Okay...the toughest part....actually accepting money for work

You won't believe this, but it's true. And I'd like to get to the

bottom of it. Once, (and more than once) I was commissioned to paint

an airplane for someone who had flown that airplane while he was in

some part of the military-I don't remember what. I did the painting,

and it was very nice. However, I avoided actually turning the

painting over to him. I felt as if I were robbing him. I

felt "guilty" for taking money. My solution? I made the appointment

for him to pick up the painting and pay for it, but couldn't go

through with it. I called a good friend to come over and meet him,

saying I was urgently called away. I then locked myself in my

bedroom, turning off the lights, and then hid in the closet behind my

clothes concealing myself the best I could.

<P>

Now, I know I'm really sticking my neck out here, saying all that,

but this seems to be a good forum for business advise, and I'm coming

back again.

<P>

What I would like to know is how to get past this. I've set up a

tiny studio, just in a 10' x 10' space in a very nice little antique

mall, so it's very open. It's minimal...but I didn't want any big

business...mainly just to make a little money, earn a little

respect...(because people here certainly don't understand my

paintings...for which I did earn respect in places like Miami and New

York....).

<P>

I intend to take very casual, but very beautiful photographs of local

people as they have never seen themselves before. You might call it

street photography in the studio....formal street photography. I

intend the shots to be fresh and candid, clear sharp, and human.

<P>

My photographs are well received-just yesterday I received a glowing

comment( a whole paragraph!) in the local newspaper for photographs I

shot of the parish for a Chamber of Commerce meeting (for which I

charged only gas money and supplies!). This was extraordinary,-the

mention in the paper, because in this rural/country-tough small

town,I sometimes feel art=the grasshopper, or the rabbit, in those

respective fables, as the good-for-nothing bum-because everyone

else "has to work".

<P>

Okay...how do I get over "hiding from money".....does anyone have a

good suggestion (I don't have trouble with accepting printed

payments/checks from businesses where a bookkeeper handled the whole

mess and I wasn't the one to set the pay by hour-only agree to it.)

as to how I could keep from hiding, or blurting out....."Oh,no,

there's no charge for that! It was fun." when I open my little

business in the very nice Antique Mall. People are beginning to ask

how much I charge. I have no idea how much I charge........because

I'm afraid to say it.....and I'll barely get it out of my mouth

before I try to hide under a rug and try to disappear forever.

<P>

Now, I don't need too much analysis...I've read tons of Freud, Jung,

and Lacan...and love them all....but I do need a "trick" or

something, which will get me past this spot. A new way of looking at

things.....like...uhhhh, being a responsible part of the economic

turnover of the town.....hhhmmmm, no, that won't do it....anyway,

here's a little web page where you can sort of evalutate what you're

dealing with here...... <a href="http://www.cp-

tel.net/canardpress">MY WEBSITE WITH PHOTOS</a>......and if you see

anything there you like you can have it...but wait! Let ME print it

out for you, buy the photo paper and the ink, package it and mail it

to you,overnight.....etc. See?

<P>Okay, I really need to earn the money. How can we make this

easier for me.<P>

And thank you, thank you , thank you.......

Would you feel ripped off buying a painting you really liked? If not, then assume that is how someone else feels about buying one of yours. People do not need your work. If they buy it, it is because they want to. Nobody I know of will starve their family to buy a painting.

For the longest time I had the exact same problem (Ok, I was designing network security solutions, not taking pictures, but the principle is the same). I knew other people were charging much more money for what I saw as inferior work in some cases, but everytime someone asked "How much?" my inevitable response was "oh.. er.. mumble..mumble." Or "Well.. normally I would charge about $X, but I got to test this new technique, or piece of equipment, so I'll reduce the price this time."

 

Eventually I sat down and took a serious look at how much time I spent on each project. I took into account all the hours I spent on site doing the work, as well as the time spent discovering client requirements, as well as fine tuning each project plan, and late nights of creating the actual network designs and policies. Once I divided the money I was charging by the total number of hours I was working, I realized I could be perfectly comfortable with my rates.

 

The next time I had to hand over an invoice I just kept repeating in the back of my mind, "that's only $Y / hour."

 

And as someone already mentioned, they are coming to you, you are not chasing them. If you feel your ripping people off because your having so much fun, why not focus on sharing that fun with your clients? There is definitely an added value when a customer enjoys the experience as well as the end result.

 

Good luck!

Wire me all your dough and see how much it sucks to be broke.

