Comments on: The Value of Being Paid in Advance http://rising.blackstar.com/the-value-of-being-paid-in-advance.html Professional Photography Blog Fri, 10 Feb 2012 23:56:37 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Jonathanhttp://rising.blackstar.com/the-value-of-being-paid-in-advance.html/comment-page-1#comment-1986 Jonathan Mon, 24 Nov 2008 00:08:53 +0000 #comment-1986 Great post! This is one of the key moments where negotiation skills come in - I'd read lot of books about negotiating in general, for example, but never really identified a time when I realized I was actually being put to the test. Trying to get paid in advance is just that - and you need to present a compelling case why it's better for the client to remunerate you in full. I recommend explaining that advance payment means you never have to chase OTHER clients for payment, so when you're doing work for THIS client, you will be 100% focused on the work you are doing for them.Also, before you manage to negotiate up-front payment every time, which takes a bit of practise, aim for 50% in advance and 50% half way through, according to a set list of deliverables...but include an option that the work 'continues' only after the second payment has been received. In other words, if you only get paid half, you only do HALF the work.The key aim is to show genuine goodwill to your customers whilst being able to provide better service by not having to chase up other people over payment.That way, everybody wins! Great post! This is one of the key moments where negotiation skills come in - I'd read lot of books about negotiating in general, for example, but never really identified a time when I realized I was actually being put to the test. Trying to get paid in advance is just that - and you need to present a compelling case why it's better for the client to remunerate you in full. I recommend explaining that advance payment means you never have to chase OTHER clients for payment, so when you're doing work for THIS client, you will be 100% focused on the work you are doing for them.

Also, before you manage to negotiate up-front payment every time, which takes a bit of practise, aim for 50% in advance and 50% half way through, according to a set list of deliverables...but include an option that the work 'continues' only after the second payment has been received. In other words, if you only get paid half, you only do HALF the work.

The key aim is to show genuine goodwill to your customers whilst being able to provide better service by not having to chase up other people over payment.

That way, everybody wins!

]]> By: Sean Caytonhttp://rising.blackstar.com/the-value-of-being-paid-in-advance.html/comment-page-1#comment-314 Sean Cayton Tue, 22 Apr 2008 22:59:11 +0000 #comment-314 Stanley: Please, please, please write your next piece on getting a contract 'in place.' Would be an incredibly valuable tool for editorial photographers looking to help insure their livelihood. Stanley: Please, please, please write your next piece on getting a contract 'in place.' Would be an incredibly valuable tool for editorial photographers looking to help insure their livelihood.

]]> By: Stephen Sidlohttp://rising.blackstar.com/the-value-of-being-paid-in-advance.html/comment-page-1#comment-312 Stephen Sidlo Tue, 22 Apr 2008 13:00:25 +0000 #comment-312 As a graduate leaving university with a Photojournalism degree, I have been used in the industry at the beginning for my images, and not been paid. This is a pure problem among freelancers or students today in the UK and Ireland.The NUJ are currently fighting editors for more rights in these areas because each year thousands of photographers and journalists are underpayed, not payed or treated badly. As a graduate leaving university with a Photojournalism degree, I have been used in the industry at the beginning for my images, and not been paid. This is a pure problem among freelancers or students today in the UK and Ireland.

The NUJ are currently fighting editors for more rights in these areas because each year thousands of photographers and journalists are underpayed, not payed or treated badly.

]]> By: Stanley Learyhttp://rising.blackstar.com/the-value-of-being-paid-in-advance.html/comment-page-1#comment-310 Stanley Leary Fri, 18 Apr 2008 14:55:05 +0000 #comment-310 I have found when you have a contract in place and mark up all invoices by 10% and give a discount for 10% for payment before 30 or 45 days you get paid on time.I believe it isn't the industry of editorial--it is rather the contract that helps on getting paid on time. I have found when you have a contract in place and mark up all invoices by 10% and give a discount for 10% for payment before 30 or 45 days you get paid on time.

I believe it isn't the industry of editorial--it is rather the contract that helps on getting paid on time.

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