Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1998/05/16

[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]

Subject: Re: [Leica] Beginning Pro
From: "Steven Blutter" <sblutter@earthlink.net>
Date: Sat, 16 May 1998 12:48:04 -0500

as a young pro you probably have young clients on limited budgets - i used
to get people to agree on the total they were willing to spend 1st, then
tell them what they would get in return;
i.e. they've got $100 - then you decide what you'll do for that; like 3
rolls of film, contacted with 3 8 X 10's (and 3 hours of your
time!)(whatever)

always keep negs and rights!

determine what else non-monetary you will receive - credit in photos that
accompany editorial articles in the local newspaper is good way to spread
your name around and also introduces you to the photo editor of said
newspaper, who may hire you down the road or buy your pics... other people
see your name around...

never work for free - no one ever appreciates or values it.

one more thing - if you are turning in contact sheets to non-pros - block
out all misfires on the contact sheet - they will detract from the 'good
ones' and expose you to meaningless criticism.  misfires and poorly exposed
shots are a fact of life for us 35mm folks... clients don't need to see 'em.

good luck - those $2,500 day rates are just around the corner!

- --Steven Blutter--
sblutter@earthlink.net

- -----Original Message-----
From: Chris Bitmead <chrisb@ans.com.au>
To: leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us <leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us>
Date: Saturday, May 16, 1998 8:03 AM
Subject: Re: [Leica] Beginning Pro


>Hunt wrote:
>>
>> Hi,
>>    I've just started to do freelance work, and I was wondering how I
>> should be charging for my work. I shot some pictures for a friend's
>> garage band, and my father thinks I should give the pictures away
>> (mainly because I was using Mitsubishi film).  Should I charge only for
>> the hours I spent working, or should I also charge per picture.
>>    This isn't the first time I shot pictures for one of his bands.  The
>> last time was a couple of years ago.  He took all of the proofs, and
>> didn't pay one cent for my time involved, much less the cost of
>> materials.  At least I kept the negatives, and I have the satisfaction
>> of knowing that his band brought up shortly after I did the shoot.
>>
>> Marshall Hunt the Younger
>
>Simple. You charge the highest price that the market will bear.
>