Help Pricing a Job

[B-9]

An odd request from me,

Recently I took a indefinite leave from my job to pursue my own small business (not photography) and to fix up my old house. Getting married in September as well so it's been nice.

I worked as a Maintenance Technician for a Medical Care Facility. I was an active member in many of the committees especially a group called CRT (Community Relations Team) who I hand built a Time Capsule and took on role as head chair for their Capsule Committee.

I know this is long, stay with me!

I've shot video and photos for them while working there, including a set of training videos over 10hrs of content pro bono just on the clock away from my regular duties (which still had to be done).

They have offered me their Photgraphers Contract having just ended a previous 2 year contract with one of the MANY so-so photographers advertised in town.

Here's the run down:

4 Major Events a Year (3 bbqs and 1 Holiday) each event last about 2 hours and my part could be as little as an hour of that. Roughly 100 photos an event to slop through for Facebook posts. Expectations low.

There may be a handful of smaller show up and shoot sessions for other departments. I expect those to be both quick and far between.

Brass tax,

edit: Ive actually decided to decline. Something in my gut felt off. Always follow your gut...beer anyone? Mod, feel free to delete.

 

[NY_Dan]

You could always charge $200 an event and donate the money to a medical related charity. Sounds pretty easy. The bad part about this type of work is that you're committed to the calendar - and if something else comes up in your life it can be a real imposition. So yeah, follow your gut.

 

[mpaniagua]

ditto on both the guts and the beer part.

Cheers

Marcelo

 

[CameraQuest]

An odd request from me,

Recently I took a indefinite leave from my job to pursue my own small business (not photography) and to fix up my old house. Getting married in September as well so it's been nice.

I worked as a Maintenance Technician for a Medical Care Facility. I was an active member in many of the committees especially a group called CRT (Community Relations Team) who I hand built a Time Capsule and took on role as head chair for their Capsule Committee.

I know this is long, stay with me!

I've shot video and photos for them while working there, including a set of training videos over 10hrs of content pro bono just on the clock away from my regular duties (which still had to be done).

They have offered me their Photgraphers Contract having just ended a previous 2 year contract with one of the MANY so-so photographers advertised in town.

Here's the run down:

4 Major Events a Year (3 bbqs and 1 Holiday) each event last about 2 hours and my part could be as little as an hour of that. Roughly 100 photos an event to slop through for Facebook posts. Expectations low.

There may be a handful of smaller show up and shoot sessions for other departments. I expect those to be both quick and far between.

Brass tax,

edit: Ive actually decided to decline. Something in my gut felt off. Always follow your gut...beer anyone? Mod, feel free to delete.

price it high ...
you already decided not to take it

 

[Steve M.]

What sort of contract doesn't spell out the salary? And eight events to cover in two years time? That's all pretty crazy.

 

[kxl]

You’ve already decided against it so this is a moot point, but...

By indefinite leave, I assume that you are still considered an employee in their books. I’m not sure if they can sign you to a contract for other services given your employee status unless you or they terminate your employment as a Maint Tech. I do not believe that you can be both an employee and a contractor for the same company at the same time - the labor law treatment for one is different from the other. But again, you’ve decided against it so it’s a moot point.

 

[rfaspen]

Did someone say "beer"?


Seriously though. The gut has spoken. If the gut had decided to pursue the "contract", I would have suggested a breakout pricing scheme. Makes for fewer surprises and bad feeling among participants.

What I mean? .... hourly rate for shooting time. hourly rate for processing time. hourly rate for administrivia (they can be different rates). Set overhead rates (materials. equipment wear. etc.) and a rate for travel (important one!). Lay them out. Make a few scenarios with varying levels of "work/commitment" and the range is apparent for them to see. Apparent for you as well !!

Or, grab a beer and contemplate the home repairs. Or better yet, grab two beers and hang out in the back yard with your wife-to-be. Its summer ya know.

 

[B-9]

Right now my employment there is in a sort of limbo as they close out my retirement and medical benefits. They have also given me a good grace period if I wanted to come back without loss of my seniority or accumulated raises. Not likely..heh

When they tip toed around previous rates and wanted to draft something new entirely it gave me an odd feeling... add to that the rush they wanted to impose on my decision even going as far as assuming I would call them with intent after a loose conversation we had months ago about the possibility of the contract opening.

All adding up to that gut feeling. + My fiance work in the administrative department there and I would hate for it to cause any conflict of any size or sort.


Beer it is! River Biking this weekend... what is that! Weird bikes with pontoons should be fun. Thanks Everyone!

 

[Bill Clark]

It can be scary breaking out on your own.

This holds true with most endeavors that a person starts from scratch. The corporate umbrella can be a security blanket and sometimes hard to change because of it.

Find a mentor, a coach, who could help you, showing you the necessarry skills needed to achieve success. The formula contains many ingredients including self-confidence and instilling a can do attitude.

Most sports people need a coach. More so for those few who become pros. It’s the same for pro photographers.