 

If that don't shock you out of our fear of accepting money - then you're never gonna change - no matter what 'economic turnover' yadda yadda anyone tells you.

 

Ha ha.. boy this is rich.

Sounds exactly how I felt after mowing a lawn as a kid and "bartering" the payment after I was done. I'd suggest putting up a sign that indicates your various rates for size, special touches, color/b&w, etc. Keeps everything in the open and no surprises for you or the customer. Also, look at it from their perspective. Do you have a problem paying someone for quality work/service at an agreed upon price?

Was thinking about this some more - is this post only here because of the date? If it is, you got me.

If they're not complaining about the price, you're not charging enough.

Think of your 'little' business as a MacDonald's.

 

 

 

 

You can look at the menu all day and into the night --- but no money, no meal to dine on.

 

 

 

 

If, you can pay for little things like a camera, film, memory cards, printer supplies (even a computer) without taking a dime in return,

you need to examine the second of April date, along with the first.

Please, no. I'm not really great on April 1 jokes, but it did occur to me that my posting was a little unusual and oh, gee, look at the date. I am not familiar with April 2, but I'll reread the post, and probably will understand...life goes on....

<P>

No, I too, felt this from a young age....in college I worked as a cocktail waitress in Miami, and my first customers paid their bill and left an extra dollar on the tray. I turned it all back in to the cashier. She was very nice, and handed me the dollar explaining that that was for me, it was my tip. I asked her if she were really really sure, and she said yes and placed the dollar in my hand. I was so embarassed...I hid behind a column in the nightclub for the rest of the night.

<P>

I know there is a good explaination.....maybe a fear of death I don't know I have.....to expose that I have to "earn" money makes me vunerable.....but I do have the challenge of making monkey...I respect people who respect money and know how to excel with ease there. (I do not respect people who complain about money, or talk about it..one way or the other, incessantly.)

<P>

I think earning money, making a lot of it, is a very healthy, and even creative act.

<P>

I liked L.W.'s answer....that the people are coming to me, and that he never knew anyone to starve his family by buying photos..or something to that effect. It was funny and a good thought.

<P>

It is also interesting (but does not make me happy) to understand that others have had this problem a little too. I just thought it was very unusual problem, and it is a problem that interfers with business, and yes, as some have mentioned, the business of life.....

<P>

Anyway, no, it was not an April 1, thing. Actually I was too concerned that I might be stretching the business forum intentions, to notice the awkward date.

<P>So, thank you all for accepting my question in the business forum as you did........and I am still listening.

I normally don't answer too much because of limited time, but in this case I want to reply.<br>

<br>

 

Puh-LEASE do not take what I say here as negative or insulting, as it is truly meant in only the nicest and most sincere manner....<br>

<br>

 

...You say you don't need TOO MUCH Analysis, but it sounds to me like you might benefit from SOME counseling.<br>

<br>

 

You (and others with this similar problem) sound as if there is some deep-seeded issues w/ self-esteem & self worth.<br>

<br>

To succeed in your own business, you need to:<br>

A) Like Yourself<br>

B) Value Yourself<br>

C) Value what you do<br>

D) Understand that what you do is of value to others.<br>

<br>

 

Business is not about who got a better deal - or feeling like you've either been ripped off, or are ripping off someone else.<br>

<br>

 

Business is about the exchange of goods or services for an equitable trade. Unless you are able to really value what you offer, by default, you're left feeling like what you have to give is of little or no value. Business is not about making other people happy, but rather about providing something they need or want. If you can't really value what you offer, haw can you ever really feel happy about providing it to others?<br>

<br>

 

My first commercial assignment paid $10,000.00 for a single day of work. My first editorial assignment was for FORBES Magazine, and they paid me to be in Yosemite Valley for 3 Days.<br>

<br>

 

Did I feel Guilty? - Maybe about 1.5%<br>

Did I smile all the way to the bank. You bet.<br>

But I never thought that I was ripping them off, and I was always conscious of the hard work I was doing, and the value they would be getting from using my work.<br>

<br>

 

I get asked by many people how to start a photography business. The very first things I say (in order) are:<br>

1) Take a Business Class.<br>

2) Value your work.<br>

<br>

 

And I might also suggest that Photo.net is not a real 'business' forum. If you'd like to check out some professional organizations or newsgroups, check out the sources on my LINKS PAGE on my web site.<br>

<br>

 

 

