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34 Comments
Get an awesome portfolio at
Use the coupon code ‘tony’ for 10% off
Win a Fuji X-T3, Canon EOS R or Apple iPhone Xs Max at
If only I could find contractors that will negotiate payment after the work is done ☹️😟😢😭
A very relatable video. Not everyone has that same sense of integrity as we do, re. honouring verbal agreements. And few appreciate the level of work we will put in to achieve professional results. Interesting how the people closest to me, family and close friends, people I am happy to shoot for free or at special ‘mates rates’, are often insistent they pay me more! Perhaps though that is because they appreciate more the work and time I put in.
Conversely, there are those you’ve met once at an event or whose mum’s wedding you shot 15 years previous who expect you to offer similarly friendly rates. Social media is worst for this. People who contact me via Facebook usually referrals seem of the mind I will be more flexible with my rates, presumably because it’s a social platform and us photographers are such a friendly amicable bunch aren’t we 😉
I'm a graphic artist. I've been doing this long enough where I don't lowball, and I have no problem walking away from jobs where the money isn't there. This is the one that grinds my gears when the potential client thinks my price is too high: "Can you recommend someone who will do the job cheaper?"
Oh, you want me to to give you the name of a competitor who will undercut me? Sure, no problem.
Great tips! I love your work and your informative shows. Btw, Chelsea where can I find your gorgeous Iran’s pullover? You look beautiful wearing it!
"friends" are always the worst customers, and worst debtors; unless everything is signed or you are willing to sue them, avoid any deal with "friends"
Hit like if you are here for cute pie Ms. Chelsea
Best 20min spent, good stories and real life scenarios. Thanx for sharing! Appreciate your generous wisdom.
8 Models… 60€ each one = 480€ just in models. Charging only 1000€ is like doing all the job for free.
Loved this podcast! I just shoot real estate, that's it. Yesterday a realtor asked me if I'd like to do a 3 hr shoot of kids meeting Santa at her broker's daughter's gift shop. Still laughing out loud at your dying dog story, I told her no, because I'm just not good with portraits or little kids. Thank you for sharing this great advice!
So true !! I was a Wedding photographer for 25 years and people where always trying to do exactly what you talked about in this video !! I am glad I am not alone Thank you for these videos.
Listening this podcast while editing a / that won t take long photo session/ , I want to cry. Thanks for your tips!
I've been in the sewing/alterations business for years. The same thing happens: "This will be easy." Translates into "So you shouldn't charge very much for it."
You should have gotten them to carry their Freaking Dog up the stairs.
A friend of mine always lists every "accomodation" on her bills as line items, i.e. "two hours travel time, $150……No Charge" so if you're giving anyone a break, you're letting them know they've already got it. And that makes them more reluctant or ashamed to beg for more.
Perhaps the most useful advice you have ever given.
Shooting for free or for cheap hurts the whole industry.
Please don't do it, everyone!
It has shocked me how aggressive people have become because I refuse to work for nothing.
A friend of mine had a printing business. He said that his worst customers were the largest companies. Those companies had learned long ago that the longer you put off paying your bills, the longer that money stays in their bank account and not yours. Essentially that amounts to free products or services for months. And the money that stays in their account is adding interest all that time. Why does a small business continue doing business with a large company with terrible business practices? Eventually they do get paid and they can't afford to lose a large customer even if they pay late.
Don't do the 'We'll work it out later' thing with hookers either.
so funny. re the scare people off. when i worked out a price i considered fair and they came to me wanting a style i did in some photos and they wanted a reduced price. I hate haggling about price
so (maybe a little bluntly) said "well if you do not like the price, get someone else to do it" they did and got it done very cheap, but when they saw the photos they were not even close to what they wanted (i had a laugh when i saw them). they came back to me, apologized and asked if i would redo the job. i agreed and quoted them my original price plus 25% (i told you so tax). they gave me the look you get just before someone asks for a cheaper price, but never asked and instead said ok (with a little shake in their voice). we sat down talked about what they wanted. I did the shoot (this was a digital edited only job). when they turned up to pick up USB drive i did them a slide show, they were blown away and spent the slide show appoligiseing every couple of photos. I now get people sent to me by them and see the for some job every year or so.
Before I started doing the photography thing I was a Farrier (horseshoer) and I learned the “You know, while you’re here…” question very well. The problem is that the “little thing” they are asking about is the one that takes 10x longer than what you were there for in the first place. I also just ran into that with my new gig (re photography) when I went to shoot a “simple mobile home”. I thought no biggie. 30 minutes in and out. It was further away than most shoots so fortunately I took care of THAT extra cost. BUT…just as I was finishing the shoot (which started with one of my other favorite phrases “I don’t want to tell you how to do your job, but…” the property owner says “I need to get shots of the beach and the pier. This is a must!” So off to the beach fighting traffic and walking around in the sand. Lesson learned.
6:36 Chelsea is so excited that we can see her tail wagging
Great tips – be aware, once retired, many think you have nothing better to do than to bring along your camera and shoot everything for free!
Free exposure never work, not only for photography, but for everything, you're always the one loosing when you agree to do stuff for exposure.
Oh God, I can relate so much to the "while you're here". Absolutely hate it
I hate, hate, HATE, when ‘friends’ ask you to shoot their wedding because they ‘feel comfortable with you’ or ‘we don’t want a load of photos, just a few unposed ones’! Just because they think you’ve got a fancy camera, and you take ‘nice’ photos. I’m an amateur, for God’s ask!
Wedding photographers wouldn’t be ask to go shoot a sporting event, or wildlife, so why does everybody assume any photographer, even an amateur, can take wedding photos?
Are you guys going to be in NYC for the Photo Expo? My story: I'm hired by an agency to shoot a promo campaign for a certain CT down town merchant's association. They outlined what they wanted to do. I prepared my price. The said "Oh No, way to expensive" I suggested cutting out certain usage like bill boards, outdoor advertising and television. Everyone was good with that. We agreed our email chain would suffice as our agreement. It was a good shoot. They were thrilled. A year later I see my images on the side of a bus and later in a TV spot.
I called the agency who informed me they no longer represented the client and the client played dumb- "Oh Really?" Then said they had no money because that was last year's budget. We ultimate settled by their "promising" to give me more work for which I would be paid handsomely . I don't think I ever was fully compensated. My lesson: a real contract with an understanding of copyright and usage.
"But all you have to do is push the button and that fancy camera does all the work!" – Yes, I've heard that one and ran as fast as I could.
Great podcast/video as usual…
ps: the dog's tale keeps drawing my attention when you are both on the shot. 🙂
Chelsea troll game 100 @ 3:42 LMAO!!!!
… " a dying dog…" Man that is so hard to say no.
Oh my goodness! Glad I am not the only one who has made these mistakes lol.
I started out with no plan other than to charge what the other photographers do. I learned quickly that their model was not for me because I am interested in providing that quality image and not just a quick one. So I took a step back and dedicated some time to learning and developing. That’s what I am doing right now and all of your podcasts and tutorials have been so helpful. Thanks!
I like the dog wagging the tail behind Chelsea.
You can have something FAST & CHEAP but it won’t be good quality
You can have something CHEAP & GOOD QUALITY, but it won’t be quick or on time.
You can have something ON TIME and GOOD QUALITY but it wont be CHEAP
FYI I ALWAYS give away too much. That is if there is a problem. I ALWAYS OVER DELIVER. Sort of like Norsteads. If something goes south I over deliver by 4 times. Cost a little compared to happy customer and word of mouth advertising.
This is a great video , we all have lost money as a photographer at a time in our careers. 🙁