Hourly Rates

1. Do you bill by the hour?
2. What do you include in your hourly rate?

Some weddings are too short in duration which makes it inappropriate for the flat fee schedule. If you expect all the wedding functions to last less than 8 hours it is best to use the hourly rate schedule. Weddings at the XXXXXXX, or the XXXXXXXXXXXX, wedding chapels and other venues are best covered by the hourly rate.

The hourly rate is $85.00 an hour (two hour minimum) plus an hourly travel fee of $25.00 an hour. The per roll fee of $50.00 for each roll of 35mm film also applies.
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Spending 5 hours there and I take 10 rolls of film I still spent same amount of time but the expenses went up due to more film being used and there is no fair way to average that out in a combined rate. The $50.00 per roll covers alls cost relating to taking the pictures. The average roll count for a wedding is 5 (180 pictures).

This quote is "borrowed" from the Internet

XXXXXX XXXXXXX Photography provides the same basic services for each event, if requested:

— 4x5 prints of photos from the event
— Photo CD formatted for web site
— Color correction, Photoshop work, retouching, and digital conversion
— Rate of $100 per hour for time on scene if local (hourly rate calculated to include travel time if more than 30 minutes travel time involved)
— Backdrop and studio lighting available for individual, couples or groups
— Web site including all images for print purchases for attendees

This quote is also "borrowed" from the Internet

Problems with hourly billings

1. I don't know about you, but I spend around 10% of my time taking photos, maybe even less. This would mean, that I would not charge for 90% of my time.
2. 90% of my time is doing:
   • Researching / prepping for the photos shoot
   • Getting there
   • Processing the photos
   • Printing and/or CDs presentations
   • Administration
   • Billings
   • Marketing
3. You can't bill for all these activities when you are billing your photo services by the hour.
4. It's very difficult to charge for hours that the customer does not see.
5. As you improve, you will get paid less, because you will become faster.
6. Your goal is getting paid for your all of your work.
7. If you are billing by the hour, you are subsidizing your customers.
8. The only way, you will make a profit and stay in business for the long term, is to charge a reasonable flat fee price.