Best Business Practices for Photographers [131]
Technical notes: This was a fairly straightforward shoot—single softbox front left, hair light rear right, LiteDisc reflector on subject's right to reflect back onto the subject the falloff from the softbox on the front, and a graduated background light on the five-foot-wide seamless. In addition, we had on location our laptop, which allowed for the preview and approval of each subject's image before he or she left the room.
Initial inquiry came via the following e-mail, and the dialogue continues after that:
We concluded the shoot, and the client was satisfied with the final results. During the course of the assignment, the client indicated they had more attorneys they wanted photographed because the ability to display and do light retouching as the subject watched (and approved) was invaluable, and the office manager no longer had to chase people around and get their approvals on photos after the fact. They asked us to follow up in a month or so, so we did. Here is that dialogue:
Several months after the conclusion of this shoot, we received yet another request for our services from the same firm. After an initial inquiry for 10 portraits, they postponed early in the dialogue and then came back a few months after that seeking 20 to 25 portraits. The final estimate swelled to what ended up being 31 portraits. The dialogue continues below:
In the end, the 20 to 25 estimate became 31, and we sent along a revised estimate for 31 portraits. This client continues to be one of several returning clients, from law firms, to associations, and other organizations in need of portraits for their website and the occasional speaking engagement. Following is the estimate we sent for the 31 portraits.
Case Study: National Corporate Client
Client type: Regular client who represents a company having a corporate event in Washington.
How they found us: Existing relationship.
Assignment: All-day corporate symposium in a hotel ballroom.
Deliverables: CD with a loose edit of images.
Technical notes: The stage was well lit, so on-camera flash was not necessary except for break periods, where candids and posed group photos would be taken.
The initial inquiry came via telephone, and during that time there was a dialogue about using images of company executives in a brochure. We advised them of the issue of model releases and received assurances that the images would only be of company executives in the company brochure. We recommended obtaining releases from each person participating and were advised that they would.
Our dialogue with the client:
The following figures show the contract and invoice for the assignment. Note that the client called and ordered three e-mails and a second copy of the CD via telephone, and those additional items are reflected on the final invoice.
Case Study: Regional Corporate Client
Client type: Local/regional company.
How they found us: Client referral.
Assignment: Company was looking to showcase their "human capital" in one or two full-page ads in a trade magazine read by non-political decision makers in the federal government, hoping to win future government contracts. Photograph was to be of key company staff.
Deliverables: Single image chosen from film produced.
Technical notes: Shoot required four heads. Two on softboxes to light the front of the group, and two to light the background, and a hair light provided on the backs of the subjects.
The initial inquiry came via telephone, and we were advised that we were the sole photographer considered for the assignment. I asked the question, "Do you have a budget for this?" The client advised me that he'd like to come in around $5,000 for the project, and this was a reasonable figure for the scope and usage of the work. We prepared an estimate and sent it along. It was signed within two days and returned. Following the successful completion of the assignment, the same company called us again the following year for another assignment of a similar type for a similar use.
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