what the shoot produces.

Reply #7

Posted : 13/08/10

leeravitz
1543 posts
last on: 4 hours
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No, I suppose that's all true, Peter - you never can tell what sort of results you may get! It's also true that, if you aren't responding well to the photographer, then it doesn't matter what you pay for the shots, they may not end up looking decent - as reciprocal trust and understanding is vital during the session! But I stick by the idea that, if what you are looking to get is the sort of picture that matches what casting directors consider to be the highest standard of reproduction, then generally, the prices charged are appropriate (i.e. high). It is sometimes possible (and wonderful) to find either a high priced photographer who is prepared to work with you for minimal rates while producing work at the same level of quality, and not uncommon that a very decent photographer is charging low *initially* whilst they work to establish a reputation - which may well be the case here. But, to be honest, as soon as a photographer knows they are producing fantastic results, and coming into wide demand, I think all sensible business people would start to raise their prices!

Still, as I said, there are no absolutes in this game - and it may just be that the headshot you get taken by your best friend's camera mad dad *is* as great as any you could have had taken elsewhere. I mentioned my showreel, which I basically cut together for free - I don't think the 'professionals' would have done a vastly better job- but then I am lucky enough to have a friend who edits for a living and has his own suite of machines running Final Cut Pro - which isn't the case for everyone. I guess it's whatever works.

As regards *this* offer, I still think it's good, so long as all the cards are on the table, and a prospective client can preferably get to see some samples of work before they commit to a session. After that, there is nothing to lose - on the basis that no charge will be made if the actor doesn't like what the shoot produces.

	Reply #8
Posted : 15/08/10
RebeccaProbyn 1208 posts last on: 04/02/12 send private reply	Look if you know what makes a good picture and can recognise good quality go for it. High charges DO NOT mean that the photographs are good. There are quite a few headshots on this site which are poorly shot and some of them by "respected" photographers. Bad framing, poor light, weird angles, hands in shot etc.. all make for a bad headshot. As long as you keep this in mind and you are happy with the shots go for it.

Reply #8

Posted : 15/08/10

RebeccaProbyn
1208 posts
last on: 04/02/12
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Look if you know what makes a good picture and can recognise good quality go for it.

High charges DO NOT mean that the photographs are good. There are quite a few headshots on this site which are poorly shot and some of them by "respected" photographers. Bad framing, poor light, weird angles, hands in shot etc.. all make for a bad headshot. As long as you keep this in mind and you are happy with the shots go for it.

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