Slow Pay/No Pay

[Kevin Whipps]

Hey all, I think this is post #2 from me, as I'm mostly a lurker. Here's my story.

I freelance for several magazines, mostly car and truck related, and last year a bunch of editors changed hands which opened up some new doors for me. I turned in 4 articles to this one book right before Sema, and then waited for them to be published.

For reasons unforseen by the editor that I was directly working with - not the head honcho FYI - most of my articles sat on the shelf until July when one finally got published. I actually had to be told this by the editor, as I can't find this magazine anywhere near me.

Well after literally months of working on it, invoicing them twice, signing their releases twice, the head editor is telling me I'll get paid "in 30 days."

Honestly I don't know if it will happen.

So now on the assumption that I don't get paid, what kind of recourse do I have? I'm sure I can sue, but is it really worth it for a sub-$1000 paycheck? I've already pulled all of my stories from them, and honestly I didn't want this to be the situation.

On another note, I've heard of a program for billing, but most of the time my editors dictate my pay. It's usually based on pages since I'm writing the stories as well. Should I be the one dictating the price? I'm worried if I do that I'll price my way out of the biz.

Thanks.

[Mike Ditz]

How long has it been...in days, 60-90-120?
Obviously your invoice is off track, maybe because of the shuffling of editors?
Go around the editor and talk to accounting.
You could take them to small claims court if they are local. but that usually doesn't make you very many friends.

[Todd Corzett]

I'd say to keep pushing for payment... so many times things just fall through the cracks, or the person you talked with the first time thinks it has all been taken care of (but it hasn't). If they don't hear from you, they think everything is OK. Talk to the editor again, and get the information for accounting you can talk to them directly as well (and basically hold their hand until they pay you). Is it worth going t court? Nah, probably not... but it's worth calling them every few days until you get paid!

As for the question about setting prices... much of it has to do with the budgets of the magazine, but if they want the photos then they should pay what you feel is acceptable rates... if you aren’t happy, walk. This is often tough to, as you say "price my way out of the biz", but do you really want to be working in a business that isn't going to pay you what you are worth? Should use loose money so they can make more? I think there is a middle ground that can be reached, especially when there is demand for your work, and things don't necessarily need to fall apart... then again, you need to know when to walk if things get unacceptable for you.

-Todd...

[Mike Ditz]

This is often tough to, as you say "price my way out of the biz", but do you really want to be working in a business that isn't going to pay you what you are worth?.


This is how you move 'up the ladder' Cheap clients will always be cheap clients. When you have had enough being a cheap photographer you have to move a notch to better paying clients.

In this industry, there are clients who pay from $50 a job to $100,000+ per job. There's room for everybody.:)

PS your link goes to yor personal site, without an obvious link to your professional site...

[Jacob Leveton]

unfortunately, i'd say that this is becoming the standard more and more. Ironically, there was one company last year that had so many problems paying their freelancers that we joked that "you were a nobody until XXX company owes you money".

I've seen the whole accounts payable thing from several different angles. When I had a desk job at a major publishing company, I sat next to the Accounts Payable lady. Her sole job was to call people who were more than 30 days past due and hassle them about payment, and then pull their ads if they weren't cooperative. Thankfully, they have been the best with me as far as paying me on time as a freelancer, but I seem to be the exception, not the rule.

I've also worked as a consultant, arranging photoshoots, then submitting invoices for them (not actually writing or shooting). I got paid to setup and arrange the photoshoot, make sure all the paperwork was clear, and then submit an invoice for everything on a monthly basis. I still do that job, it's been a monthly gig for more than 2 full years running now. I've seen some people paid 10 days after the shoot, and others take 60-90 days after print, all from the same company. It doesn't make sense. But it's commonplace.

Then, as a freelancer, I had a company take 8 months to get me my first paycheck. But they became one of my best paying clients, as they caught me up with a quickness, and even paid me for an article I wasn't aware printed (I never submitted an invoice, it was for reusing my pictures for a different artucle). I was pretty impressed.

Stay persistant. Talk to the editor, if that doesn't work talk to the publisher, if that doesn't work talk directly to accounting. Make a phone call no less than once a week. Be the squeeky wheel.

[John Thawley]

Mike has it right.

"Cheap clients will always be cheap clients. When you have had enough being a cheap photographer you have to move a notch to better paying clients."

However, one thing I do is get away from the editor and/or sales rep and get to accounting. Know who you're invoicing and understand their terms and check/payment flow. But, TAKE people out from between youurself and your money.

Trust me, ad agencies are notoriuos for creating a drag via the paper trail. I've worked with agencies that generate so much paper that thier standard terms shake out to be 90 days. I always insist they route payment... THEY CAN DO IT.

But at the end of the day... take the editor and sales rep out of the loop. Get to accounting.

JT

[Kevin Whipps]

PS your link goes to yor personal site, without an obvious link to your professional site...

Yeah, I know. I'm in the process of really taking my freelancing seriously, and in that process trying to get my other website - www.whippsindustries.com - sorted out. Right now it's focused towards a Sema project from 2 years ago, but honestly that's a bit on the back burner until I can get some other personal matters sorted out.

As far as the slow pay deal goes, this isn't new territory for me necessarily. When I first started, the standard rule was that there were 45 days from the date of publishing when I receive payment. Currently that's changed because of better editors and better magazines, Now I'm trying to step up my game a little, and put more work out there. Last year I put a monetary goal for freelancing and beat it in September. Now I'm shooting for more than that this year, and so I'm trying to pick up more tips on other opportunities. Eventually I'd like to do freelancing full time, but until then my mortage has to take priority. :)