But before you get to the casting stage you will want to choose the photographer, clothes stylist and makeup artists first. My advice is to choose a team who can work with you as well as each other. You are the paying client and therefore want to be in control of the shoot, so you want to make sure that you are able to get along with the people you hire and can communicate with them easily. In this business there is always the danger that you end up working with a creative team who think they are more important than you are. One useful approach is to first choose a photographer that you like and get them to recommend a makeup artist and clothes stylist for you.
You can start by searching the Internet to look at the work of different photographers makeup artists and clothes stylists. You may find it helpful to ask colleagues whi have photographic experience which people they recommend working with. When you are ready to narrow down your decision you should then make contact to find out how much their fees and expenses will be and whether you would be comfortable working with them.
Photographer's fee
Studio & Equipment hire
Photographer's assistant fee
Studio lunch and drinks
Digital capture fee (or film and processing costs)
Polaroids (a BHA requirement)
Delivery costs
Model casting production fee
Model casting studio hire
Model fees
Makeup artist's fee
Clothes stylist's fee
Clothes and props hire
Photographic retouching work
Prints
Archive costs (CDs & DVDs)
Delivery costs
TIP
Don't forget to include other costs in your reckoning of costs. How much will the transport costs be? What about the cost to the salon in terms of lost bookings while you are away from the shop?