|
Forums >
Hair, Makeup & Styling >
HOW do you charge?
I've been speaking to a lot of talented stylists, and Hair/MUA artists lately, and there doesn't seem to be any standard in the way in which they charge, even if the final cost comes out similar. I was just wondering if I could get some feedback about HOW you charge for your specific specialty? For example: Hair / Make Up - Do you charge per person, or by time? Or a combination? Does the complexity of what is required change the cost? (Hair extensions, Really crazy makeup). Do you charge a kit fee? Any extra charges? Stylists - Do you charge for time spent aquiring items etc? Or just time on set? Any extra charges? These are just examples. Would love to hear about the specifics of what an invoice from you could look like. Feel free to add in $$ if you want, but I figure that will vary with location and experience/skill. I'm more interested in your methods. Thanks! Oct 26 11 09:27 pm Link I typically find that most **experienced professionals** charge either half or full day rates vs. doing per face/look. This is because at the end of the day you are charging just as much for your time as you are for the work you are doing... and anyone who's been doing this long enough quickly realizes that. There are so many variables that can change on a shoot.. and by charging a half or full day rate the artist is ensuring they make a certain amount of money no matter what. Kit fees are for film and not for print... in my personal opinion the only exception is when there is something that is being purchased in addition to the artist's normal use of their kit. So for example if I was hired for a shoot and the photographer requested I do some sort of crazy avante garde fantasy look that required I purchase a bunch of products and supplies I wouldn't otherwise use.. then I probably would add that on as an additional expense OR just factor it into the rate I quoted from the beginning (given I had all the details from the get-go). I can't speak too much for stylists but I do know that the majority of stylists who are doing actual "pulling" from stores will typically charge additional fees for the time it takes them to get the clothing and return it. If there are any model fittings they probably would charge for those as well. If the wardrobe stylists are just pulling from their own personal collection then I think it would probably vary stylist to stylist, and many might want agreements signed for any damages that could occur. But again.. I'm not a wardrobe stylist so I'm only speaking from what I've witnessed.. hopefully someone chips in and gives you more info. Oct 26 11 11:42 pm Link I agree.. as a stylist costs can vary depending on the shoot. I charge a set fee for a 1/2 day and a full day. If I incur costs outside of what would normally be expected of a stylist I add that to my quote. For example, if someone wants an in season dress I won't charge extra because I'm expected to usually source that (be it from a store or from my collection) but if it is unusual say.. a vintage sailor's outfit..while it is cute it will be expensive and probably not something I will use again so I wouldn't purchase it and simply add it to my collection. I'd charge the client for it and give it to them to keep or I'd charge them slightly less and keep it depending on the client's wishes. I worry when I see stylists charging for time spent sourcing items. I can see why it occurs but in my opinion it is similar to a model expecting more payment for learning a new pose or a photographer charging for looking for a lens used for that shoot.. there are expectations of what one will provide.. we bring the clothing and unless it is something particularly difficult.. I'd expect that cost to be included in the original quote and part of the prep for the shoot that all parties do. Just my opinion though and I'm sure other stylists may have good reasons for charging.. It is so difficult to say a standard rate because everyone is in a way competing with each other to get work and it seems there is always someone willing to do work for free so we all want to be competitive with our rates. Unfortunately people don't consider the difference in experience or work quality simply the difference in rates which is really sad. I'd love to see talented industry professionals rewarded more in that area.. Lucky most of us on mayhem do it for the love! Oct 27 11 02:17 am Link Thanks so much for your answers.  Both really helpful, and exactly what I was looking for!Oct 27 11 05:24 pm Link I agree, most professionals charge half/full-day rates and some change those rates based on usage as well. Usage IE: national ad-campaign vs portfolio building. I won't hire a stylist that charges per look because it doesn't make sense. You do one look but I want you there for the full-time for touch-ups, how does that work? Oct 27 11 05:27 pm Link From your profile... elementfoto wrote: From my profile... Compensation: Interested in paid assignments (my rates are competitive.) Will consider testing with published photographers and agency represented models. Contact me with assignment particulars therefore contact me with your assignment particulars and I will give you a quote... Travel: Willing to travel outside the Washington, DC area but need travel expenses accommodated. like you... recompense is a function of multiple variables... many are dynamic in nature thus need to be allocated after a thoughtful analysis... Oct 27 11 05:58 pm Link This is interesting to me, as a designer. I have models contacting me constantly, wanting to "borrow" pieces for their shoots. So far, I have turned them all down. Not because I don't want to collaborate, but because I usually already have the shots I need, and I can't affored for the clothing to be "overused"-I need to sell it! But, I do have a few unusual pieces that were done for a specific show, and are more art than fashion. I would rent them, but does anyone have advice on how to charge, and how to make sure they aren't ruined during the shoot? This area is of modeling is completely foreign to me-if you have a place to send me for reading/research, I would be interested. Thanks! Oct 28 11 06:37 am Link Kimberly Andert wrote: Something the stylist usually handles, but I have seen a lot of different options. I line item it one a quote depending what is required. I have sen barrowed, requires dry cleaning, rented, and out right purchased on different items. In the cases of large designers who allow some stylist to barrow they often require a deposit or line of credit and change for any damages. Oct 28 11 06:49 am Link elementfoto wrote: This is how I charge: Oct 28 11 07:57 am Link Kimberly Andert wrote: I think it depends