What Is a Photographer's Wage?

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Part of the video series: Photography Tips & Projects

Summary: A photographer's wage varies drastically depending on what kind of work is available and how sought-after he or she becomes. Calculate a photographer's salary, which can range from a few hundred dollars a shoot to several million, with information from a professional freelance photographer in this free video on photography.

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By Lauryn Spielvogel
eHow Presenter

Lauryn Spielvogel is a professional freelance photographer with a wide range of commercial and artistic experience. She primarily works in the world of fashion, but she has extensive...read more

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Video Transcript

"In this clip, we're going to talk about what a photographer's wage is. A photographer's wage obviously varies upon what, what you think you're worth. And what everybody else thinks you're worth. Obviously, people who are very famous. Annie Leibovitz for example is probably one of the highest paid photographers ever. She's probably getting a couple million a shoot. She's also shooting for Vogue magazine and Rolling Stone. And shooting people that can't put out, you know three or four million a shoot. And their sets are incredible and all these things go into it. As you get more popular, you can be earning, you know a couple of thousand a shoot. If you think that you're worth that. And when you're just starting out, you're going to want to just kind of cover your expenses. Before anybody knows what you can really do. Obviously, the film you're going to want to cover. Any special equipment that you bought for it. Professional location, that's why you're going to want to try and keep your costs low. In the beginning anyways. And at that point it's going to be also the use. How much money are they going to be getting for whatever you're shooting. And it's really, it's a bargain in between that. If they're paying you, you know, a fraction. Like one eighth of what they're going to be getting. They're probably going to pay you a little bit more. If you find out more what the situation is. Then you'll be able to more judge what it is. That you should be getting for that situation also. If you start going up and working for businesses. You should definitely start charging more. Because a business is going to make some money off, of it, no matter. But if you want to start kind of, doing something creative. If you walk into a boutique maybe. And you got to start making your own fashion photography. And they're going to post it.You might not even charge anything for that. Because what you're getting paid with, is the opportunity to be exposed like that. And so it really takes the confidence in you. And knowing what your worth. And what the project is worth. Truly judge what the value of your work is."