Hello:
I was asked by an Istock client to make some custom modifications on an image. It�s a 3d render, and i�m willing to do what he is asking for, but i don�t have experience on this.
He ask me how much i will charge him. Could some of you give me an aproximation on this field, i don�t have any idea in this matter.
I have an CG architectural visualization business, so delivering custom imagery for a client is my job, but of course the prices don�t have anything in comon with microstock, so i�m a litlle lost here, because i cant charge him hundreds of dollars as i would do in my bussines.

Another thing is, how you recieve the payment, via paypal for example?, is this made apart from the micro site? etc.

Please some experienced in this field enlight me because i�m a little lost here.

Thank you

I normally ask $100 or so.  Get the money first.  These type of requests always flake and you never hear from them again.

Well, it is standard pricing by job or by hours spent to finish order...

So, Charge them your usual fee as they are your regular customers... Not as microstock buyers!

...because i cant charge him hundreds of dollars as i would do in my bussines.

Another thing is, how you recieve the payment, via paypal for example?, is this made apart from the micro site? etc.

Please some experienced in this field enlight me because i�m a little lost here.

Thank you

I don't think there is anything wrong with charging hundreds of dollars depending on the changes. If it is something really simple, I might not charge. I saved an eps file (yes, I made them send me the purchased file) as an svg for someone for free once, although if they came back the next day to do it again, I'd charge them. Personally, I really don't like to do anything for less than $50. Even if it takes me less than half an hour, I think I should make at least 50 bucks. I agree with the others about getting money upfront. I usually use Paypal invoices for that.

Ok. It sure make sense what almost every of you say, and i will follow your advise.
Thank you

Honestly, don't be afraid to quote a proper fee. If the guy is at all a professional they will understand and pay you what you ask and simply charge the end user accordingly.

I must say that I don't feel ok to charge US$100 for a small modification in an image that I am selling for US$10 or so, unless this is a complicate modification. 

In my case I only changed colors and uploaded the new image. It was a request at FP, admin got in touch with me, not the buyer, but I could have set a high price if I wanted. I think I did not charge anything exttra than the price I already had for the original, because really it did not take me more than a few minutes.

Of course it would be another story if it was some sophisticated image whose modification demanded more time.  And I would not do it in sites that sell for subs - I have chills at the reports of people uploading RAW images at DT (I think) upon request to have them sold as subs.

I must say that I don't feel ok to charge US$100 for a small modification in an image that I am selling for US$10 or so, unless this is a complicate modification. 

It's an hour of my time at least.  Find the file, open it, change the shaders, run the long render, process it for meta data, etc....  I'm not here at their beck and call for cheap.

Ditto for me. I would tell him the regular commsion rate. Is he complains tell him that if he buys the image a few hundred times you will sell it to him for $1 each

Quote from: Zeus on June 19, 2009, 12:13

Quote from: arquiplay77 on June 19, 2009, 11:49

Ok. It sure make sense what almost every of you say, and i will follow your advise.
Thank you

Honestly, don't be afraid to quote a proper fee. If the guy is at all a professional they will understand and pay you what you ask and simply charge the end user accordingly.

He�ll probably do that either way...

It�s a tuff question.   Buy a ready print T-shirt in a shop for 14.95$ or 380$ for a custom printed in same store.   Would you do that      No!  But in this case I hope so.

People do just that all the time especially with photographs. You can't expect to get custom work at micro prices. Working for $10/hr is equally silly.

I'd second the idea of charging by hours. I have done this twice in the past, and the clients were happy to get a modified picture according to their wishes which nobody except them can use.

Additionally if the modifications are small there is almost no way to sell the modified picture via agencies - a few of them will reject the picture for being too similar to previous uploads, so there is no other way of earning money with this picture than getting paid for the time you spent on the modification.

Clients who speculate on a $1 download for a bespoke picture are not worth the effort. If they want a customized picture then they should live with a customized price.