That's great for doing what you what have done for your woman for free.
John,
The money is great.
In negociating you do kinda have to be a Brooklyn tough guy. Pretty much they are trying to mug you and get your photography for free, but if you are street smart you end up mugging them. Pretty much growing up in the 70's is a good education and training. LOL. Pretty much requires the same type of street fighting mentality.
Like street fighting though it is only good if you win.
The last gig involved just three shots. Once we settled on price early in December after several e-mails I got the check before Christmas. Several thousands of dollars. If I could do two of these on this scale a month I could quit my day job, but this is not steady income.
So it also is a story of David verses Goliath, except me being the little guy. Instead of using speed, agility, and experience to take down a big man, I use other skills, but I am just as brutal.
Robert Horse-sha-vac from Shark Tank had it right: being a good salesman is a great skill to have, and being a good salesman helps you in everything you do.
I remember when I worked as a salesman in a tropical fish store selling the "ten-dollar special" and bilking customers for hundreds of dollars in add on's. I was good at sharking people. Was pretty much like stealing.
Now today those same skills are coming in handy. First rule to learn is that these media companies lie: they do have money; they just don't want to spent it.
Cal