Service Deposits Explained

Deposit Only | No Flat Rates

Full Disclosure

Here is one of my old “Rate Sheets” (Above)

Why did I stop using this to book my services?

Because nobody ever booked my services.

But it’s not because I am not a good photographer - or even because these prices are too high; they are not.

It’s because when people see OBJECTIVE RATES for SUBJECTIVE SERVICES, they run for the hills! (Just like the folks in these photos below!)

So I go into a lot more detail about the “WHY” in my two-part blog: “Professional Photography Pricing Explained”

But I can actually boil down why I charge deposits in one simple statement:

Because I Prioritize Your Budget

Not my bottom line.

By its nature, digital content creation is as I said before, 100% subjective.

However, determining rates is 100% objective if you break down the costs of “doing business.” But unfortunately, most people booking content creators don’t see it that way - there is always someone “cheaper.”

After all, who’s to say the content I create for you will be “better” for your business or your own personal marketing objectives than the next guy’s stuff?

There is no way to know for sure because the production process of every single shoot is 100% different.

And so is your vision.

(Just like your budget!)

EXAMPLE: If you had a brain tumor, you wouldn’t ask the neurosurgeon to quote you right down to the last penny exactly how much he intends to bill for operating on an emergency basis, would you? No, you’d just pay your deductible and let insurance pay for the rest. (But I guarantee somebody in their actuarial department will be scrutinizing every line-item!)

If you were being accused of a crime for which you are not guilty, you wouldn’t ask your defense attorney exactly how many billable hours he plans to charge to win the case, would you? No, you’d keep working with him until you outlined all the requisite evidence you needed to exonerate yourself. Then, assuming you really are innocent, the settlement would pay for his services.

Booking a professional content shoot is no different because there is no “one way” to shoot anything! And that’s why I ask you to put down a deposit first so I know you’re serious about booking me as opposed to the next guy!

Then I ask what YOUR RATE (Budget) is because it gives us something objective to target.