Understanding pay to photographers in cultural work

In the spring of 2024 Did the chain table Photography commissioned a survey by research firm Social Finance Matters. The results are in the report
‘A Sharper Picture. Outcomes survey of compensated and non-compensated work on assignments by professional independent photographers for cultural institutions.’

Practice tool

View and download here the new fair pay tool from the chain table Photography:

• Survey report: ‘A Sharper Picture. Outcomes survey of compensated and non-compensated work on assignments by professional independent photographers for cultural institutions’. April 2024. Social Finance Matters.

A sharper picture

Many cultural commissions, lower rates
There were 279 respondents. Of these photographers, 50% performed at least 10 assignments for cultural institutions in the past two years. But proportionally, they realized more turnover from assignments within other sectors. 60% charged a lower rate for cultural institutions than for other clients.

Current hourly rates do not cover all costs
A photographer spends an average of 19 hours on an assignment, including 7 hours on the photo shoot.
The average hourly rate billed at cultural institutions is €80 excluding VAT. Such a billed hour often includes more than one hour of work (considering pre-work, after-work), but there are also many activities that remain unreimbursed. Such as advance consultations, (be) searching for locations, hiring third parties and afterwards multiple photo edits, specific delivery etc.

Desired rate mostly non-negotiable
Had the photographer included all work in the time that could be billed, the average hourly rate would come to €119 excluding VAT. 61% of the photographers estimate that this desired rate would not have been negotiable with the client. Nearly half therefore do not charge for certain activities and costs.

No single financial career path
Older and more experienced photographers can often charge higher rates than young and starting photographers. But the spread also increases with age: rates appear to be both higher and lower.

Client and colleagues determining
The client’s financial offer and a comparison with the rates of fellow photographers are the most important sources for photographers in determining their own rates.

Terms and conditions and license fees
Most photographers formalize an assignment by preparing an offer and sending along general terms and conditions. The use of the photographs is also clearly communicated in advance. Still, few work with license fees for such use.
Only 10% often charge such a fee, while 67% of photographers never do.

Fair Practice!
Although photographers consider fair pay an important issue, a significant portion (31%) are unaware of the existence of the Fair Practice Code in the cultural sector. The chain table Photography is trying to change that.