The Cost Of Greatness
The price for a photographer to do this photo session varies widely, depending on how experienced the person is and how he or she operates. If you don’t have much money to invest in the process, you may be able to find a new photographer who needs some practice in working with models so he or she who will do a test shoot at little or no charge. In such a case, you will only have to pay for any styling services you desire to get ready for the shoot and also for the cost of ordering the actual prints. This can be an appealing option, but keep in mind that if the photos can’t compete with those of a more professional photographer, it’s no bargain, since you likely won’t get booked for the modeling jobs; in this case, the cost can be much higher in the form of lost work.
If you decide to hire a more experienced photographer, you can expect to pay for the professional results. Some photographers that use film (particularly for black and white images) charge per roll that is used. This can be about $100 to $125 for each roll, and you will need somewhere between three and five rolls for a shoot. If the photographer is using digital equipment, you may be charged for the time spent on the shoot instead and can expect the price to be somewhat comparable to the film price in the end.
You will also need to purchase anywhere from half a dozen to a dozen of the most absolutely gorgeous photos of yourself for your portfolio, at a cost of about $25 each or more. (It’s important to note here that the standard size of portfolio photos will vary, depending on your region of the country, so ask for some guidance from your photographer.) Some photographers offer a package deal. This will likely include the film, the prints and the time for you to do several clothing changes. In addition, touch-ups may be needed. While this isn’t always a bad idea to agree on a set price for everything, many package deals may offer much more than you will need. Packages can range from 20 prints up to 300 or more. Also ask up front about the rights to your images and request the photos on CD if possible, so you can use them in different ways.
The price for a photo shoot and prints for your modeling portfolio can run anywhere from $500 to $2,000.
Additional expenses you can expect to incur include a makeup artist or stylist, which can be about $100 to $250, photo retouching, which can run about $15 a photo, and a professional portfolio case, which starts at $25 for a very inexpensive one and goes up to $250 or more for a high-end leather version.
Models also need composite cards, which are double-sided cards that include five of their best photographs. These can run about $1 a card for good-quality cards, and you will generally want about 100 to 200 if you are just starting out.