Finally, if you just want a quick fix, go check $500.00 out of your own bank. PRACTICE - Get a friend to play a "Customer" and have them Hand you (your own) money, and you in turn hand them a print or photo album with a Thank You and a hand shake. Set a value for something - Then have them slowly count out a bunch of 10 & 20 dollar bills into your hand, counting off the amount. Practice that until the feeling of taking the money from someone else is second nature. This way, after 100+ times, You'll think a "REAL" customer is simply handing you back YOUR OWN money.<br>

<br>

<br>

 

- Hope that helps.<br>

<br>

 

I truly wish you the best with your business.<br>

<br>

 

Gary Crabbe<br>

<a href="http://www.enlightphoto.com">Enlightened Images</a>

You have every right to give away pictures at no charge, or just at cost, as well as the right to even pay people to photograph or paint them, then give them the images or not. Whatever turns you on. I wish my doctor, lawyer, accountant, barber, mechanic, dry cleaner, grocer, and mortgage lender, et al, felt the same way.

"Okay, I really need to earn the money. How can we make this easier for me."

 

Huh? This is no way to begin a business venture.

 

Take a thorough read through Dan Heller's articles at www.danheller.com. After this is done, take at least a week to seriously evaluate whether you should be in business at all. Then, visit the Small Business Administration for help in building a good, well written business plan.

 

If you are not a "business person", you may very well be better off working for someone else and avoiding the anxiety that business causes you.

 

Needing the money is the last reason you should be opening a business. Operating under the constant need for capital and income from the outset will hinder the way you view your business and how you carry it out. This kind of thinking is like deciding to grow a lemon tree because you are thirsty for homemade lemonade.

 

Last point about this, you are in business to make money, not to take pictures. That means accepting money from customers as well as marketing and understanding the value of your work. If you have a hard time accepting money from people, they will sense that and have a hard time giving it to you. Someone with a more entrepreneurial spirit will be more than willing to take it from them for you.

 

Good luck with this.

Belle- Here's a simple fix for your problem. Since you are posting this on-line, I am assuming you have a computer. Get an easy-to-use billing software (I use something called Billing Solution, but there are several good ones out there). Make up decent prices, and just tell your customers you'll mail them a bill. If someone gets a bill in a very business-looking format, then they assume that it was sent out by a business. Even if you are the one printing the bill and sending it out, the recipient will disassociate you from the bill--not completely, you understand, but at least a little bit. You become more like the clerk behind a counter at a store-- you are not responsible for the price of things (even though you are). It's that mean old computer program with prices in it. Most people will pay right up and not even mention it. If anybody quibbles, just apologize and tell them they can pay whatever they think it's worth.

 

This way, you are not present when they get the bill, and you are not present when they make out the check. You just open the envelope and make the deposit.

 

After a while, you will get used to getting money for your photography, and you will have this problem less and less.

 

Just a few months ago, someone asked me to bring my equipment and shoot a party at a radio station. It was only after I asked who would be getting the invoice that I learned that they had expeced me to shoot it for free! I asked them, if I was a plumber and they asked me to come to their house on a particular day and fix their plumbing, wouldn't they expect to get a bill from the plumber? I was a professional photographer, I expected to be given the same consideration. They said, "Well, anybody can take pictures." I laughed, and replied, "Well, I often do my own plumbing, but I know when to call in a pro, and when I do, I pay him what he's worth." I pointed out that they had a massive, cavernous space that soaked up light like a sponge and needed supplementary strobes in each corner, and an experienced shooter who could cover all the events and make sure that the pictures came out. I got a $400 deposit and they've ordered close to $500 in prints so far.

 

And Belle, I used to have problems not unlike yours.

 

As a photographer I used to work for pointed out, the ONLY thing you really get paid for is sending out invoices. Now, I understand that some people take this too far and send out bogus invoices for doing no work, but that's a different subject!

 

Best of luck. --Bill C.

I can understand where you are coming from. I have often been known to give away the store :D. However, a hungry photographer is a grouchy photographer...I tend to accept money for shots where I don't retain the rights, and for those where I DO retain the rights I usually DON'T accept money. As for prints, I don't do many...and those that I DO make, I usually give to the subject (if they own the rights, they own the negatives, and they can make their own darned prints).

 

I tend to walk the middle path, being paid for some and refusing payment for others (a friend's father's funeral...I shot 4 rolls, in some very dificult situations; he wanted to pay me, I told him it was a gift for the family...prints, negs, scans; he then said that I should sell them as stock images, I just can't do it...someone ELSE'S funeral, but not his father's :-). The only thing I am keeping is a set of prints and scans).