Kimberly on the client. I think you should rent them out at affordable prices and perhaps dedicate them to being rentals that may be ruined in the long run. If you charge a lot you may not get the clients because most people especially on mayhem can't afford to pay too much. I rent nice items for $30 with a credit card number as a deposit if it is ruined. Nov 03 11 10:41 pm Link Thanks for the input. I am going to meet with a local stylist, and see if "renting" is for me. Nov 04 11 10:13 am Link Day/half day. Not by face, brush-stroke, or hour. Kit fee is for film. Nov 04 11 06:05 pm Link the muas i work with typically charge a flat fee for one look. some of them will stay around for a while whereas others will charge extra to stay (either on an hourly or per look basis). they normally provide a bit of a volume discount if they'll be doing two people at the same session. Nov 04 11 06:15 pm Link I usually charge Half Day/ Full Day..... 175/250 However, I have had some photographers who need a quick single look, with no touch ups and they just want me in and out because they may be doing a nude shoot, so I charge $50 for something like that. I used to do kit fee's when I was starting out, just to replace disposable items, brush cleaners, etc. But I no longer do this, as I am more established now. Hope that helps. Nov 07 11 11:03 am Link Ok I'm gonna rant here for a second .. What's with makeup artist's charging by the look? What constitutes a look? what if one look is super complex and takes you 2 hours ...3 hours. what if it's easy and takes 20 min. does a lip change constitute a look? You need to charge for your time. Half or full day or testing rate. period. No doing one look, and splitting when your done, that's not how the industry works. and no one can possibly book more then one shoot a day, even if it's one look. I'm sure there are exceptions. but still. Charge for your time. Nov 07 11 05:44 pm Link Daily rate and half day rate.... simple! How long that it takes, I will supply the Make-up and paint the client supplies everything else... that means less complications let the stylist, art director do the job and stick to the brief, if the brief changes then wing it... if you can't wing it then you don't have enough equipment to do the job, I myself carry around 50 kilo's of equipment, and most people I work with carry the same... that way you will always manage to charge day and half day rates as the client will always know how flexi you are... I won't tell you mine... but I have been around rather a long time! Just keep at it and don't give up... your rate improve as you experience improves!Nov 08 11 02:02 am Link Radical Makeup by Ana wrote: just browsing by this thread and this scared me terribly. These rates are insulting ! Do some research, this topic has been covered a zillion times... eeeeeek ! ! ! Nov 08 11 09:57 am Link I charge by half day and full day rates, and all shoots start at $200.00 minimum. Shoots get charged depending on whats involved, style, how many looks, everything I am bringing/expected to bring, if its something I will or will not get any images from etc. I don't charge sourcing, as most of the time I'm sourcing 3-6 shoots all at the same time, so its no big deal to add one more. And not anything I'm not already doing. If there are extra expenses incurred they are charged to the client. And I've never had an issue with this. Most of the time nothing happens to incur extra costs for a client. But once or twice someone walked off with unpaid merchandise, and since I was hired on, the client covered those costs. Does that help? Nov 08 11 10:28 am Link elementfoto wrote: If I am working for you I am taking time away from another client and I make a day or half day regardless of that I am doing so I charge per day or half day and the rates will not change ... A commercial shoot will pay me around $750.00 to $850.00 a day, editorial will pay around $400.00 a day (but editorial generally run just a few hours) ...these are all I do anymore so I can't quote other rates as in testing or portfolio rates. My prices are in line with the average in San Diego. Does the complexity of what is required change the cost? (Hair extensions, Really crazy makeup). Do you charge a kit fee? Any extra charges? I charge you for parking if I have to pay...I charge you for anything extra you are asking for that is out of the ordinary...If I have to go buy it, I will charge for it. For instance... when I do ComiCon I often buy wigs for the talent, I find out their character and buy the wig...I charge the production company for the wig because I don't have character wigs just hanging around. When a semi or real celeb wants a particular foundation and I have to go buy it, I charge the production company and they never question it. I also charge for the shopping...If I have to go buy something my regular half day and full day apply. Production companies always pay it without question. I do discuss this upfront, I never surprise anyone with hidden costs Stylists - Do you charge for time spent acquiring items etc? Or just time on set? Any extra charges? as a stylist I charge for pre production work and this includes sizing the talent (via telephone) ... shopping...returns etc... $400.00 half day $800.00 full day for styling and pre production work is charged at about $100.00 an hour. Nov 08 11 08:42 pm Link Man after reading the above prices, I feel I must be crazy to have my prices so damn low. Mind you in Toronto, all I get are TF requests, and I'm kindda over those. Also I'm still working my way up. But its getting there. Nov 09 11 04:13 pm Link Pretty Deadly Stylz wrote: Styling is very hard work.... You lug around a styling kit, racks, steamers,hangers...You put thousands of dollars on your credit card at a time...you are responsible for wardrobe and jewelry sitting on set sometimes worth $30,000 if you're doing a good editorial or a big commercial shoot... If you are in the fashion world you have to have connections that take years to cultivate...this is worth a lot of money. Nov 11 11 05:25 pm Link I charge half day/ full day. I've met some MUAs who charge per face and I never understood the concept of why they do it that way. Kit fees should never be for shoots unless the shoot requires items that are not in a normal kit (thousands of rhinestones, ruffled amount of feathers, etc), but on my experience, stylists usually have that taken care of unless stated otherwise. Other than that, it really depends on what the job is for. Weddings and red carpet are a whole different ballgame. Film requires a kit fee, which is established when the script is broken down so the mua knows the supplies he/she will need and how much of it. Nov 13 11 12:34 am Link |
