daily rate for prof. independ. experie. retoucher? (Fashion/Editorial/Beauty/Comm.)

[pure]

how would you define the daily rate for a prof. independ. experienced retoucher?

(Fashion/Editorial/Beauty/Billboard/Commercial/Ads/Still,Architecture)



regards

pure

[emarts]

Don't adjust your rate according to what others are charging. You need to figure out if what you are making suits your needs. Calculate all your costs and figure out how much work you expect to get. If you're making $500 a day, and you are working every day, you are doing very well.

It is a smart thing to do a market analysis though. If you can see where everyone else is, you'll be better able to guage if you are charging appropriately. But if you are getting the work, I'd say you're doing well.

The way I have figured out my rate is to decide how much money I would like to make each year. I kinda compare it to what I'd expect to make if I worked full-time then add my expenses. I break that down to how many hours a week I'd like to work. I'm pretty comfortable with 20-30. But I have to also weigh it against the likelihood of actually getting 20-30 hours of work per week. Some months I do great, some months, not so good. I have to compare with my previous years. Anyway, with these factors in mind, I arrive at an hourly rate which I use as a guide when estimating a job.

I don't know if this helps or not, but that's how I do it anyway.

[pure]

thanks for your help

[emarts]

One thing I discovered is that I can make more money going out and getting more work rather than doing it myself. So I outsource many smaller jobs to local freelancers that I've worked with for awhile. This also allows me to take in work that I normally would not (web design, programming, photography, etc.).

So my advice: Improve your selling skills as well as your retouching skills.

[pure]

discussing, selling and waging prices is very popular.
thats why i appreciate clients who accept my 1st offer from the beginning
and dont begin to discuss.

[re-touch-er]

Send me your work and resell it.
I do very well.....I thought....until now.
I do work for a designer who resells as well as a full time job as well as my own clients who I design, organize photo shoots, retouch, buy printing for.
When visiting Universal Studios....stop by.

[samel]

editorials for elle,vogue and cosmo..at least 500,-EURO a day
commercial campaign work, i'd say around 2000,-EURO/day is
what you'd expect from a very high profile work (if you're good)
but around 1000-1500,-EURO/day is probably more realistic
considering these kinds of jobs might come rather sparsely and you may have
to do alot of editorial and stuff inbetween.. with your own company and taxes and stuff, 500/day will just about keep you floating.. unless you work everyday, which no freelancer i know does..

i have a flat rate of 1300,-EURO / day ..and i can tell you, no fashion magazine will ever pay you that kind of money..(which is one of the reasons i dont do fashion anymore, unless it's really artsy, avant-garde fun)
so maybe, take your talent elsewhere..
like some really hot shot commercial agency or something..
i dont know..i dont necessarily think youre underpaid but i think you
could easily increase your rates if youre confident that youre good..

good luck
//s

[pure]

thanks samel