Editorial job contract question

[Niresangwa]

I don't really do much in this area and need some advice...

contacted by an organization asking for a quote to provide images for a blog article, (10 hours, they provide stylist, models etc). I'm not really all that interested in doing it, so I laid out my requirements and rates with the mindset that if they balk, not a loss, if they accept, I'll make a relatively large amount of money...

I have 5 weddings over the next three weeks, and 5 other engagement/portrait shoots, so I'm not exactly kicking my heels, looking for jobs. I'm still in two minds as to whether I even take this job.

Anyways, they agreed to all of my terms, and I'm fine with establishing the contract and usage terms etc.. however what I want to know is how much of a down-payment I should ask for, or is considered 'the norm'?

The last big commercial job I did I was contracted by the State of Wisconsin as a work for hire, so not exactly the same circumstances.

Yeah I could have just asked Mr Bryant, but I figured having this thread on the books may help someone else...

TIA.

[Jim Bryant]

Originally Posted by Niresangwa

I don't really do much in this area and need some advice...

contacted by an organization asking for a quote to provide images for a blog article, (10 hours, they provide stylist, models etc). I'm not really all that interested in doing it, so I laid out my requirements and rates with the mindset that if they balk, not a loss, if they accept, I'll make a relatively large amount of money...

I have 5 weddings over the next three weeks, and 5 other engagement/portrait shoots, so I'm not exactly kicking my heels, looking for jobs. I'm still in two minds as to whether I even take this job.

Anyways, they agreed to all of my terms, and I'm fine with establishing the contract and usage terms etc.. however what I want to know is how much of a down-payment I should ask for, or is considered 'the norm'?

The last big commercial job I did I was contracted by the State of Wisconsin as a work for hire, so not exactly the same circumstances.

Yeah I could have just asked Mr Bryant, but I figured having this thread on the books may help someone else...

TIA.

Editorial shoots run from $125.00 to $500.00 a shoot depending on the circulation size of the paper. Normally, editorial newspapers don't put down a downpayment, but pay monthly.

[Niresangwa]

Originally Posted by Jim Bryant

Editorial shoots run from $125.00 to $500.00 a shoot depending on the circulation size of the paper. Normally, editorial newspapers don't put down a downpayment, but pay monthly.

Well, it's an article on a blog, editorial article was the term she used. I suppose it's just a regular old commercial shoot... either way just a one off. Are commercial shoots just done by post-shoot invoice?

[Brian Mullins]

I generally collect payment on delivery for new clients and then they go to net 30 after we've worked together. I break that rule regularly for larger corporate clients (who I know are not going anywhere) but if it's a small company with little history, I get paid when I deliver. Any costs I incur are paid before the shoot and will ask a smaller company for deposits based on that.

[Niresangwa]

Originally Posted by Brian Mullins

I generally collect payment on delivery for new clients and then they go to net 30 after we've worked together. I break that rule regularly for larger corporate clients (who I know are not going anywhere) but if it's a small company with little history, I get paid when I deliver. Any costs I incur are paid before the shoot and will ask a smaller company for deposits based on that.

Thanks Brian.. I'm used to getting everything upfront before I even hit the shutter, so I wasn;t sure if I collected an approximation of a 'sitting fee' just fro showing up and the balance on delivery or what.. there won't be any incurred cost, I shoved the impetus for absolutely everything into the bid and padded to a level that I'm not going to come out behind... just wasn't sure what the norm was.

[Brian Mullins]

Originally Posted by Niresangwa

Thanks Brian.. I'm used to getting everything upfront before I even hit the shutter, so I wasn;t sure if I collected an approximation of a 'sitting fee' just fro showing up and the balance on delivery or what.. there won't be any incurred cost, I shoved the impetus for absolutely everything into the bid and padded to a level that I'm not going to come out behind... just wasn't sure what the norm was.

I need to add that while i've never been burned previously by this, if I do get burned, I may change my policy. By default, I always err on the side of the customer until I have a reason to do so otherwise.

[andyw]

"corporates" will expect you to invoice them.
Never expect anything up-front from any but the smallest outfits.

If it is a big job over time then you can certainly split the invoicing i.e.
x% on contract signing
x% on completion of shoot
xx (remainder)% on delivery of final product

Expect time you get paid to vary from a couple of weeks to a couple of months (or more sometimes), The bigger they are the longer they take normally.
Large corporations are the bane of the small businessmans life.

I don't think I have ever been paid on the day except maybe by a small one man band outfit.

[Jim Bryant]

Originally Posted by andyw

"corporates" will expect you to invoice them.
Never expect anything up-front from any but the smallest outfits.

If it is a big job over time then you can certainly split the invoicing i.e.
x% on contract signing
x% on completion of shoot
xx (remainder)% on delivery of final product

Expect time you get paid to vary from a couple of weeks to a couple of months (or more sometimes), The bigger they are the longer they take normally.
Large corporations are the bane of the small businessmans life.

I don't think I have ever been paid on the day except maybe by a small one man band outfit.

damn.......ain't that the truth!