Someone tell me I did the right thing?

[trilliah]

One of the NPs who used to work in our office contacted me about a week ago (well, closer to 12 days, really) asking me if I could do a portrait commission for her for her sister's anniversary. She wanted a portrait of her sister and her husband now, with a smaller portrait of them on their wedding day in the corner, on 11x14 paper.

Comments

[blackbird_song]

You totally did the right thing in telling her that (a) the time frame was difficult, especially when she hadn't told you earlier when she needed it done, and (b) charging extra for a rush job. I'm very glad to see you charging realistic amounts for the work, and the fact is that you'd have to put other aspects of your life on hold (and cause yourself a lot of stress) in order to get the portrait done on time. Businesses charge for expedited service all the time for those and similar reasons. Time is money, and if you'd had to do that commission that fast, there would have been a good chance that you'd have had to hire someone else to do some of the work of moving (or whatever else needed doing in your life), thus losing you actual cash.

What I might suggest for future practice is that you make this a set policy, and that you let people know how long it will take when you set the initial price, and what the rush charge will be to do it in less time. One other piece of advice I'd give, in general, is not to chase after business with a promise to charge less for a smaller project. It's risky, I know, but under circumstances like this, it's best not to pursue a person who's wavering. In an odd sort of way, it unsettles the client, as it can give them a sense that you don't have confidence in your own work. If they pursue you in a way that says that they're seriously interested but are having trouble coming up with the money (e.g., 'Oh, dear! I really, really want this but money's really tight right now...'), that would be a good time to offer a simpler project for less money.

You have talent that people want to tap because it's rare. You are entitled to make enough money from doing commissions that you find it worthwhile and financially feasible to do it. You have every right to respect yourself and your talent enough to charge livable rates for your work, even during tough economic times.

I hope that this helps, even if only a little.

Catherine