Re: FN-FORUM: Re: Artworkers and Designers - a definition

date posted 19th October 2007 08:13


Hi marc

What sector are you working in, what kind of work are you doing

=A310 an hour may sound very low to many people on this board, but it also
depends on what area you are working in

I am a photoretoucher, with considerable experience - I started off being
paid as a photog assistant which is next to sweet fa - photography is
notoriously badly paid and I often feel I am being ripped off - as everyone
wants to make a nice mark up off your back - the photographer, the design
agency etc ... But the reality is that photography has become far more
accessible and cheap for semi pros who offer their skills for a fraction of
the cost so it trickles down to affect everyone

I don=B9t make any distinction between artworker and designer, even if people
only want to use your tech. Skills (and I generally follow someone elses
instructions) you are being hired because your skills are better than
someone elses which allow you to do the work quicker and more competently -
and if someone wants to hire you as a cut priced 'artworker' then they are
preventing you using your time working as a 'designer'

So - I have found that a publishing company or agency will generally pay
fees of 20-30 an hour but photographers will expect the work to be done for
a lot less - blagging is part of the job description

I have decided that I have a premium hourly fee of 30.00 per hour (which
considering agencies charge 150.00 an hour is still relatively inexpensive)
and this is what I quote people when they make an enquiry - but I explain
that I am quite happy to halve that for limited budget projects such as
editorial or personal work

And I will lower it to 10 if I think it helps getting good contacts which
always work in your favour - you have to decide wether you want to
concentrate on the calibre of work (and pay) or quantity - I would be quite
happy doing everything for 15.00 an hour if I knew I was getting 20 days
plus a weeks work

So if anyone offers you 10.00 an hour, how much work are they giving you -
is it worth haggling or concentrating on finding new contacts?

Sorry for the spelling

john





> 3. If you required a freelance artworker to work for say =A310 an hour what
> skillsets would you expect them to have and what kind of duties could you
> require them to perform for that amount?
>=20