Since I have been at AIS that I have learned a lot about photography. However, it wasn't until my business class that I learned about making money and realizing when you are being "ripped off". I got my first real commercial job for this summer about four months ago and I don't think I have to express how much I was looking forward to it. I took it as a sign that things might actually work out for me in this crazy business.
It wasn't until money came into the picture. For 10 hours of shooting and at least 8 hours of post work (photoshop work) my client wanted to pay me $85.00 --- YES, I'M SERIOUS. So with the help of my teacher, I politely told her that I would not take anything less than $250.00 (which isn't all THAT much). And she said she couldn't afford it and so I told her (politely of course) that if she wanted to get free photographs for her new line that she was going to have to find another photographer. So the business deal was over.
I lost my first job. I would be lying to you if I told you that I wasn't disappointed. I really thought that this would be my first real commercial job and that through this I would get many more jobs. However, do I regret not just accepting the $85? No I do not. You see...business owners are like frugal coupon moms; they will do anything to get a lot for practically nothing. If I hadn't taken business at AIS I think I would have accepted the job for what it was and gotten COMPLETELY ripped off.
So I suppose what I have learned through this is that technical skill means nothing unless you can also be a person of business. The decisions that you make with money and clients will define you and I chose not to let this job define my career.
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