Under Sell ?

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Permalink Reply by Greg Summers on June 23, 2008 at 3:55am

I understand your plight, it's easy to sell yourself short. I do it all the time. If all he wants are the raw images - that might be enough - anything else - charge him at the rate of min $50/an hour. Go to other sites and see what they charge - $150 for 15 minutes - add drive time and burn time. What are you making per hour.

I'd say $300 min and yet, I know how hard it is for those of us who are not established to ask too little.

A few years ago, i was invited to publish 6 of my images in the airline magazine for Delta and United's bargain airlines. There was no fee - just exposure.

I got three contacts out of it, two I already knew. It's in my resume but who knows what that's worth. It takes constant promotion to sell. The portfolio might benefit you at some point and at least your being paid for practice. Keep in mind that for many what you got was two tanks of gas.

I don't do anything for nothing anymore except if I know and am willing to make it a gift.

You are aware of this issue - and that's the first step.

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Permalink Reply by Oboy on June 23, 2008 at 4:18am

i wonder....15 minutes wedding...wow..... thats a bit quick...hehehe...i guess this couple are in a hurry to have babies....hehehe

go for it....but next time......make sure you're not under paid..... and its for the experience...and...exposure... and... portfolio....go go go...you'll love it :)

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Permalink Reply by Denny Giacobe on June 23, 2008 at 5:05am

Oboy
The client explained to me that he and his Bride to be are "Older" whatever that means, but he is not looking for anything special, Plus the shoot will be on the lake where I live and its 3 miles from my house, I may even take my boat to get there.

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Permalink Reply by Greg Summers on June 23, 2008 at 6:26am

What I meant by RAW is as is from the camera - yes, never give up the originals - RAW .

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Permalink Reply by Carrie Johnson on June 23, 2008 at 8:05am

I think Oboy's comment is apropos... IF this is a business you want to get into.

Eight years ago I was leaving as a VP in Silicon Valley & wanted to get into graphic design (my background, waaay back is in fine art). In order to get the design business running I gave away a lot of work to non-profits (still do some pro bono for them) AND did a lot of jobs really cheap for the portfolio pieces. The one thing that I did do is explain to the people who were getting the deals that these were very special deals. I asked that they DO tell everyone about me if they're happy with my work, but that they DO NOT say how much they paid, since other people won't get those deals.

Eight years later I have a thriving graphics design business based on word of mouth -- I've never done any advertising or marketing... it's all always been word of mouth 'cause that's enough to keep be busy.

The relevance of the story is... if this is a business that you want to be in I, personally, would be willing to do it for cheap or for free even IF I felt like it was going to result in 1) good portfolio pieces that I could show to other prospects and 2) I might get word of mouth referrals from the client.

We all gotta start somewhere, and sometimes it's more than profitable in the long run to give a break to those who are willing to give us a break...

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Permalink Reply by Denny Giacobe on June 23, 2008 at 9:05am

Carrie
I agree with you!! Word of mouth is a very powerfully media, and one of the reasons I did what I did, plus the person performing the ceremony is the Mayor of the next town over, not to mention the location of the shoot is smack in the middle of a tourist trap. The more I think about this the better I feel.

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Permalink Reply by Denny Giacobe on June 23, 2008 at 11:08am

Francois You are correct but I will fix that.
The more I think about this the better I feel, We agreed on 15 minutes starting at 2pm for $150, well lets say it goes 1/2 hour $300, maybe 45 minutes $450, an a hour $600!!
lets be honest how many of us make $600 an hour?? CASH??
This is called turning a lemon into lemon aid.
Not to mention the mayor of the "big city" is doing the good deed.

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Permalink Reply by Carrie Johnson on June 23, 2008 at 8:27pm

Well, it worked really well for me... as stated above, you ask the client to not reveal what they made emphasizing that they a got a really special deal... most people are so happy that they got a special deal that they are willing to comply. As long as the word gets out that you did great work. and the word does NOT get out about what you charge for this really great work, word of mouth is the best advertising that you can get.

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Permalink Reply by Ken Scribner on June 23, 2008 at 5:32pm

In reading your question and the replies a couple of things came to mind. How about quoting your client your 'full' price. Then use a legitimate reason to discount it. Perhaps they would sign a model release to allow you to use the photo(s) for stock or other outlets. Maybe the wedding cake is really unusual. Or they drive a cool car. Or the discount is simply because this is your first wedding etc. and you find the shots valuable for your portfolio. This allows you to establish the value of your images, be flexible enough to accept a job you find valuable to you and not devalue your work since your discounts are job specific and have value to you.

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Permalink Reply by Carrie Johnson on June 23, 2008 at 8:33pm

I think this makes great sense... I often do this: quote the full price they discount for various reasons since I know the client can't (won't) pay full price but the job has other pluses for me. This sounds like a fabulous chance for stock if you can get the model releases --- Oboy is very right on that this is the sort of subject that stock agencies jump at.

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Permalink Reply by Denny Giacobe on June 23, 2008 at 11:09pm

Carrie
I also want to thank you for all your comments, everyone has been very helpful I can't thank you all enough.

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Permalink Reply by Denny Giacobe on June 23, 2008 at 11:06pm

Ken
I respect your comments I will use them next time, thats why I love MSS

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