...Advice? Is this legit?

[ShirleyShutter]

Hi Shirley,

I was looking for a photographer to take some Lifestyle photography, i would be using it for magazine covers and consumer product packages. I was wondering whether you could give me a business forum, with a guide price of the shoot and a suitable location.

As i am well experienced i was wondering what gear you shoot with.
I hope to hear from your team soon.


Many Thanks
Jim

~~~~~~~

The images would appear in several hundred magazines across the globe promoting a new product, energizer sports wear. I would like shots of lifestyle type shots of people using and wearing the clothes. I would like to spend a day or more shooting, the final results would require atleast 10 images. I would be willing to pay £4,000 GBP which currently is around $8,000 USD for the total shoot. For this payment an extra $100 will be given so the company has full rights to the images, meaning they would now own the images. I will be over in the US around April 10th - 23rd. By that time you will have had enough time to upgrade your gear.

I am unsure why you do not give out CD's. This is probably the only way to give images, it seems extremly unprofessional and slightly bizzare.

I will be consulting other professionals, so please send me a business forum with terms, conditions and other revelant information. Until we get basics coverd i will be emailing you from my personal address, once terms are agreed i will ask the company to email you personally.


Regards;
Jim

[sspellman]

Jim,

This scenario and pricing is in line with a 1-2 day commercial shoot. I would guess that the budget would be expected to cover models, stylists, locations, transportation, etc. if this seems unusual, its because you probably do not do much work like this. The only thing that might raise a concern is why would the potential client pick you if you do not have a substantial portfolio of commercial lifestyle work.

While your photography might be really good-If you are unfamiliar with the business of commercial photography shoots, then this seems like a bigger project than you can handle well.

-Scott

[transcend]

He seems slightly confused on how pricing works at the very least. Doesn't sound legit to me. No legit marketing rep would find it bizarre that you do not give out CDs, as most operate via FTP with their photographers.

Also, $100 for full rights to the image on top of an already high payment? The day rate may indeed add up to $8000, but what the heck is the $100 for?

Something seems not so legit about this guy. If you have to ask...

[ShirleyShutter]

He seems slightly confused on how pricing works at the very least. Doesn't sound legit to me. No legit marketing rep would find it bizarre that you do not give out CDs, as most operate via FTP with their photographers.

Also, $100 for full rights to the image on top of an already high payment? The day rate may indeed add up to $8000, but what the heck is the $100 for?

Something seems not so legit about this guy. If you have to ask...

1. I dont know if it IS Legit, so I'm asking to be sure its not some molestor.
2. No I dont have much experience with commercial photography, nor my portfolio has many.
3. He did not tell me the name of the magazine, only the product.
4. I casually mentioned between the lines I was a serious Teenage photographer [because i honestly am...], and I still want to know the reason of his still wanting to hire me...its unusual, not impossible, but im curious.

[BradM]

While this may be legit, I really doubt it based on my number of years as a law enforcement officer.

I am afraid this is just another variant of the Nigerian scam: "I want to buy your whatever, and here is a cashiers check for the amount I owe you and some extra please just cash it and send me back the excess".

In every case the check will be fraudulent, and the person cashing it is responsible for reimbursing the entire amount. Usually this scam takes place by mail but more and more are happening face to face, where the dirtbag accompanies you to the bank for their excess portion.

Many banks will attempt to verify a cashier check but by law they are to be treated as cash and immediately redeemable, so getting a verification can be difficult at best, particularly from those overseas.

Recently in the PNW several people have been taken by a similar scam from a supposed business person who was using fake cashiers checks and phony business cards to steal thousands of dollars from them.

If this the client wants to pay in this manner, you have to have the check at LEAST 3 weeks prior to the shoot to allow your bank to verify its legitimancy and don't spend any of the monies or it will come back to haunt you.

[short5]

Sounds bizarre to me. No one in their right mind would approach an unknown shooter with that offer unless they were looking for something. They could hire an established professional firm for that price. Why would they contact a student out of the blue? Where did he find you? What do you mean that you are a teenage shooter? Are you the teenager or do you shoot teenagers? Either way it makes me wonder about this persons intentions. Unless you have advertised yourself as a pro shooter, and that's why he contacted you, every thing about it screams scam or worse.

[Uhland]

Id play along with it.
See if he sends me some fake checks =)

If you find out its a scam which it likly is.
Play with him. See how high you can charge him for the shoot. hahah

Post back with results.

[ShirleyShutter]

Sounds bizarre to me. No one in their right mind would approach an unknown shooter with that offer unless they were looking for something. They could hire an established professional firm for that price. Why would they contact a student out of the blue? Where did he find you? What do you mean that you are a teenage shooter? Are you the teenager or do you shoot teenagers? Either way it makes me wonder about this persons intentions. Unless you have advertised yourself as a pro shooter, and that's why he contacted you, every thing about it screams scam or worse.

1. I am teenage, and a photography student.
2. I have a flickr, deviantart and myspace
3. his Intentions seem VERY shady to me

[photoguy6405]

I am afraid this is just another variant of the Nigerian scam: "I want to buy your whatever, and here is a cashiers check for the amount I owe you and some extra please just cash it and send me back the excess".

Exactly my thoughts as I was reading it.

[IndyJeff]

While the 8K for the shoot may be in the ballpark, an additional $100 for the copyright? No way. This guy has no clue as to what he is talking about.
Another red flag for me was telling you how much he would spend. Try getting that out of a client before you give them a price....good luck too. The client will always, well almost always ask you for a price hoping that their budget is $8,000 and you will say $1,500.

[short5]

1. I am teenage, and a photography student.
2. I have a flickr, deviantart and myspace
3. his Intentions seem VERY shady to me Sounds like you are a smart teenage photography student. The guy is a creep.

[sapearl]

As a father of two daughters in their 20's and both students, my radar is pinging all over this guy - and none of it's good. As Brad suggested, I will bet money at the very least that this is a Nigerian scam variant, with the bogus check you cash only discover they're not worth the paper they're printed on. I've had some very interesting conversations with my bank manager on this, and what people are trying to pull off these days. It will also come in the flavor of the Italian Lottery and British Sweepstakes winnings.

And at worst this is a predator. Do NOT even play around with him. Likely he can't harm you in anyway, but sometimes this sort of thing can get a little too deep.