Standing your ground

[cameragod]

I had a regular half day shoot with a client.
It was a half day shoot that often was over in two hours. The client kept making noises about me doing it for an hourly rate.
He thought it was a regular booking and an easy shoot so I should just charge for the time I spent shooting.
I wouldn't do it.
I pointed out it was in the middle of the day so it was hard to time to book other shoots around it so his easy two hours could cost me a whole days work.
After a few months I got an email telling me they had found another cameraman who better fitted the style of their show.
I knew that he fitted their style by shooting hourly and I did wonder if I had done the right thing. It was regular work.
Then a few weeks later I got a call. Could I come and shoot for them again?
And now we are back to a regular shoot.
No mention of what happened with the other cameraman and no complaints about my rate.
So glad I stayed strong.

[2 Hungry Dogs]

Glad to hear it worked out for you. It's so hard to stick to your rate, but very satisfying when you do and it works out

[TVmercenary]

Glad they came around. I've put my foot down on half-days that straddle noon. My rules are it has a hard out (might run long = full day) and must end (I am driving away) by noon OR I arrive at location time is after 1pm.

[cameragod]

A friend suggested it was my own fault because I made the shoot look too easy.

[Cameradude]

Like I say, there is an art to doing nothing, because it makes you available to do something big.

I seldom get calls for half day shoots. While I won't say that I will never do a half day shoot, because there are certain circumstances where I feel like doing them and I'm available, I can say with certainty that I don't do "hourly shoots".

If you have a business plan that is built around doing full day shoots for quality clients, and moving away from "cheaper clients" looking for deals, sometimes you have to stand your ground. It can make you second guess what you're doing, but if you have a solid business plan and client list you have to make those tough decisions.

[The Thing on The Sticks]

Originally Posted by Cameradude

Like I say, there is an art to doing nothing, because it makes you available to do something big.

I seldom get calls for half day shoots. While I won't say that I will never do a half day shoot, because there are certain circumstances where I feel like doing them and I'm available, I can say with certainty that I don't do "hourly shoots".

If you have a business plan that is built around doing full day shoots for quality clients, and moving away from "cheaper clients" looking for deals, sometimes you have to stand your ground. It can make you second guess what you're doing, but if you have a solid business plan and client list you have to make those tough decisions.

Sure I will do hourly for you mister first hours same price as my half day.... that is unless you run over 5 then it is the same price as the full day.