How Much Value Do You Bring To The Assignment?

So, you're looking to end up "behind the scenes" at a political campaign? No more shooting with long lenses, being told where you can - and can't - shoot from? You're looking forward to being a 17m-50mm lens user, with an all access pass. Maybe you are one of the true believers in the campaign? Whatever the reason, you're looking to become a campaign photographer, or, perhaps, you just want to make pictures of someone famous - or the soon to be infamous - and are looking to determine what you're worth? (or, what the results of your work will be worth?

(Continued after the Jump)

An e-mail landed in my inbox the other day, from the Hillary Clinton for President campaign. Mrs. Clinton is holding an event in DC on October 17th, and was looking for attendees to aid in the fundraising for her run to evolve from FLOTUS to POTUS. Fair enough.

The e-mail listed

Ticket Prices:

$2,300 VIP
Includes full-day Summit, premium Summit seating, and a photograph with Senator Hillary Clinton

$1,000 Guest
Includes full-day Summit

The e-mail invite makes it clear you will get your photo taken with Mrs. Clinton, and an actual photograph if you pay an additional $1,300. About those "premium seats?" Since the photo will, most likely, take place just prior to her taking the stage, they will hold the front row seats for those who are backstage getting their photos taken, so that you can be front and center, rather than getting the back-of-house seats because you're entering the room moments before she begins her remarks. Ok, again, no problem with the seating.

What I find most remarkable, is the value that is placed upon the 8x10 glossy you'll get. Assume a fair figure of 100 posed photos, which will take about 15 minutes - tops - to accomplish, and you're at a $130,000.00 in additional gross revenue just from those photographs. Perhaps, you'll get an added bonus of having it signed by her as well, with something akin to "Thanks for your Support", and then signed by an autopen machine (to learn more, check out this Ebay article which uses as an example, Mrs. Clinton's signature made from an autopen machine during her time at the White House.) I make no bones about political candidates' generating revenue from these types of events. Instead, I am providing this to demonstrate the potential value of an 8x10 where your subjects are depicted with a high profile political candidate.

What then, is the added-value of an 8x10 with an actual President (either a D, or an R)? They do political fundraisers all the time, and the stakes are even higher, no doubt.

The next time someone tries to place a value on the print of themselves with a VIP - whether political, or celebrity, realize that it's worth much more to them than the cost of the print plus a nominal markup. It could be worth hundreds (or a thousand) of dollars to them, for the wall of fame in their office. And, by the time they call you because you just happened to be in the right place at the right time to capture it, they've probably already got the space picked out on their wall for it.

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