When I started shooting 3 years ago I shot for $100 a set but the clients ordered 100 sets for complete solo sites.
Those clients also paid for models/locations/clothing
Thats 10k for me and 10k for the model (and the model usually got 2k worth of clothes for the shoots).
We shot it all in about 15-20 days. That is pretty decnt pay.
Now I shoot for big companies like met-art and onlytease that pay even more per set. They don't order 100 sets at a time unfortunately or I would be doing much better.
Mainstream guys are getting paid $500 to shoot video or stills. If I can't make more then that in profit each time I shoot then I just don't shoot.
Just recently a big company hired me on board to begin shooting for their program. They agreed to my rate but then after had models picked out for shoots tried to lower my rate to $400 a day for shooting video and stills. I do like shooting hardcore, but I can make 3 X what they are offering shooting for my current clients. I have seen guys that will shoot for almost nothing for these companies, but their shit comes out looking subpar every time.