http://www.estimatesandbids.com/index.php en john@johnharrington.com Copyright 2008 2008-01-17T02:48:00-05:00 http://www.estimatesandbids.com/index.php/estimatesandbids/article/a_stock_and_assignment_pitch_opportunity/ http://www.estimatesandbids.com/index.php/estimatesandbids/article/a_stock_and_assignment_pitch_opportunity/#When:02:48:00Z An inquiry came in from a photographer looking to make available his images to a small but well-heeled contingent of sports enthusiasts. The photographer made observations at a recent trade show for these enthusiasts that the photographic imagery that the people he was trying to buy from was poor, and could use improvement. Further, a review of the local sports shops dedicated to this field determined that the photographer could pitch assignments to them of their storefronts and interiors. Advertising 2008-01-17T02:48:00-05:00 http://www.estimatesandbids.com/index.php/estimatesandbids/article/advertising_still_shoot_in_tandem_with_video_shoot/ http://www.estimatesandbids.com/index.php/estimatesandbids/article/advertising_still_shoot_in_tandem_with_video_shoot/#When:05:51:00Z An inquiry came in from a good friend of mine looking for insights on this: “special” photography (i.e. it’s not unit photography) to take place during and around a video production of a national fitness expert working on endorsement of multinational health-related product. Shoot to include: - 16 scenes of her performing various fitness maneuvers, which includes 2-4 of her using the health-related product - Single image on seamless for use as cut-out of expert in various (see below) electronic media. Experience tells this photographer that is is highly likely that the set will be lit well enough that s/he can use the lighting set up for the video portion of the assignment. Advertising, Brochures/ Marketing Materials, Commercial, Corporate, Online, People 2008-01-08T05:51:00-05:00 http://www.estimatesandbids.com/index.php/estimatesandbids/article/event_coverage_at_auto_show/ http://www.estimatesandbids.com/index.php/estimatesandbids/article/event_coverage_at_auto_show/#When:06:37:00Z This inquiry came in from a colleague. While I’d direct him to my pricing calculator on my site, here’s it for your consideration: I’m in the communications office at {major governmental research institution}, and we are potentially participating in an announcement by the {government department} at the auto show on in two weeks. We’re looking for a freelance photographer to document the event for us, and I came across your site. I was wondering about your rates and availability for that day for about 3 hours. Commercial, Corporate 2008-01-06T06:37:00-05:00 http://www.estimatesandbids.com/index.php/estimatesandbids/article/available_light_shoot_of_youth/ http://www.estimatesandbids.com/index.php/estimatesandbids/article/available_light_shoot_of_youth/#When:03:07:00Z The following request came in for a colleague of mine, and I put it up for your consideration and collective wisdom. I have a shoot that will be 4-6 hours.  It’s a shoot of children in an educational environment, more than likely using available light, to shoot storytelling images of these youth, and the end client is a governmental-type organization, available light, no studio lights. While the youth may well need model releases, that is not your responsibility from a cost standpoint.  I estimated 6 hours at $X for the shoot, and $X for post production.  What would you charge for the shoot fee, unbundled from the scope of usage since there is still a degree of unknown as it pertains to the final use, and further, the photographer is concerned about scaring the client away with huge bundled fees. Further, the photographer believes they could trim what usage they didn’t need or want from their budget and he would still get a good rate to shoot and an additional revenue on specific licenses as they are determined. Brochures/ Marketing Materials, Commercial, Corporate, People 2008-01-05T03:07:00-05:00 http://www.estimatesandbids.com/index.php/estimatesandbids/article/financial_planning_company_portrait_needed/ http://www.estimatesandbids.com/index.php/estimatesandbids/article/financial_planning_company_portrait_needed/#When:20:27:00Z This prospective client wrote, in an unsolicited e-mail inquiry: I’m in need of a professional shot (likely, waist up) for my firm’s website and for a feature in {local society magazine} magazine. Curious what your turnaround, rates, etc. would be for digital-only work (i.e. no prints needed). Thanks, {Prospective Client} {Local Financial Planning Firm} Corporate, Online, People 2008-01-01T20:27:00-05:00 http://www.estimatesandbids.com/index.php/estimatesandbids/article/ad_agency_request_for_unique_images/ http://www.estimatesandbids.com/index.php/estimatesandbids/article/ad_agency_request_for_unique_images/#When:22:34:01Z A call came in from a colleague who was asking my advice for pricing a request. This is the request. I’d really like your help.  I have shown some images to an ad agency that is doing work for a huge sporting goods company.  They’re from a {league} game so it’s not something that can be easily reproduced. For what it’s worth, I have purchased your book and have found some helpful advice but I have no idea how to respond to the agency’s request for pricing. Advertising, Brochures/ Marketing Materials, Commercial 2008-01-01T22:34:01-05:00 http://www.estimatesandbids.com/index.php/estimatesandbids/article/restaurant_executive_portrait_needed/ http://www.estimatesandbids.com/index.php/estimatesandbids/article/restaurant_executive_portrait_needed/#When:22:10:00Z This client wrote in an e-mail asking for an assignment to be done in the local area. John, I need a digital portrait of the manager and head chef of {restaurant name} in {downtown city location}. The portrait (both of them in the same shot, square-ish or vertical) needs to be done on location next week during the day, prior to the restaurant opening at 5pm. Can you please let me know if you’re interested, your availability, and email me an estimate. This is for one-time editorial use in a newsletter which is send through the mail, and sent digitally. Thank you, {client name & phone number} Corporate, People 2008-01-01T22:10:00-05:00 http://www.estimatesandbids.com/index.php/estimatesandbids/article/advertise_with_us/ http://www.estimatesandbids.com/index.php/estimatesandbids/article/advertise_with_us/#When:20:21:01Z Promote Your Product, Service or Website to over 60,000 visitors each month, between the Assignment Construct, Photo Business News & Forum and Estimates & Bids sister blogs. Now, you can economically promote your company or organization to photographers all around the word in a single step. Advertising on both blogs is easy, reasonably priced and effective. 