One thing to note is that you're not a photo editor or publisher, Cotty. They're buying services if they're booking me for an assignment. They're buying goods if they're buying a usage license for an existing photograph.
Yes, booking an assignment is quite different from selling licensing for a photograph (or photographs). When I'm booking an assignment, the license terms is just a part of the total fees ... I establish the rates for the shoot, equipment fees, etc. But when selling the use license for photographs, I am a bit more flexible ... the goods are in the can and the negotiation is to get as good a price for the goods as possible while not losing the sale. The response I've gotten to the budget question is in the context of "if you have this much to spend, I can enable you with a package that includes x and y and z ... where if you only have a smaller amount to spend, I'll have to exclude z ..." etc. On Thu, Dec 2, 2010 at 1:06 AM, Cotty <[email protected]> wrote: > On 1/12/10, Godfrey DiGiorgi, discombobulated, unleashed: > >>In all seriousness: never. I've had editors tell me everything from "I >>don't know" to supplying a highly detailed rate chart, and I've had >>editors tell me they couldn't afford the price I set when they didn't >>have a rate chart, etc etc, but none have ever indicated they were >>uncomfortable with the question. How could they be? They're in >>business ... arranging a business transaction .. just like I am. Are >>you uncomfortable or put off if a provider whose services you need >>asks you what the budget for a shoot might be? > > Must be the British. When I get asked for a quote, I take into account > my daily rate in balance with the nature of the work and the client's > history with me (including non at all). I have to make a living and so > if I asked each client what his/her budget was for the job, and indeed > if they even answered, then I'd either laugh them off the phone or > adjust my rate upwards accordingly! Seriously - my rate varies by only a > little. There are plenty of companies offering my services and we all > charge very similar amounts - where I can undercut is that I can not > only organise the job, but I also undertake the writing, shooting and > editing myself. Others may have to sub-contract where necessary. > > I think maybe the nature of the work has a lot to do with it - selling > individual photos may promote the questioning about budgets, but on > projects that I typically work on, we're talking about several days' > work or an entire job. The client is likely getting in quotes from other > sources also, so while trying to be competitive, I also have a living to > make and my rates are set accordingly. If I work for less than my > determined minimum, I'd go bust fairly quickly. Targeting the upper- > middle to top-end of my market is tough, but that's the background I > have and the choice I made. > > >>Are you uncomfortable or put off if a provider whose services you need >>asks you what the budget for a shoot might be? > > Not at all - it's never happened though. If it did, I'd probably ask > them to hold on while I checked my pockets. Really. > > -- > > > Cheers, > Cotty > > > ___/\__ > || (O) | People, Places, Pastiche > ---------- http://www.cottysnaps.com > _____________________________ > > > > -- > PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List > [email protected] > http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net > to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow > the directions. > -- Godfrey godfreydigiorgi.posterous.com -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List [email protected] http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.
