How are Retouching Studio Rates calculated?

[pixelpumper]

What are the Hourly rates (high & low) that the Boutique Retouching Studios generally charge Advertising Agencies for retouching work?
For Local, National, International.
And for Editorial, Montage/Composition, Beauty & Catalog/ Apparel.

How are these fees calculated by the studios?

Is there a range in fees based on number of circulation, or just the markets they will reach, ie: local, domestic & international?

The market im trying to learn about is NYC but if your market is a different or smaller city please chime in also, as rate models can be up or downsized.

much thanks, Miguel

[Studio Tekstil]

Re: How are Retouching Studio Rates calculated?

Advertising and commercial retouching rates for serious Ad campaigns are from $150-$600 per hour
Regards!

[pixelpumper]

Re: How are Retouching Studio Rates calculated?

Thanks for your reply Tekstil,

Do you (or anyone) know what determines these fees & how they are calculated?

[Markzebra]

Re: How are Retouching Studio Rates calculated?

How are Retouching Studio Rates calculated?

With a dartboard.

[pixelpumper]

Re: How are Retouching Studio Rates calculated?

Haha, yes, everyone is def. shooting for highest bid (bulls-eye)
Does anyone have details on the thought processes of assigning a $ bid to different types of projects?

[eraanexact]

Re: How are Retouching Studio Rates calculated?

Editorial rates are often set by the magazines. I think most studios charge on a case by case basis as some projects are more involved than others, and sometimes they want to throw preferred clients a favor now and then. Hourly rates for more intensive composites and ad work is typically around $250/hr, but as Tekstil previously stated, that can be more or less depending on the conditions.


So, dartboard.

[Studio Tekstil]

Re: How are Retouching Studio Rates calculated?

Like eraanexact said above,

Editorial rates are set by the magazines, and rates depend from magazine to magazine.
Editorial rates for magazines are not too high like rates for advertising retouching and composite work for commercial clients.
No one can tell you the exact rates because all things depend from clients.
It is not the same if you work advertising retouching for small local company for local market or if you work commercial retouching for big fishes and global advertising campaigns.
Serious retouching agencies charge from $150-$600 per hour , serious composite work start from $250/hour and can go up to $750/hour for advertising retouching.
Please note I speak about top high end retouching and very established retouching agencies with very serious portfolio which have big fishes as a clients.
For new retouching agencies and freelance retouchers it is very difficult to find these clients ( big fishes) and to work with these rates , until you become established on the market with great portfolio.
How you will calculate with your rates as a new retouching agency, depend from your costs , how many employees you have ( which salaries they have) , how much you pay for offices etc and off course main thing which are your clients?
If your clients are photographers which want to build their portfolios and which pay retouching from their pockets , you can not expect these rates from above.
Also do not offer cheap rates, because in many cases no one will take you seriously if you offer cheap rates.

Hope this helped
Best to all

[pixelpumper]

Re: How are Retouching Studio Rates calculated?

Thanks you guys (Eraanexact & Studio Tekstil) this is great info and much appreciated. Certain communications with a client can make or break a deal very quickly. Best to get it as close to 'right' the first time around; as this industry is sometimes small and reputations are at stake.

Serious retouching agencies charge from $150-$600 per hour , serious composite work start from $250/hour and can go up to $750/hour for advertising retouching.
Please note I speak about top high end retouching and very established retouching agencies with very serious portfolio which have big fishes as a clients.

Studio Tekstil mentions above that the prices can range from $150-$600 or $250-$750 for comp work. Are these prices delegated by the AD Agencies budget like editorial; or quoted by the retouching studio based on the complexity of the work or who their client base is; and the operating costs needed to run the retouching studio? - for example: client sends you an image; what reasons would you quote them $600 instead of $150?

Much thanks people, this forum is an invaluable source of info.
best, Miguel

[Shoku]

Re: How are Retouching Studio Rates calculated?

The main issue for us is TIME. We quote the same fees to everyone. We have a minimum fee and an hourly fee. That's it. We estimate a cost based on the complexity, but the final charge could be less than the estimate (some jobs turn out to be less time consuming than expected for a variety of reasons). We pass on the savings to the client when possible, and they appreciate the integrity of our billing, and are more willing to pay higher fees for a more complex job because they understand what's involved.

[pixelpumper]

Re: How are Retouching Studio Rates calculated?

but the final charge could be less than the estimate (some jobs turn out to be less time consuming than expected for a variety of reasons). We pass on the savings to the client when possible, and they appreciate the integrity of our billing, and are more willing to pay higher fees for a more complex job because they understand what's involved.

this is another great point Shoku, the integrity of billing builds trust between you and the client - this is a great description/form of under-promising and over-delivering.