Blown opportunity or smart decision?

If you're happy, I'm happy!

Billo78 wrote in post #3910219
I've just returned to London from 8 days in Ireland doing promo shots for a tour company. I got the gig after someone in marketing at the tour company saw some shots I put on my webalbum after I went on another trip from the same company in Scotland (which I actually won in a photo comp!).

I'd never done anything along these lines before and I figured it would be a great experience. I wasn't paid for my time but they did fly me to Ireland and back, send me on an 8 day tour for free and pay for all my accomoation and entry into attractions, all up it probably was worth around £500.

The deal is I retain ownership over the photos but give the tour company the right to use the images for their promotional materials and on their website.

What do you guys think of my decision to take this on? Was I being taken advantage of or did I grasp a great opportunity to take a free vacation and gain some great experience taking photos that I'd love to be taking anyway?

If you're interested at all you can see my results here http://picasaweb.googl​e.com/simon.bills/Sham​rocker

Would love to hear opinions.

LM,

You handled this perfectly, If I read this correctly he asked you to help out when he was in a jam, the "usual" paid photog was n/a, so IMHO your price should have been 1 1/2 times what the regular guy was charging.

I've seen your work, it's has value $$$

Don't sell yourself short.

Rick

If your intent is to make money from your work, you did the right thing, but agree there was no need to discuss family or free time, just say no thank you, you shoot for money or give him a rate and let him say no.

KAC

throw_n_gas wrote in post #3910653
so IMHO your price should have been 1 1/2 times what the regular guy was charging.

How do you figure 1 1/2 x the rate? IMHO, as the decision maker, that would make me tell him no immediately and possibly never consider him for future engagements as well.

LM approached him for the opportunity to do the work according to the story; would you as a business owner (or in this case school) seriously consider someone who approached you for work, then asked in all seriousness for 1.5 times your usual rate?

I'm not saying that he should have done anything for free, but I think to ask for more than what they usually pay, especially without proven results (He said his earlier shots were in less than favorable conditions, so I'm really not sure how they look or if he has indeed shot this sport before and has other samples ect..) is ridiculous.

MazerRakhm wrote in post #3915761
How do you figure 1 1/2 x the rate? IMHO, as the decision maker, that would make me tell him no immediately and possibly never consider him for future engagements as well.

LM approached him for the opportunity to do the work according to the story; would you as a business owner (or in this case school) seriously consider someone who approached you for work, then asked in all seriousness for 1.5 times your usual rate?

I'm not saying that he should have done anything for free, but I think to ask for more than what they usually pay, especially without proven results (He said his earlier shots were in less than favorable conditions, so I'm really not sure how they look or if he has indeed shot this sport before and has other samples ect..) is ridiculous.

MazerRakhm,

Where I was coming from on the 1 1/2 rate was base on the fact that it was "emergency service", from reading LM's e-mail trail this guy had his mind made up that whoever shot the event, was going to do it for free, since the "Usual photographer" was unavailable. Also a member of the athletic dept. knew of LM's work and sounds like she recommended him, or at the very least highly valued his work. Maybe 1 1/2 was a bit steep but he should have received equal pay for the shoot.

Nobody rides for free.

Rick

I still don't really see that, as I don't see how this was an "emergency service". LM contacted the SID asking to shoot, if he absolutely needed a photographer to shoot I'm sure he could have gotten one, in my opinion this email chain is not enough to constitute emergency since we have no information on how the original subject came up.

The SID also said that paying him might be an issue. From the email chain you don't know that he is planning not to pay a photographer, in fact you don't know any information on the issue at all. I think it is a mistake to assume "paying you" means free; it could have easily meant that he couldn't pay quickly, maybe the school has rules governing who can get paid and when, without a conversation about what is the issue and why I think it is a mistake to jump to conclusions, especially if this is a client you would like to have.

This brings me to my first comment that I think LM's response was over the top and unnecessary. If you are willing to negotiate to get a long term client this is where you begin. On the other hand, if you are not willing to negotiate, like KenyC said a simple "No thank you" is better, maybe with something to the effect that you would like the opportunity to shoot for them and if they change their mind they have your information.

Personally, I would think twice about hiring someone who approached me then lectured me on time=money as their closing remark. It is forgivable but their work had better be worth it. On the other hand, if that person approached me then demanded 1.5-2x my rate that would be the last time we spoke.

Missed opportunity, no- because it was a one off.

I dont think your last response was entirely appropriate, you didnt have to justify your decision to him. You could have said, in response to the problem of paying you, that you would negotiate an affordable rate, and then set a date where you were free to meet in person to agree a contract/ price. You have to keep the communications going, sound interested, and always have the other person coming back to you with a response. Negotiations are always fun trying to out wit the other person, its one part of my job that i love.

Thats just my opinion, but hey you got to spend the weekend with your family- personally i think you made the right choice