They paid me...

sportysnaps

sportysnaps

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martin
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……………………………………..finally



In February 2008 I managed to get a 30min slot with the picture editor of a large local newspaper, with the intention of showing them some of my photos and trying to get some paid work from them. The editor seemed to be impressed with my photos and was very helpful in discussing options and career paths, working as a full time employee of the newspaper or working as a freelancer.

It seems that this newspaper (and many others I suspect) does not employ many photographers and vacancies only come up once every 2-3 years. Most of the photos they use come from regular freelancers, and that they would be happy to add me to their list (of freelancers on their BACS payment system). With this in mind they had a job that they needed doing, and they would pay me a day’s pay for it, at their standard rate. Nothing too exciting – some photos of kids, at several schools, in a a few weeks time. So I did the work and was then pleased to see that they had printed around 20 of my photos in the paper – great

So I sent them my first email which was my invoice – I had been told it may take longer the fist time to pay me as they would need to set me up on the system.........

Little did I know it would take 30 emails, 4 phone calls and a free 30min legal advice session (thanks unison) to get paid 126 days later…
I should point out at no point was there any suggestion of them being unhappy with the work or any intent on their part to not pay just a very very long line of mistakes and errors on their part. At all times I kept dialogue professional and polite.

Now the question is do I do further work for them – now that I’m correctly set up on their system, payment should be easy – I had already decided I would not do further work until paid, but now that I have, should I try to get further work from them

What do you think?
 
I'd say give them one more chance. The alternative is starting all over again looking for this kind of work and you may be in danger of cutting off your nose to spite your face.

The worst that can happen is you do a day of unpaid work. Worth the risk in my book as the benefits would appear to outweigh it.
 
Defiance said:
I'd say give them one more chance. The alternative is starting all over again looking for this kind of work and you may be in danger of cutting off your nose to spite your face.

The worst that can happen is you do a day of unpaid work. Worth the risk in my book as the benefits would appear to outweigh it.
Click to expand...

I second that :thumbs:
 
:agree: always give a second chance, if they mess you about again then is the time to walk away and when they ask you to do more work say no and explain why.
 
^^^ i concure.. Give em a bash..
 
Well done on getting the work, and getting published. Sry to here about the problems you at with payment for that work. One thing I will make you aware of, is that I used to work for a major Japanese electronic company, and they would only pay suppliers 3mths after invoice received. This is a common practice for many (large) companies.

Have you spoken to any other freelancers who work for this paper? I would suggest this to find out if payment is more prompt after the 1st payment is made you.

I don't mean to rain on your parade, and I know how good your work is, but it is worth looking into before they refuse/delay payments on a large number of pics.

Good luck, and hopefully this was a one off.

Gerald
 
Taxi is right, i went to see the Editor of a VERY large picture agency, he warned me that it would take around 3 months for any monies to start comming in..
 
A visit to www.payontime.co.uk might be useful, they probably owe you another £40 + interest :thumbs:

My policy is 1st time is forgiven, 2nd time charge the fee above, 3rd time walk away.
 
You've got your foot in the door. They've used your images. You've been paid. Stick with them. There's loads of freelancers out there who'll do the jobs. Better the money in your pocket (eventually) than in theirs.

Paul
 
126 days. even for a big institution, thats apalling.
but do you want more work from them?.
hopefully your right about them, and its just a comedy of errors first time round.
as has been said , you have a foot in the door. i'd have another go and see what happens.
if they do it to you again, they obviously arent worth the effort.
well done on the published shots.
 
fraggle101 said:
Taxi is right, i went to see the Editor of a VERY large picture agency, he warned me that it would take around 3 months for any monies to start comming in..
Click to expand...

I agree, its not that unusual.

First time on the freelance payment system .. and many of the others may be unpaid on the same system I'd guess. Yeah, its not so odd that they messed it up...give them a second test, but don't risk too much.
 
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