Fee negotiation remains one of the most important and challenging aspects of the business of photography. Buy camera, get good, get paid right? Not quite. Some hard rules to consider before you price any job are.
1) What’s your cost of doing business?
2) What’s the market I’m in?
3) What rights agreement and fee is right for my client?
4) What's my clients budget?
That’s a lot to consider and certainly it might seem daunting and there are many potential pitfalls along the way, like waiting 3 hours to not seem desperate.
Don't settle for what doesn't seem fair or reasonable. Be willing to negotiate and perhaps even accept less, but don't accept less than your worth.
The photo above was a composite image of three shots. The $100 dollar bill bent on it's side to simulate swimming (later rotated in PS). The hook, poking through a hole in a piece of paper (no 100 dollar bills were actually poked in the making of this photo). Lastly, the line and hook were shot separately.
Lighting was one light camera bottom and beneath for 100 dollar bill to create camera-right light when rotated. Line and hook were both shot with one light as well.
