Photo Shoot Questions: Rates, Process, Team, Experience, and more | Gilmour Photography

So, you’ve decided on your perfect photographer for a photoshoot and you’ve chosen Gilmour Photography (great choice by the way). You’re ready to book your photoshoot and we’re so excited to work with you – but you have photo shoot questions you need answers, read on.

What is your photography day rate?

We estimate costs for all our photography on a project-by-project basis based on the requirements of each project. Our photography day rates start at $1700 per day plus expenses for items like photo assistants, props, stylists, backgrounds, studio rental, scouting, crane rental, travel, parking, etc. The photography half-day rates start at $1300 plus expenses.

Post-production fees for processing the RAW photography, photo retouching and illustration are billed separately.

Licensing fees are based on the publishing region, print run, display type, and length of license. This varies widely based on the client needs.

About Brett Gilmour and Gilmour Commercial Photography

What is your process?

Gilmour Photography partners with clients to plan, produce and edit custom photography that fits your message. Our process to achieve that has three phases:

1. Pre-Production: client briefings, scheduling, permitting, casting, location scouting, lighting scouting, set-building, equipment rentals, location rentals, special insurance, wardrobe, and layouts.
2. Production: photography.
3. Post-Production: archiving, choosing selects, proofing, editing, retouching, and image delivery.

We match our level of support to the size and budget of each photography project.  We use the most advanced photography equipment to deliver photography that is ready for print and electronic communications.

During the shoot, clients can see images on a monitor as they are created. This ensures clients are confident the photos convey their message in a visually compelling way.

How many people are on your team?

Our team varies from 2 to 10 people or more and scales up or down depending on the requirements of the job. On a shoot, there’s always a photographer and first assistant. Some shoots require more expertise and when they do, we bring in our talented stylists for hair, makeup, wardrobe, and food; second assistants and production assistants. On more complex shoots, we use a producer to keep all the moving parts moving in the right direction. The producer ensures everyone is on time, on budget, and that the photo crew can focus on creativity and photography.

What is your level of experience?

Since 1996, I have been partnering with advertising agencies, companies, and magazines to create location photography of architecture, people, and places. My images have been featured in a variety of advertising campaigns and magazine around the world. My photography has been honoured with three Gold Nugget Awards for Architectural Photography, the highest honour in North America.

Do you have any professional certifications?

I’ve been a peer reviewed member of CAPIC – Canadian Association of Professional Image Creators, EP – Editorial Photographers, TOPA – Travel and Outdoor Photographers and PPOC – Professional Photographers of Canada. I’ve been on the boards of the CAPIC Prairies Chapter, the Graphic Designers of Canada – Southern Alberta Chapter, the PPOC Central Alberta Chapter.

Some Of Our Clients

Are you properly insured?

Yes, Gilmour Photography is fully covered with liability and business insurance as well as by the WCB (Workers’ Compensation Board). This makes it easier for our clients to check all of the boxes on their safety requirements and helps everyone maintain their safety records.

Whether our staff are working on your pipeline, drill rig, office, construction site; in our photo studio; or shooting aerials from a helicopter with the doors off, our photographer and support staff will be fully covered by Gilmour Photography’s WCB Alberta coverage.

What’s included in a typical photo-shoot? Are styling and makeup included?

At our highest service level, we budget for a light study, location scouting, a site walk-through, time for planning the best light and ways to execute the shots, and multiple weather days. On a basic shoot, we do a quick walk-through then start shooting. I generally work with 1 photo assistant for equipment management, to handle the digital files and as a back-up to complete the shoot.

A photo assistant will be on hand to manage equipment and prep people for their shot. We bring equipment backups, so we can keep shooting if something breaks or fails. We also backup the images from the shoot on-site to safe-guard them from loss and provide an interactive gallery online and downloadable proofs from the shoot within 5 days

Additional services we can provide include:

• Photographic prints from the photo shoot
• Facebook Timeline or Coverpage images created for each partner
• Images resized for various social media output
• Hair and makeup stylist
• Wardrobe stylist
• Prop stylist
• Location scouting
• Permits for location use

Where would we shoot: at your studio or my location?

The location of any photo-shoot depends on the client’s needs. Gilmour Photography offers in-studio services, but we pride ourselves in keeping your business running smoothly by setting up a mobile photo studio at your location if needed.

How do you describe your photographic style?

Most people refer to my style as clean, natural, and sharp. The distinctive part of my style is that you won’t be able to see the added studio lighting and Photoshop work even when it’s very extensive.

Timelines

How are the photos delivered?

Images are delivered directly to our clients via our private and secured web portal. We can provide image access to multiple stakeholders like your advertising agency, marketing department, printer, retouching house, etc. Each image is named and keyworded using SEO best practices for searchability so they are rank higher on Google and are easily searchable  in your database.

How long will the shoot take?

You know the answer, it depends. It depends on the scale of the shoot. In general, most corporate photo shoots require 60 minutes to setup and 60 minutes to tear down plus the time for the photography and styling. For location photoraphy happening at your office, warehouse,  or business plan for at least half a day.

What is your availability?

Generally, we book projects 2-3 weeks in advance, during summer some weeks are booked 3-4 months in advance. Check availability in our online calendar.

What kind of gear do you shoot with?

We use a variety of top of the line equipment by Hasselblad, Nikon, Manfrotto, Canon, Profoto, Hensel, and Adobe.

If you have more photo shoot questions you need answered call our studio at 403-540-5530 or email us.