Commissioned Work
- How does it work?
I am often asked about doing a private shoot with a single client, or a couple.
Yes, I am happy to accommodate you. I tell you all about it right here. I have
done this many, many times for singles and couples, and they have been quite
pleased with the results. Of course, most people are a bit concerned about the
costs.
The cost: - It depends a lot upon the size and how many prints you may want,
as well if these images are solely for yourself, or if they may be published.
Most of my clients end up giving me publishing rights for certain images and
keeping others "for themselves". This always results in a discount
on the total cost.
I never do a shoot without first meeting with my client. I bring a portfolio
with a number of large prints so you can see what the final "output"
looks like. A relaxed meeting at a place of your choice offers you and your
husband/wife/significant other (if you care to have him/her come along - if
this is a surprise gift, I guess you will not) a chance to get a good idea of
who I am and vice versa.
Is this shoot going to be of your self only or are you contemplating a "duo"
session as well? If so I wish to set it up as two separate shoots - you first
and then the two of you. Sometimes we find we have such a nice time I end up
doing not one or two but several sessions. Normally I set aside two days for
a shoot.
If possible, I'd like an outline of the "kind" of images you are looking
for - are you interested in more "art" type images or do you have
specific images in your mind? Some of my clients have some ideas of what they
want but most leave it "all" to me. In the end it hopefully - usually
- becomes a collaboration between me and the "subject".
I propose that I come to you for the shoot - I presume you have a house/condo/apartment
in Anytown - in any case - to do these images it will be better to be in a "home
milieu". That's the way I normally do these shoots - unless you have a
specific setting in mind. I am able to do very varied images in such a setting
- some images will look as if they were taken in a resort/exclusive setting
- others as if they were taken in a studio...
Do you have any idea what sizes you'd want the finished pieces, ie. 8 x 10,
11 x 14, 11 x 17, 13 x19, 16 x 20, 16x 24, or larger? In addition to the prints
I normally supply the client with a CD/DVD of all the finished images. I recommend
larger and fewer images rather than a number of smaller prints unless you wish
to put a book together. A word of warning - most clients end up purchasing more
prints than they originally contracted for...=*^)
As to the cost - to be honest, it's not uncommon for a couple to spend around
$2,000 - $5,000 on a shoot. But, some shoots can be had for around $1,000--
while those who have the money might spend thousands more. Again, a lot will
depend on the sizes and number of images you choose.
Once we have finished the shoot(s), it will take me about two weeks to finish
off the images I select. I then meet with you or send you a CD/DVD or upload
those images to a secure web location so you can contemplate the images and
select the ones you wish to have printed. Once the selection is complete, it
normally takes me another two weeks to print the selected images. I wish to
stress that this is a highly private and discrete process. I do all of the processing
of the originals and most of the printing myself. Only in the case of very large
prints do I hand that over to a close associate of mine - a highly regarded
professional printer.
Thank you again for your appreciation of my work and your faith in me as an
artist.
Yours,
Christer
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