Warning!

[ShaneKislack]

I'm relating this little story out of frustration and hopefully to save you guys some time.

I answered an ad for a "photographer" on craig's list. First mistake, I know. The pay was $18-25 /hr....so I thought it sounded interesting. After all a full time job at $25/hr with benefits wouldn't be too bad, right? Anyway, "Pair of Dice on the Heel" (I've changed the name to protect the guilty) calls me for an interview. I drive out and find out that they are a wedding/event center. They tell me they are looking for the best wedding photographers to be 'their guys'. The job is as follows, and I'll spare you the editorial until all of the facts as they presented them to me are relayed to you:

1. The job will be part time.
2. You will shoot the wedding and reception.
3. You hand over the pics to the center at the end of th night
4. They pay you $18-25/hr
5. The second interview will be a shoot out: That's right, she explained that they will have a few of us come out and shoot their property and the ones they like the best will get the 'job'.

The following is editorial opinion.

Ok, let's see...in order to get the job I have to shoot your start-up facility...for free...and still may not get the 'job'? They charge up to $8-10000 for their wedding packages (where photography will be an add on) according to their website.

Photography wedding packages by average photogs start around $1500 in the N. Texas area. The 'Best' photogs are charging $3-5K. So 'Pair of Dice on the Heel' is going to charge at least $1500 bucks for the photography, take physical possession of my pics, claim copyright...and pay me what? $150 for at best? Oh, yeah...you'll only get paid from the time a particular wedding starts to the end of the reception (that's what they mean by part time). What's that 6 hours at best? And not get any royalties from the photos I shot.


I truely hope none of your are in a financial position that makes this sound fair.

[ShutteredEye]

Holy smokes. Unbelievable.

[HeatherLou]

Yikes!

[Bartman01]

I like the fact that they want to hire a 'people/portrait' (wedding) photographer based on 'architectural' (their facility) shots.

[jeffkohn]

Well, another way to look at it is that they handle post-processing, proofs, order fullfillment (prints, albums, etc), contracts, sales tax, etc. If you would be a W2 employee and covered by their liability insurance, then it sounds like it might not be such a bad way to get some experience for somebody who does not yet have a DBA, tax-id, business insurance, etc and is more interested in shooting than the other "stuff" that goes along with going into business for yourself. Heck look at how many people around here put considerably more time/effort into shooting weddings as a second/third shooter or as a primary for a friend/acquantance for considerably less (or even free).

[Stephen H]

It sounds like it might be okay for someone already employed full time- go shoot, go home and forget it- okay money for that.

You could make the same argument about mechanics- why work for someone when you could own a garage?

[dreemes]

As Jeff states it might be good to gain some experience but watch out for a contract if you do want to go into business for yourself. They may make you sign a contract that has a "non competitive" clause. That could mean you couldn't go into that type of business in any area they serve for not only the time you are employeed but also for so long after the last day you work for them.

[AndrewCCM]

Well if they are looking for "the best" in the area, I doubt they are going to get that for that rate. When I second shoot my rates are about double that. And that is as a second (turning over images with no post).

Oh well. Interesting to say the least.

[ShaneKislack]

Originally Posted by Stephen H

It sounds like it might be okay for someone already employed full time- go shoot, go home and forget it- okay money for that.

You could make the same argument about mechanics- why work for someone when you could own a garage?

I see your point, however it's not quite the same. At least mechanics will get 40 hours/week and health care. Like I said, $25/hr wouldn't be bad if it were 40 hours/week and benefits.

Listen up guys, I'm sorry if you don't want to hear this....but you deserve to get paid a fair/market rate for your work. You deserve to get paid for all of your creativity, problem solving and technical expertise. You deserve to get rewarded for investing your own money in equipment, spending countless hours honing your skills and being courageous enough to follow your dream. I know this is a hard reality for some folks, but deal with it.

[whitecrow]

I'm not really sure what your point of frustration is. If you don't like the deal, don't take it. Is it unfair to the photographer? Sure it is. These people are in business to make a profit. Guaranteed, they will find someone for their price, and he/she will be worth exactly what they're paying... ;-)

[babybluetx23]

Originally Posted by Bartman01

I like the fact that they want to hire a 'people/portrait' (wedding) photographer based on 'architectural' (their facility) shots.

That was EXACTLY my thought!!! hehehe

[ShaneKislack]

Well Carl, anyone that takes the job is hurting the biz. I understand people need money...that's why I said I hope none of you are in the financial position that makes this sound attractive.

My frustration is that they wasted my time and don't value our work.

[whitecrow]

I understand your point. But reality is there are many out there that do not value the work. They believe anyone with a camera can be a photographer, and pay accordingly. Unfortunate, but true.

[Wendyp]

So what is the going rate for a second photographer? What are the big area studios paying their "assistants"? You know, the people they send out to photograph weddings because the studio has 2-3 booked on the same day?

The rate that's been passed around my circle of photographer friends is about $200 for a wedding (all day) or $20-$25 and hour.

This business is really no different that an established studio who hires "assistants" to photograph weddings for them. I seriously doubt those photographers make $500 or more for a day's work. The studio does all the work outside of shooting, so of course they will want to make the profit. And, as in any studio, it is up to the client to put a value on their services and to determine if this "studio" produces $10,000 weddings (and, yes, there are people paying that for wedding photography in the Dallas market)

This sort of job is just a contract laborer job. Take it or leave it. If you do take it, I agree with the part about watching for a non-competitive clause.

[Stephen H]

I meant an okay deal as a 2nd job for someone- not as a replacement for the first job. I'm not applying, by the way.