Proud of Myself - Declined A Low Paying Gig

[Cinka]

Today I got an email from a potential client. She mentioned she was on a budget and when I asked her what it was, she said she wanted to hire someone for under $1000, but was finding it difficult to find someone. Feeling charitable, I said that if she thought she could do $1000 even, I could help her out. She said no.

My usual response would be to take what I can get, but I had the forethought to remind myself that I can no longer afford to take low paying gigs, let alone in the dead of Summer. I feel pretty proud of myself for standing up for my rates. Sure I could use the money, but I feel that if I don't start charging what I'm worth, I'll never make it in this biz.

Yay. Just thought I'd share.

 

[Bitter Jeweler]

Feels good to say "no, sorry", don't it?

 

[imagemaker46]

I suppose I would have had to look at the factors invloved here, how easy was the shoot, how much time were they looking to book you for and what are the chances of future work. These days being flexable with rates can end up getting you more work, money is money in the real world. 15 years ago I used to say that I wouldn't take my camera out of the bag for less than $500, things have since changed, thanks to digital and the amateurs that are now playing weekend professionals. I hold a line on rates, but don't turn down any money now. I charge based on assignment and time, if it's a quick shoot I won't charge as much and usually end up landing a client that keeps coming back. If you turned down anything close to a $1000 and didn't have anything else to shoot that day, you through away money plus future potential.

 

[tirediron]

Good for you!

 

[GerryDavid]

You could offer her something for $999.99. Thats under $1000, well before tax.

I think what the event is also matters. Its something easy and doesnt take alot of time behind the computer or camera then a $500 gig could be worth it.

 

[c.cloudwalker]

Without any idea of the type of shoot, I find it hard to congratulate you...

If it was a wedding, sure, absolutely congrats.

If it was a headshot, it would have been worth going somewhat under the $1,000 fee.

 

[KAikens318]

I often forget that what seems like a lot of money to me usually isn't to the client. I would not have turned it down even if she went down to five hundred, but then again, that is a car payment, insurance payment, plus cell phone or another bill for me. I was contact to do a small wedding, less that fifty people, five hours max, no before getting ready photos or anything. I decided to high ball it and see what happened. Told them my usual rate is $1200 for a larger wedding, but since this was a smaller one, I would do it for $800 with a CD included and they went for it with no hesitation. My last wedding was 7 hours and I got $350 for it, so I was happy.

I think it really depends on what type of shoot you turned down and how much work it really would have involved. But sometimes...it feels really good to say, sorry, you can't afford me

 

[xjoewhitex]

Something that I have yet to be able to do lol. But I am curious, what is the job you turned down that it wasn't worth $-1k?

 

[PhotoWrangler]

I decided to high ball it and see what happened. Told them my usual rate is $1200 for a larger wedding, but since this was a smaller one, I would do it for $800 with a CD included and they went for it with no hesitation. My last wedding was 7 hours and I got $350 for it, so I was happy.

$1200 for a LARGE package?!?

$350 and you were happy with it?!?

Are you kidding me?

 

[KAikens318]

I decided to high ball it and see what happened. Told them my usual rate is $1200 for a larger wedding, but since this was a smaller one, I would do it for $800 with a CD included and they went for it with no hesitation. My last wedding was 7 hours and I got $350 for it, so I was happy.

$1200 for a LARGE package?!?

$350 and you were happy with it?!?

Are you kidding me?

I have only shot 2 weddings in my life so I don't feel I have the right to charge a lot even though my photos do come out nice (just not AS nice as someone who has been doing this for years and years and is able to charge the high prices). I was not happy with the $350 after I edited the 1000 photos that were taken, but at that point, everything was done and over with. All of the upcoming weddings that I have booked are $1200-$1500 except for that one which is the $800 and a 2 hour wedding for $500. After this year I will be able to raise my prices because I will have 5 more weddings under my belt.

 

[KmH]

I'm usually able to adjust my price, by providing less time, product, and/or service to the prospective customer. Stated another way, the first words I usually utter are, "Sure, I can do that.", and then negotiate.

As c.cloudwalker pointed out, without some particulars it's hard to determine if the OP made a good business decision, or not.

 

[PhotoWrangler]

After this year I will be able to raise my prices because I will have 5 more weddings under my belt.

If you think pricing is based on experience, you're in for a very short career. Experience is only a crumb in the pie plate.

How about:

-equipment cost, first and foremost
-equipment maintenance
-equipment repairs
-equipment insurance
-owners compensation
-employee compensation
-studio rent (if applicable)
-liability insurance
-product hard costs (albums, prints etc.)
-editing time
-shooting time
-consultation time
-hard drive space
-memory cards
-dvd's
-dvd' cases (custom or generic)
-self employment taxes!!!

