First commission request and I have no idea what to price it

Hey! The fact that you're already sensing "this is different from a shelf sale" means your pricing instincts are solid. Trust that feeling.

A commission isn't just a print. You're selling your eye, your time, your gas, and your willingness to show up three times because the light didn't cooperate. Price accordingly:

- Start with your retail price for that size print as the floor, not the ceiling. That number already exists, so use it as one line item.

- Add a creative fee on top for everything that isn't the physical print: scouting, travel, shoot time, editing, and revisions. Estimate your hours honestly (including the drive and the "went back because the clouds were wrong" trip), multiply by what your time is worth. $75 to $150/hr is a normal range for working photographers doing custom location shoots. If you're not sure, start at $100/hr and see how it feels when you say it out loud.

- Expenses get passed through separately: mileage, permits if the location requires one, any gear rental. Don't eat these.

- Require 50% deposit before you drive anywhere. Non-refundable against the creative fee. This protects your time if they ghost after you've already done the scouting.

- Put the scope in writing before you start, even if it's just a one-page email that says: subject, size, number of included revisions (two is standard), delivery timeline, and total price broken into deposit and balance due on delivery. Doesn't need to be a legal document. It just needs to exist so nobody's memory becomes the contract.

The part of you that wants to "just charge the print price" is underpricing the real value here. The print is the product. The commission fee is for the fact that you're the one behind the camera making creative decisions on their behalf. Those are two different things and they get two different line items.

Want help building out the actual pricing breakdown or drafting a commission agreement you can send them? Let me put it together for you

Other resources you might find helpful:

- First time pricing a custom commission piece — Multiple pricing frameworks for custom commissions—per-square-inch rates, hourly estimation, materials breakdown—directly applicable to the asker's first commission scenario.

- Adding a low-price entry point to commissions — smart or risky? — Real commission pricing data: low entry points attract price-sensitive buyers but don't convert to higher sales; raising prices and solid presentation matter more.

- Okay since the hot topic seems to be all about commissions, here's my 2 cents: — Commission framework covering written agreements, deposit requirements, and expectation-setting to protect both parties and close deals successfully.

Arty is our artist super-assistant. Trained on all things related to art business & marketing. use @arty in a post or comment to ask Arty directly. upvote & downvote to provide feedback.

Hello Malcolm,

Since this is your first commission, don't think of it as simply selling a print. You're being hired to create a custom piece. The client is choosing the location, the composition, and the creative direction, which means you're investing your time, travel, planning, photography, editing, and printing exclusively for them.

A simple pricing formula is:

Commission Fee = Creative Fee + Travel/Expenses + Editing + Large Format Print + Artist Profit

As a general guideline:

If you normally sell that print for $300, a commissioned version might reasonably be $600–$900.

If you normally sell it for $500, a commissioned version could be $900–$1,500, depending on the complexity and travel involved.

Don't be afraid to charge more for custom work. A commission is a personalized artwork created specifically for one collector, and that added value deserves a higher price than an open-edition print from your online shop.

Also consider requesting a 50% non-refundable deposit before photographing the location, with the remaining balance due before delivery of the finished print.

Hopefully this helps. Best offers luck!!!

What helped me when I started doing custom work was treating the early conversation as part of the process, not just logistics. I ask enough questions to really understand what they want, then I do a small test shoot or even just a location scout that gives me a clear picture of the actual effort involved. That scouting trip becomes my internal estimate. Once I know what the work truly demands, I can name a price I believe in. And one thing I learned the hard way: ask for half upfront before you start, and the rest before you hand over the final file or print. You don't want to be chasing payment after the work has already left your hands.

Figure how many hours it will take you to do it, starting with raw sketches, through final art and delivery. Factor in delivery costs. Then figure a reasonable hourly rate for your work (don't give it away!) Multiply the hours by the hourly rate: and maybe then by 2, as I know I usually underestimate how long a project will take.

Also: what business sector is your client in? Can they even afford to hire you? Don't let them nickel and dime you!! I was an illustrator for 15 years and I made decent money because I followed these guidelines.

Hi. Wouldn't it be the same price for similar pieces?

Congrats ,
As its a commission its a 1/1 so you probably cant sell copies of it, although that is a discussion for you and the buyer.
As has been said, it might require a couple of trips to get the light as needed and do you have the kit to deliver the large format print, ie would you need to rent a camera or lens
then there is the paper type, some get very expensive , so if they have a specific paper type in mind, its good to know this.
good luck.

As for the photo, sorry I didn't manage to crop them all.

You ask that because you are a freelance artist.

Or academically trained ?!

What is this about, dear Malcolm ???🙏

Congratulazioni per questo tuo successo ❤

Be careful with personal projects if you publish via self-publish on Medium. So I've already read article 47.2, I think, about how the source of rare information must be stored.

And if rabbits chase money and as soon as they get a glimpse of material wealth and the potential amount, they do not hesitate to steal projects in other countries.

Wait, commission from art.helper???🫨

My advice is to get a deposit up front first, just for the time it takes you to shoot at the location.

This is such familiar territory. When I first got asked to do a custom piece (a little gouache of someone's favorite café in Paris from a photo they took), I priced it basically the same as I would have sold any small painting that size. Felt safe. But the client accepted instantly, no hesitation, and I realized I'd left a lot on the table. The effort of working to someone else's vision, scouting or referencing their specific spot, making revisions, all of that has real value that your shelf price doesn't account for. My advice to myself looking back would be: push the number past where it feels comfortable. Clients who seek you out for a commission already value what you do more than you think. You're almost certainly going to underprice yourself on the first one, so aim higher than your gut says.

Your first commission request! That feeling of someone seeking out your work specifically for their vision is such a milestone. The fact that you're thinking through the real time and effort involved shows you're already approaching this like a professional.

Would you be able to then also sell this print to others?