Pricing for social media

[Lone Star]

A ski area business I have close ties with is interested in having me provide a steady stream of images for them to use on social networking sites. This would include some "good" skiing and scenery shots but also a decent number of shots of white-outs during storms, snow piling up on tables, and that sort of thing--- Stuff that might get run through instagram filters. I have done some googling and am having trouble coming up with any sort of guidelines or suggestions on reasonable pricing for this sort of endeavor. Anybody have any experience with this?

[Edgnar]

No experience, but I'm looking to start to do the same type of service. Let me know what you end up charging, if you don't mind.

[Anthem]

Kind of a captain hindsight comment, but always try to qualify a budget in the initial conversation. Businesses are used to discussing that upfront with new ideas and programs, and it is a massive win to have someone come back with a proposal having not mentioned anything about budget.

Things to consider:
What would this cost them if they had a current employee running this program
How valuable is your photography skill set and time
How much wealth is this going to create for them?

[Rideski]

Is this going to be your primary client; or can you use this to leverage more business from others? Will you have a non compete? Will they? Term of contract? Paid on delivery daily/weekly/monthly?

[Hott Butt Mud]

Send an email to Dave Amirault. That dude knows resort social media.

Have an initial meeting where you can get an idea for their budget and what they are looking for (if you haven't done this already). Tell them you will get back to them in a week with your proposal.

Next meeting, provide the business you want to work for with a 'scope of services' proposal. Basically, create a document outlining what you will be providing, how often, forms of media, number of shots, style, applications, etc., etc. Be as detailed as possible and leave room for 'other services available as needed' or something like that. Tell them this is a rough outline and can be changed. Put your bottom line price at the end (probably something in the thousands, right?). Include begin and end date of the contract.

[kathleenturneroverdrive]

Can't hurt to ask for a ballpark from the client. That way you'll know that they want a super legit product, or just you running around with your iphone and grabbing a snapshot every once in a while.

That said are you a pro photog? Social media guru? Do you want to be either of those things? Or is this just some extra cash?

[Lone Star]

I'm a hobbyist that set up a small business because enough people were interested in buying some images. No interest in social media guru-dom but have considered spending more of my time trying to pay a few bills with photography work. There probably won't be any noncompetes involved and the client is willing to plug or tag my business on the images they publish.

Thanks for the helpful suggestions. I'd be curious to know how people value the "crappy" images they sell (high value for advertising esp. in social media but nothing you would hang on your wall) in comparison to the good stuff.

[Supermoon]

The obvious answer is that your stuff is worth exactly what someone is willing to pay for it.

Lots of times the shots for ads and catalogs will pay a lot more than the "great" images that get covers on magazines.