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|| SportsShooter.com: Member Message Board
Freelancers: Required Reading
Bryan Curtis, Photographer
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Plainville | CT | USA | Posted: 6:29 AM on 04.08.09 |
->> Great link and quick read.
Looks like this site has some good info. I just bookmarked it. Thanks Guy. |
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Jason Jump, Photographer
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Humble | TX | USA | Posted: 2:39 PM on 04.08.09 |
->> Another great article on "theory", but in "reality" it doesn't always work like that.
If you are trying to feed your family and you can work for $500 or sit at home on your principals for $1000 doesn't make a lot of sense to me.
I guess it all boils down to whether the one offering the service really has a "need" for the work. If there is no need then yes one can hold out I suppose and hope that something else comes along.
But if one needs money to pay the light bill then it's probably not a good idea to pass up work. At least it doesn't make much sense to me. |
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Michael Fischer, Photographer
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Spencer | Ia | USA | Posted: 4:25 PM on 04.08.09 |
->> I'm in the middle of writing a piece on "how to" pricing that answers your problem Jason.
Most of the pricing problems out there stem from ignorance; ignorance on one's true costs, ignorance on how to use real costs to make real profit, ignorance on business practices.
I'm targeting the article towards people who have little business skills.
And for the record, I'm not preaching theories. More like 30 years of pricing experience and the ability to develop strategies and the corresponding tactics.
As Manuel would say "stay tuned". |
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Michael Fischer, Photographer
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Spencer | Ia | USA | Posted: 4:38 PM on 04.08.09 |
->> I forgot to mention, the article is DEAD on the mark. One's willingness to cut price easily is a sure sign you charged too much in the first place.
When faced with a similar situation, we promise to work with the customer. We don't automatically cave in. It's the very worse thing you can do.
Why?
Because a certain percentage of them ( a high percentage) will then go back and see if they can get the other party to cut some more. Then they come back to you. Then what do you do? Cut some more. Don't laugh, it happens EVERY DAY.
NOT the kind of situation you want to be in, trust me. Part of a good pricing strategy is to build a percentage in for "marketing" cost that gives you a buffer.
If the customer has $500 to spend, then you should see what they really want. Maybe three hours completes the job. If so, then you're looking at $167/hour.If your costs are $100 per hour, then you're doing good.
If, on the other hand, you're looking at 20 hours work, you should quote them what the job is really worth or suggest they try someone "lesser skilled" (that's a great line btw).
You'll be a commodity if you treat yourself like one.
The other hidden cost, Jason, is if you take the job and it takes 20 hours and then someone has another assignment that pays better and you can't take it because you've already committed to the bad assignment, then what do you do? |
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Tom Davenport, Photographer
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Hayden | ID | USA | Posted: 5:08 PM on 04.08.09 |
->> Jason, I hear you.
Funny, the coffee bean image has no photo credit. The photog probably forgot to negotiate that in with his price. I wonder how much the blog paid for that photo? Or maybe they "found" it for free.
Tom |
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Phil Hawkins, Photographer
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Fresno | ca | usa | Posted: 5:12 PM on 04.08.09 |
| ->> ...or maybe he took the shot himself. |
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Tom Davenport, Photographer
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Hayden | ID | USA | Posted: 5:36 PM on 04.08.09 |
->> Phil, yes I have been thinking about just that. Maybe the image we make is the commodity he speaks of. And maybe he is using the lack of a photo credit as a subtle illustration. It just seems that a piece on the business of photography would have the Is dotted and the Ts crossed, such as a photo credit even if it said "Photo by Author." Or maybe I missed it somewhere. Lord knows, I'm no expert.
Tom |
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Sam Morris, Photographer
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Henderson (Las Vegas) | NV | USA | Posted: 9:05 PM on 04.08.09 |
| ->> Reminds me of a conversation I had at a banquet a number of years ago. I started chatting with the man next to me and he said he used to do industrial and corporate photography. He was getting older and didn't want to have to crawl around and haul so much gear about so he thought he would price himself out of the market by doubling his rates. It didn't work - he ended up getting more jobs. After a couple more years he eventually stopped and just started shooting weddings in his retirement. |
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Guy Rhodes, Photographer
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East Chicago | IN | USA | Posted: 4:37 PM on 04.09.09 |
->> Tom,
As I said when I posted the link, I found this article posted on a lighting design message board. The article itself never mentions photography, but applies to all freelancers in general. How do you know the coffee bean photo is not a legally acquired and licensed stock image? |
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