Photographers who invoice hourly should provide you with a cost estimate. Depending upon the studio overhead a photographer bears, you can expect studio time to cost anywhere from $125 an hour to a few thousand dollars for a full day's (10hr) work. To this the photographer will add all his other expenses.

The second method common to professional photographers is to offer a flat 'per item' price. Currently, this is about $120-$450 for photographing ten pieces, with a $50-$100 set-up fee. Copyright laws protect the rights of a photographer. Aclient cannot reproduce his work without permission and compensation. When you deal with a photographer make sure the issues of copyright have been discussed and agreed upon.

Jewelers are usually confused when a photographer informs them that they don't own the rights to the photographs they have just paid for. We get calls from jewelry companies complaining that a photographer they just worked with told them they would have to pay additional fees to use an image they have already paid for. Many photographers are charging for the rights to use an image in additional mediums other than stated in the contract.

Although the copyright law provides absolute protection, wisdom needs to be exercised. Digital Jeweller always provides an estimate prior to commencing a job that reflects the copyright issue and additional cost that may be waived or applied. 

GETTING THE MOST FOR YOUR MONEY
When you negotiate with a photographer, I'd suggest that you negotiate to get all rights to all uses of the images. This means that you will get all of the digital files of your jewelry and you can use the material you just paid for in a multiple ways without additional negotiations with the photographer.

Producing high-quality digital jewelry photography is a collaborative process between the photographer and the client. Working with a responsible and talented photographer can be the best way to get high-quality jewelry photography and save your capital for inventory.

Photography is a highly competitive field. This is because there are more people who want to be photographers than there is work to support them. Only the most skilled, those with the best business ability, and those who have the best reputations are able to find jobs or attract enough work to support themselves.

P.S. According to the U.S. Department Bureau of Labor Statistics photographers held about 63,140 jobs in 2005. Most of them worked in and around large cities. More than 1 out of 2 were self-employed, a much higher proportion than the average for all occupations and 90% earned and hourly wage of $24.

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