large scale project advice

[skala67]

We just recieved an RFP for a large scale aerial project. They are looking to show a future image of what the growing towns in the SouthEast area of Phoenix AZ, (about 5 towns) will look in 20 years in a single aerial image. I have a good idea of how to achieve it, the problem we are having is how to charge for such an image. We will have to come up with basic designs of buildings based on the towns future master plans, and the scale is rather large. Typically we charge per image, but this seems to be much more in depth than any project we have had although the result is one image.

 

Any advice, suggestions, etc... would be very much appreciated. We just got the project today and need to get the proposal out by tomorrow morning. If it is more comfortable, please hit me up at tj@ledsledinc.com

 

Thanks in advance,

[Claudio Branch]

I would estimate how many hours it is going to take, add 10%-15% over that and use a flat hourly rate say $135/hr. In your contract you can specify that the final cost is not to exceed $XX,000.

 

I use this approach on several of my own projects...

[skala67]

That is definitely a good way to approach that. I am so used to charging a flat rate per image, that it is probably a good idea to change that approach ecspecially when the work is rather in depth.

 

I have low overhead (work from my house) so that should help us be competitive against larger firms.

 

Thanks for the advice...

 

look forward to hearing more ideas and experiences...

[Claudio Branch]

It sounds like a great project.

 

Good luck with it and I hope you get to share some images from it soon...

[Sindala]

I always split up the things i do in my quote. a normal project would look like this:

 

• importing and checking drawings
  
• building 3d model
  
• lighting and texturing
  
• communicating camera angle
  
• final editing (photoshop)
  
• 2 correctionround
  

 

then i just add up the hours i need and that's the price. Good clients do understand a lot more than we give them credit, sadly the bad ones dont.

[SandmanNinja]

Be sure to allocate room in the aerial viwe for the space port and hover car factories...

 

That sounds like an incredibly exciting project! Good luck

[dinhtuan]

I always split up the things i do in my quote. a normal project would look like this:

 

• importing and checking drawings
  
• building 3d model
  
• lighting and texturing
  
• communicating camera angle
  
• final editing (photoshop)
  
• 2 correctionround
  

 

then i just add up the hours i need and that's the price. Good clients do understand a lot more than we give them credit, sadly the bad ones dont.

 

WE do the same here

[ronll]

• importing and checking drawings
  
• building 3d model
  
• lighting and texturing
  
• communicating camera angle
  
• final editing (photoshop)
  
• 2 correctionround
  

 

 

I like that breakdown. Just out of curiosity, could you assign percentages to those six phases on a typical project? I know project types vary widely, but say a simple one-image commercial building exterior, how do you think it would break down?

[Horhe]

 

• importing and checking drawings
  
• building 3d model
  
• lighting and texturing
  
• communicating camera angle
  
• final editing (photoshop)
  
• 2 correctionround
  

 

Wouldnt it be easier and less time consuming if the lighting and texturing went after the 'communicating camera angle' point?

From what I read here you first get the raw images without post processing to the client?

[RobNJ73]

Wouldnt it be easier and less time consuming if the lighting and texturing went after the 'communicating camera angle' point?

From what I read here you first get the raw images without post processing to the client?

 

If I had my druthers, I'd even put 'communicating camera angle' before the 3d modeling step.

 

But that's just me... I'll take any shortcut I can get my hands on...

[Horhe]

If I had my druthers, I'd even put 'communicating camera angle' before the 3d modeling step.

 

But that's just me... I'll take any shortcut I can get my hands on...

 

Haha. yeah youre right I missed that

[Sindala]

Wouldnt it be easier and less time consuming if the lighting and texturing went after the 'communicating camera angle' point?

From what I read here you first get the raw images without post processing to the client?

 

well yes, i suppose that list isnt in the right order. we usually try to agree on the camera angle from a white phongshaded model, and after that do the rest of the work. But i do find that the clients will need to see some preview of the camera position, so it definately comes after modeling. ( a basic direction is usually agreed upon)

The worst nightmare is when all the postproduction is done and i have to tell my girlfriend that the client wanted the camera position changed and she has to re-photoshop the entire image. I suppose most working-processes are designed to please the gf in the end.

 

I like that breakdown. Just out of curiosity, could you assign percentages to those six phases on a typical project? I know project types vary widely, but say a simple one-image commercial building exterior, how do you think it would break down?

 

that's really hard, it really differs from project to project. if it's residential with front gardens for instance the post producion goes up a lot, but with a photomontage sometimes it's done in 1 hour. Same thing goes for modeling, lighting etc.