Photoshop lessons, how much to charge?

Hotlead Junkie

I was asked last night at work to help someone's freind who works for a website design company how to use the more complicated features of Photoshop and generally teach them how to use it. I'd usually do this sort of thing as a favour to people I know (I don't know this guy), but the subject of how much I want paying for my services came up and I really don't know how much is a reasonable amount to ask for per hour. It sounds like a stupid question but every time I ask how much I charge for my services regarding making graphics for people or doing things like this I really don't know where to begin. Any suggestions? As a note, I live in England so anything in £ would be helpful.

Like I said, this is probably a dumb question but I don't want to get screwed over or seem like a greedy asshole, I would of probably done this as a favour to people I know, but if I can get into a habit of charging a reasonable amount for my services, this sort of thing may be a nice source of income.

Thanks.

Recoil42

"Lessons" for just about anything in general tend to go for around $30(CDN)/hr, more or less depending on the specific skill... The internets says that's about £13, so I would say anything from £10-15 per hour would be fair.

Drez

That...seems pretty cheap. My friend gets 50 bucks an hour (USD) for grade-school math tutoring, and this is a much more specialized skill.

I wouldn't train someone for an hour on anything for 10 pounds unless it was the kama sutra (and she was hot). I'd do that for free. Anything else? No way, Jose.

EggyToast

Is this a part of your job or a "freelance" thing? For freelance, depending on your skill level and experience, charging £30/hr shouldn't be unreasonable. But you gotta be prepared and get to work! As in, have a set of templates and objectives set up that you can actually teach, rather than just showing up.

Of course, if you just feel like showing up and kind of fumbling along, charge £10 or £15.

Either way, it's best to develop a sort of "syllabus" and get a general understanding of how much the person already knows, so you know where to take such lessons. Tell them that you can get a lot done in an hour, as long as this isn't "help me finish my class project" type of stuff. But if you're a prepared teacher and have files you can use for examples to quickly teach the more complicated aspects of photoshop, £30 should be reasonable for 1-on-1 tutelage.

Hotlead Junkie

I'll sum up how this job came about. I work at a bar and last night one of the regulars has heard I have done a graphics course. I'd been using photoshop for about 4 years by this point and they said they have a freind who works for their website design company who is struggling whith PS. They asked if I'd be willing to turn up at his home on tuesday and help him with using the programs tools and such. I'm getting the picture that this guy has only used it for a couple of weeks and knows the very basics, but struggles doing anything more complicated, like making effective use of the pen/stroke tool was one example, plus, adding fade effects to things. I really don't know anything more than that right now.

EDIT: I know what I'm doing as I'v taken a graphics course and have been using the program for another two years, I don't have a 'lesson plan' but I'v taught people how to use Maya and these people really improved. As long as I know what they want to do in the program, I can easily guide them through how to do it.

Drez

I would ask for at least $40/hr. in that case. I don't know enough about British social economics to tell you what a price point would be...I mean I know that 40 USD is roughly, what, 25 British pounds? But you might be able to get away with 40 British pounds anyway...aren't your prices inflated because of the value of your currency?

Well, whatever it means to you, I'd likely ask for 40-50 USD. And since I'm a pussy and always undercut myself, I'd probably ask for 40 USD per hour, but you don't have to.

crake

Depends on your skill level. (which can't be estimated without seeing your portfolio)

I'd be inclined to charge 25 per hour though. (pounds - I just realized I have no idea how to make the little "L") This assumes intermediate skill level. If you're an expert in demand, you could bump that up to 50 though.