Sounded like a good gig until you get to the pay

Found this posting looking for an experienced photographer. It actually sounded like it may be a pretty cool gig until you get to the compensation part. So that brought up the question in my mind, is this the going market rate for experienced photographers working as an employee for another company as a product/clothing photographer, or is this company just low balling? I'm assuming the company is providing all of the equipment although I can't say for sure.

Apparel Photographer

PHOTOGRAPHY POSITON
Online Discount Clothing Retailer seeks experienced photographer. Primarily responsible for taking photos of clothing on mannequins or stands. But, occasionally on live models. Positioning and placement of clothing is key. Accuracy, quality and attention to detail are a must as this includes taking the time to pin or fit certain styles of clothes to the appropriate mannequin. Some prep work is needed, such as steaming or accessorizing a photo to enhance the shots. Multiple shots are required of each item front, back and highlighted details. Basic photo shop experience is needed for renaming and editing photos. Basic photo techniques are used. This is a production position.
Hours 8:00 AM to 4:45 PM, Monday -- Friday. . Please forward your resume with day and evening phone numbers to arrange an interview

Compensation Rate is $10.00 per hour with proven experience

It actually doesn't sound like difficult photography work for $10 an hour. It's not exactly a wedding. It'd be more like Sears Portrait except better pay and less screaming. When they say "experienced photographer" they don't mean Yervant.

They're not looking at it as a photographer. They're just looking for another assembly line worker. They're talking OOTA if ya ask me. Photoshop skills for renaming files? really? lol I'd wager if you asked what "basic photo techniques" entailed you'd get a long pause.

I'd contact them to see about getting the contract to set them up where they could pay someone the $10 an hour to fuss with the clothes and automate any PP they want. But beyond that it just sounds like a mind numbing job for mind numbing pay.

I doubt that it's a difficult job....but $10 and hour? A person can make that handing out tacos at the Taco Bell drive through window. I would hope that an "experienced photographer" would demand a higher rate of pay than that in the market place. Of course, it's hard to tell what they mean when they say "experienced photographer". On the upside, I guess it's nice that they aren't asking for a free photographer looking to build their portfolio

jra wrote in post #14345804
I doubt that it's a difficult job....but $10 and hour? A person can make that handing out tacos at the Taco Bell drive through window. I would hope that an "experienced photographer" would demand a higher rate of pay than that in the market place. Of course, it's hard to tell what they mean when they say "experienced photographer".

Taco Bell pays $10 an hour? I thought it was more like minimum wage ($7-ish). Warehouses around here only pay about $10-12 to start and it's a lot more demanding physically. $12 is considered good starting pay here.

I think by "experienced photographer" they mean anyone who has more than zero experience. They're not expecting to hire someone who already commands high fees on their own.

cdifoto wrote in post #14345817
Taco Bell pays $10 an hour? I thought it was more like minimum wage ($7-ish). Warehouses around here only pay about $10-12 to start and it's a lot more demanding physically. $12 is considered good starting pay here.

I think by "experienced photographer" they mean anyone who has more than zero experience. They're not expecting to hire someone who already commands high fees on their own.

Yep...at least in my area, you can start with Taco Bell at 10 bucks an hour.....I have a family member (high schooler) who recently got hired on....that's why I used that analogy Of course, the area market does play a part

Interesting. I'd still rather shoot photos than toss tacos for $10 an hour.

There is a very large auto dealership here that recently advertised on Craigslist for photog to shoot cars and upload images to website. A friend of mine got an interview. $10/hr is what was offered. 30 to 40 hours per week, sometimes 40 cars per day I think is what he was told.

brett201 wrote in post #14345953
There is a very large auto dealership here that recently advertised on Craigslist for photog to shoot cars and upload images to website. A friend of mine got an interview. $10/hr is what was offered. 30 to 40 hours per week, sometimes 40 cars per day I think is what he was told.

That's one done from start to finish every 12 minutes.....

.......

.....

My question is why do people like this bother? Hand a salesman a p&s and tell them to go to town. Oh well... Makes it easier to stand out and pitch the comp. Cutting corners on advertising begs for a spanking from your competition.

The problem is we live in a "task based society"

What is the task?

To take a photograph.

Did the person take a photograph? Yes.

Task accomplished, move on to next task.

Past experience, artistic skill, photographic background, ability to make decisions, interact with the public and other staff members, showing up on time to work . . .

All those things are secondary to the "task" and don't seem to carry much weight in the decision making process, and therefore the "value" placed on the task – which in this case is $10 per hour.

Sadly, graphic design, writing and many other "creative" tasks are treated the same way in "today's" world. They have little to no value.

Dang, they need more than a photographer with the list of duties. I'm all for dignity of labor but that's just exploitation.

"Experienced Photographer" and $10 an hour should never appear together. This is not a real market rate in the US.

JDPhotoGuy wrote in post #14346052
That's one done from start to finish every 12 minutes.....

.......

.....

My question is why do people like this bother? Hand a salesman a p&s and tell them to go to town. Oh well... Makes it easier to stand out and pitch the comp. Cutting corners on advertising begs for a spanking from your competition.

The reason that they want to do this is that you would be surprised at how bad most salesmen are with a p&s. Better quality images do bring more enquiries.

As for timings, I do quite a bit of this sort of work (although for significantly more than $10 per hour) and can do 20 cars in an hour with 9 images per car with good organisation.

Nightstalker wrote in post #14346784
The reason that they want to do this is that you would be surprised at how bad most salesmen are with a p&s. Better quality images do bring more enquiries.

As for timings, I do quite a bit of this sort of work (although for significantly more than $10 per hour) and can do 20 cars in an hour with 9 images per car with good organisation.

Oh absolutely! The turnaround wasn't what I was -_- over.. lol

Apply 12 items/hour to the $10 an hour scenario and you're getting paid $0.83 per item shot and if taking 9 pics/item you're down to $0.09 per shot. And that's before you even think about adjustments and your IMS (image management system).

^^ Is the first place my mind goes when I see things like this. It's also probably has a lot to do with why I was never happy working for someone else! lolol

I understand exactly what you are saying and based on any "normal" photographic scenario it just doesn't seem to make economic sense.

That said I invoiced around $75,000 last year to motor trade clients for this sort of work so it is not all bad - I am self employed however and my rates are significantly higher that $10 per hour.