Wednesday Rant

[DanielLane]

Freakin people! So I want to know why people think getting a crap ton of photos, then processing them all for print and uploading them to an ftp site only takes a few minutes? I had two different clients let me know on Monday that they needed more shots for a few things. And they needed them by wednesday morning 7am. Then yesterday afternoon, I had another huge client call me and ask for a crap ton of photos for their next issue and they needed them by 7am today as well. I was up a 4 am to start shooting yesterday, done by 9am, then I started processing. 17 hours of processing later, I was done. Working my ass off from 4am till 2am. Then up at 6 to get everything uploaded to their respective ftp sites. Finished everything by 6:45 am, including sending off invoices.
So after an insane amount of work, all three clients call me to bitch me out for charging a measly 5% rush fee on their jobs. 5 freakin %! And they freak out about it! Seriously?!?! WTF people?!? You ask for a ton of work to be done in virtually no time what-so-ever and expect me to just roll over and take it? grrr...

[gturner]

Ask them what a plumber charges for an after hours call out.

[NathanFranke]

5%? You're undercharging...

[DanielLane]

I know I'm undercharging. But these are huge clients that use me on a very regular basis. I shoot for all of them about every other week at least, sometimes more. I used to charge them a higher rush charge, but after them hiring me consistently for almost two years, I cut them all a break.

[andyw]

Originally Posted by DanielLane

I cut them all a break.

Which is why they now totally extract the pale yellow slightly acid fluid excreted by the kidneys.

By all means give them a discount on the base price but never on the rush job uplift.
If getting a rush job only costs them 5% more then everything will be a rush job.

[Mike367]

I can't remember who said it, (David Hobby?) but "Failure to plan on you part does not constitute an emergency for me."

5% is not nearly enough.

[ArmySoldier777]

I am by no means a pro photographer and I very seldom get paid for my work. However, I do have an opinion on this. Even though these guys may be huge clients that make up most of your profits, I think it may be time to tell them how it is. Sit down and firmly discuss why things are the way they are and why you need the time that you do to get your job done. Because situations like that are a tell-tale sign that they're going to be taking serious advantage of you in the future.

I hope all goes well with everything and that you manage to get them to back off a little

[mosgood]

Originally Posted by ArmySoldier777

I am by no means a pro photographer and I very seldom get paid for my work. However, I do have an opinion on this. Even though these guys may be huge clients that make up most of your profits, I think it may be time to tell them how it is. Sit down and firmly discuss why things are the way they are and why you need the time that you do to get your job done. Because situations like that are a tell-tale sign that they're going to be taking serious advantage of you in the future.

I hope all goes well with everything and that you manage to get them to back off a little

Well said! Either that, or insist that your clients at least come along during your shoots. I think rising at an abnormally early time to chase light & scenery might be the cure all for their bad attitudes. You could also provide them a run down on time actually involved in your creativity.

[SwissJon]

Sorry, I'd feel sorry for you, really I would, but the past couple of weeks I've been working 16 hour days for no extra.. I'm knackered.

[DanielLane]

Jon, I know the feeling. I have not had a day off of working for close to three months. And the majority of those days go from 6am to 10pm. Exhausted to say the least.

I Know the discount on the rush job is a bad idea, but it cost me less that way instead of taking 5% off their total and getting the full rush charge. But either way, if they keep up the bitching, they will lose their discount pretty quickly. The project producer was the person bitching (for one of the jobs). I just spoke to the company owner, and while I was on the phone with him, he called her in and totally bitched her out. Even told me I don't need to deal with her any more. Just with him. So that one worked out nice. And he told me he is sending out the check today instead of waiting until the first of the month like normal. Now I can pay off the new D7000! woot!

I guess I should expect all this rush crap when you are shooting for magazines and newspapers. It still sux though! I was already out at a shoot again this morning at 8am for another huge project. Back to download, then off again for another shoot for the same project this afternoon. *sigh*