| Your estimate is an opportunity to help you get | | | | are having your bathroom remodeled. You get |
| better jobs, to do a better job on each | | | | three estimates. The first contractor comes in |
| assignment, and to put your career on the fast | | | | and looks at the bathroom. You press him for a |
| track to success. How can your estimate do all | | | | "ballpark". He thinks about it for a moment, and |
| those things? Your estimate can guide you to a | | | | then says it shouldn't be more than $3,000.00. |
| well thought-out approach to an assignment, it can | | | | The second contractor comes in and resists the |
| set you apart from your competition, it can insure | | | | temptation to give an immediate estimate. Later |
| that you have the resources to do the job to the | | | | he faxes an estimate to you. His estimate comes |
| best of your ability, and finally, an estimate can | | | | in at $4,000.00. He mentions that there might be |
| make sure that you are building a quality | | | | dry rot around the tub. His estimate will go up if |
| reputation rather than one that speaks of | | | | he has to repair that. He also includes a list of |
| mediocrity or even worse. | | | | expected expenses with time and materials. If the |
| The best possible photography for your client | | | | numbers look reasonable, the odds are that you |
| The first thing many photographers do with their | | | | will go with him rather than the first guy...that is if |
| estimate is try and save the client money, or to | | | | quality of your finished bathroom is important to |
| get the job by coming in at a low price. That is | | | | you. Now remember, the Art Director's |
| exactly the wrong approach to take. Your job as | | | | reputation, and maybe even job, is resting on the |
| the photographer is not to save the client money. | | | | outcome of the photo shoot! |
| Your job is to provide the best photography for | | | | Getting the job |
| your client. To do that, you need resources. | | | | The third contractor gets back to you and asks a |
| Resources cost money and time. One way to find | | | | series of questions: Do you want Kohler faucets, |
| out what resources you really need is to | | | | or a less expensive brand? Do you want natural |
| thoroughly create the job on paper as you create | | | | stone on the floor or ceramic tile? He goes over |
| your estimate. Before you can create a proper | | | | the advantages of one vs. the other. He suggests |
| estimate you will need a layout, a drawing or | | | | a very economical radiant heating that will warm |
| some sort of visual representation of the | | | | the bathroom floor. When he finds out more |
| proposed assignment, and a written description of | | | | precisely what will work for you he prepares a |
| that assignment. Resist the temptation, even with | | | | detailed estimate with itemized prices for |
| intense prompting from a prospective client, to | | | | materials, a thorough written description of the |
| throw out a "ballpark" figure. The desire to please | | | | process, his approach, and how long the job will |
| a client is intense, but the practice of providing | | | | take. He includes steps he will take to prevent |
| any estimate off-the-cuff is always a bad idea! | | | | damage to the carpeting leading to and from the |
| Instead, have a ready-made excuse to get off | | | | bathroom. In short, he makes you confident |
| the phone, our out of the office, or whatever. | | | | about him and result of the work. He helps you |
| You will need time to think through the process | | | | crystallize your vision of the project. He gets the |
| of doing the job right and what that job will entail. | | | | job even though he has the high bid of $6,500.00. |
| Every detail is important | | | | Building confidence, getting resources |
| Once you have a layout and a written description | | | | That is what your estimate should do. Make the |
| of the job, go through the job step-by-step. | | | | art director confident in your approach and in your |
| Every detail is important. If there is an aspect to | | | | thoroughness. Help him come to the conclusion |
| the job that is eluding you then you need to find | | | | that you are the best photographer for the job. |
| out more information. Having a detailed approach | | | | At the same time, the well-thought-out estimate |
| worked out for doing the job provides you with | | | | will insure that you have the resources to do the |
| several advantages. For example, let's say you | | | | best possible job. |