And thats just the beginning!

If I could base my prices on my experience alone, i'd be a flippin millionaire.

 

[PhotoWrangler]

I have only shot 2 weddings in my life so I don't feel I have the right to charge a lot even though my photos do come out nice (just not AS nice as someone who has been doing this for years and years and is able to charge the high prices). .

And what you charge, isn't a 'right'. It isn't something that you willy nilly pull out of the air because you think you are worth "x" amount of money. Its a carefully calculated formula that takes into account all of the above, and then some.

#1 rule beginners make is charge what THEY think they could afford, or what their work is worth. Ask any full time, professional photographer who has been doing this a while, and most will tell you they they couldn't afford themselves.

 

[imagemaker46]

The biggest problems with amateurs that are working full time jobs outside of photography is that they can first of all, afford to buy the gear, second of all, don't have to charge as much because they aren't dealing with eveything else that goes along with trying to work full time as a photographer, and they have a regular pay cheque coming in. Digital changed everything and over the past 5 years it has gotten worse for alot of full time professionals. I know way too many that are seeing their work drop off in huge chunks, some have had to close their studios and work from their homes, these are photographers with decades of experience. The standard with which people used to expect has been lowered, people will now accept mediocre as good, because they don't see the difference anymore.

I have some great clients that respect the work I do for them, I have lost some clients because someone on their staff has decided they can do the job, they quickly prove the opposite and I end up charging them more to fix the mistake. I adjust my fees based on job and not so much on an hour/day/week rate, offering up packages for events, plus charge digital and computer time as well now. The bottom line is that I used to turn down some jobs, now I take eveything that comes my way and negotiate out a fee that works for both myself and the client. Working is better than not working, and each job you accept offers the potential of meeting new people that may turn into potential clients.

The full time job amateurs with cameras playing in the pro market have no understanding what they are doing to the professional business, and for the most part they don't really care. Sadly it is the way photography has changed.

 

[KAikens318]

The biggest problems with amateurs that are working full time jobs outside of photography is that they can first of all, afford to buy the gear, second of all, don't have to charge as much because they aren't dealing with eveything else that goes along with trying to work full time as a photographer, and they have a regular pay cheque coming in. Digital changed everything and over the past 5 years it has gotten worse for alot of full time professionals. I know way too many that are seeing their work drop off in huge chunks, some have had to close their studios and work from their homes, these are photographers with decades of experience. The standard with which people used to expect has been lowered, people will now accept mediocre as good, because they don't see the difference anymore.

I have some great clients that respect the work I do for them, I have lost some clients because someone on their staff has decided they can do the job, they quickly prove the opposite and I end up charging them more to fix the mistake. I adjust my fees based on job and not so much on an hour/day/week rate, offering up packages for events, plus charge digital and computer time as well now. The bottom line is that I used to turn down some jobs, now I take eveything that comes my way and negotiate out a fee that works for both myself and the client. Working is better than not working, and each job you accept offers the potential of meeting new people that may turn into potential clients.

The full time job amateurs with cameras playing in the pro market have no understanding what they are doing to the professional business, and for the most part they don't really care. Sadly it is the way photography has changed.

I am going to interject a tad on your first sentence. I work a regular full time job but I certainly am having hard time affording the equipment. I want to make photography full time, and this year it looks like I am well on my way as I am pretty booked, however just because I have another job doesn't mean that I am a hobbyist that can afford this stuff. I agree to a degree however that the people who don't want to make a living out of it and just do it for fun seem to have a lot more money to throw around. I sold a vintage lens to a guy who didn't really like photography but thought it was kind of neat to pass the time and had gone out and bought himself a D7000...something I know many a pro are drooling over.

In response to Christopher Coy: I don't have as much to insure, so the cost is pretty low for that. I don't have a studio, I don't have employees. I never hire a second shooter unless a client requests it, but if they do, the price certainly goes up so that I can pay that second shooter well for their time and effort. Once this is a full time job for me you better believe that my prices will be higher as I have to pay rent somehow!!! Do I want to upgrade my equipment? Well of course, who doesn't always want something bigger and shinier? Right now the only thing that I need is the D7000. I have some great lenses in my wheelhouse for all kinds of occasions, 4 strobes, wireless triggers, backdrops, umbrellas, brollies, stands, remotes, tripods, props, the whole nine yards. All I am really interested in getting into full time is Sports photography. I have everything I need for that except for a better low light camera and the job. Lol. I do see where you are coming from though that there are a lot of costs associated with this. To me, bringing in $1200 from one event is my rent and car payment for the month that I don't have to take from my paychecks from my other job and for me that is huge. We all come from different walks of life. Some live paycheck to paycheck like me, others are very comfortable. It all depends on the photog I guess!