2008-01-01T20:21:01-05:00 http://www.estimatesandbids.com/index.php/estimatesandbids/article/who_writes_this_stuff/ http://www.estimatesandbids.com/index.php/estimatesandbids/article/who_writes_this_stuff/#When:22:22:00Z Me, and you. My name is John Harrington, and I’ve been making pictures for over 17 years in Washington DC and around the world. You can read my bio on my JohnHarrington.com website, to get the lowdown on me further. I like this stuff. I like the negotiating process, and I want it to be a fair exchange or benefits received, for payments made. I get upset when I feel as if I am being taken advantage of, or if I see a friend of colleague about to be taken advantage of. Further, part of the reason that many clients demand all-rights/buyouts/and so forth, is because they may have been held hostage by an unethical photographer who refused to extend a license unless an exorbitant fee was paid.  2007-12-31T22:22:00-05:00 http://www.estimatesandbids.com/index.php/estimatesandbids/article/welcome_to_estimates_and_bids/ http://www.estimatesandbids.com/index.php/estimatesandbids/article/welcome_to_estimates_and_bids/#When:20:23:00Z This business of photography is changing. Constantly. Yet, fundamental business principles remain the same, which, while I created Photo Business News & Forum for that, the idea for this blog was born from the ongoing and regular inquries I get from friends and colleagues with the question - “How do I estimate this job?” They usually have an idea, but want feedback to make sure they’ve not forgotten anything. Sometimes, this job is the first time they’ve estimated this particular type of assignment. I am happy to help. Further, one of the more popular features of my book, Best Business Practices for Photographers is the actual, concrete real-world examples of requests I have had, and the back-and-forth I had with clients negotiating along the way. Here at Estimates & Bids, I am hoping to take the mystery out of the process (well, as much as possible) of estimates. I’ll be posting requests from recent clients, and interactions, where I have them. In a departure from Photo Business News & Forum and Assignment Construct, you too will have the opportunity to have inquiries that came to you put forth to the collective community. Send them over for consideration, and I’ll post them. This endeavor will be so much more beneficial to all if you send inquiries and interactions that you’ve had. I won’t say that it won’t work without you, there will always be lurkers, but it will just be so much broader and colorful if you do. Your opportunity to participate as a respondent to the request will be moderated. I don’t want off-topic comments to seep into the dialog, and I don’t want to be going through and deleting those types of posts, so, your response to the post/inquiry should be thoughtful and complete, or it won’t make it up. This process does not presume that you are actually qualified to complete the job. But, do you know what you’re talking about? We’ll see. Further, because some people think “collateral” means one thing, and “buyout” means one thing, we won’t be using vague terminology. We’ll be using PLUS codes for the uses requested. The PLUS Coalition did such a wonderful job of demystifying every type of use under the sun, that we would be derelict in our obligation to clarity to try to define the uses any other way. Further, there will be a “Hot” or “Sticky” post type. These will be jobs that you, dear reader, are working on with an active client. They require a timely response, and I urge people to especially respond to these as they come across an RSS feed. Doing so will help your fellow photographer properly estimate the job, and they will be able to read your responses while they are preparing their estimate, or, perhaps to learn where they forgot something. So, what is an Estimate, and what is a Bid? From PLUS: Estimate - A outline of approximate costs, including fees and expenses (and potential additional expenses), including the licensing, terms of payment, and other elements critical to the execution and completion of an assignment. Final dollars involved may be more (or less) than the estimated total, but not by much, unless approved by the photographer and client. Bid - A “do not exceed” and “will not be less than” outline of costs, fees and expenses, including the licensing, terms of payment, and other elements critical to the execution and completion of an assignment. Thus, we’ll be discussing both. Would you have done it differently? Maybe, maybe not. I encourage you to sign up on the main page, and get updates and information, and set your RSS reader to pick up my entries. You’ll get full feeds, of course, no short-changing here. For the seasoned professional, there’s always more to learn, and it is my hope that you pick up insights as to how to better estimate, or even to share with your fellow photographer estimate inquiries you’ve been presented with yourself. For the aspiring photographer, you’ll hopefully take away wholesale solutions and systems to use to approach the estimating process. Enjoy! 2008-01-01T20:23:00-05:00