How do I handle this?

[NAP]

November 12, 2008 at 9:23 am

Hi,

I was recently asked by a member of a networking group to shoot some product shots for a website they were launching. It was one of those last minute jobs that needed to be done yesterday.
Anyhow I took it on. There were 9 items to shoot so charged 35 euro per item.

I did the shoot and the client has come back saying that only 4 images are usable.. I sent my images onto another professional and to a “lay” person who both said that the images were great and couldnt see why they couldnt be used

No direction was given in the shoot – so I take that as, it is up to the photographer to choose best angles etc..

Anyhow, I offered to reshoot the ones they werent happy with free of charge, but 2 days later she came back saying that no she needs them for today for the website and could I send on the 4″usable” ones to her web designer and then invoice her for those 4 and time taken on the project.

Now do I:
a) charge €35 euro per item – so €315 as I took all the shots even though they are not all being used as originally quoted.
b) charge €35 euro for the 4 images being used – €140 plus an extra hour of my time on taking the other “wasted” images – €110 (even though it took me longer) – so total would be €250
c) charge €35 for the 4 items being used – €140 plus half price for the others not used – €17 x5 = 85 – so total – € 225

If anyone can give me advice on this it would be great –

Thanks

[wirepic]

November 12, 2008 at 2:36 pm

First of all I’m not in the photography business myself.

However, I would say go for option b here. She did say to invoice for the 4 photos and and time taken.

In future I would be inclined to say it’s X euros per hour plus Y euros for each photo used. That way even if a client says none of the photos are usable you get paid for your time.

[Ashley]

November 12, 2008 at 11:05 pm

What was your wording before the shoot started ?

[Ashley]

November 12, 2008 at 11:22 pm

wirepic wrote:

In future I would be inclined to say it’s X euros per hour plus Y euros for each photo used. That way even if a client says none of the photos are usable you get paid for your time.

I would suggest you just state clearly what the ‘per image fee’ is based on, when quoting… and don’t confuse what you are doing with what you are providing them with.

[MadeleineCalaidoWeber]

November 13, 2008 at 1:14 am

This is a good example what happens without any clarifications up front and mixing creative fee with licensing fee.
By the way: i don’t know your business but can you explain me how you can charge 35 euro for

1. Producing a highquality product image with your creative input & experience by using your expensiv equipment
2. Including the license fee for webpresentation?

It is good to get jobs because photographers have to eat and pay their rent. But this price seems to me so far away of professional photography business. Please don’t feel attacked by me. It is MY point of view.

I share my opinion with Ashley. Next time i suggest: Don’t touch your camera without a signed confirmation. List your prices by creative fee (houres) and licensing fee.
Get a deposit upfront (30 or 50%).

Once i had a product shooting of bottles and the client liked it. However, one day later they said, that they would like the bottle from another angle and they can’t use the other one. Luckily i had my assingment confirmation where everything was listed.
I charged for an additional hour without any trouble because it was written down! I usually try to include a detailed briefing of the customer and they wishes. My job is to translate this into an image. Now i also write down the angles or if the customer gives me the freedom to decide by myself based on their decision to book me after visiting my portfolio.

Good luck.
I am not a lawyer but this is how i run this business

[NAP]

November 17, 2008 at 9:34 pm

Thanks for all your responses.

Ashley, Yes, I had handed her a written quote for the amount to be charged for the 9 items.
I will definately write it more detailed next time – quoting my hourly rate and how much it is per item if only 4 are used etc..
Its all a learning curve.

I ended up with option B – even though client not even happy with this.

Madeleine – for one off product shots I have always used a sliding scale. I got one a while ago from another photographer. For other types of commercial photography I would charge my hourly fee and then usage fee. And yes, next time EVERYTHING will be written down and signed including angles. It was just the person wanted it YESTERDAY – you know the kind and I knew the person through a network so thought it would work in my favour for more business.. Will think again next time.

[MadeleineCalaidoWeber]

November 17, 2008 at 9:46 pm

Good Luck (;
We all go through it.