PSA: my 'quick edit' photo gig took 14 hours longer than I quoted

I landed my first freelance editing job for a local realtor in Spokane last week. I quoted $50 for 10 photos thinking it would take 2 hours tops. Turns out each image needed like 15 minutes of color correction and object removal because the lighting was terrible. I ended up spending 16 hours total on those photos and made about $3 an hour. Has anyone else totally messed up their time estimate on a first gig and ended up working for peanuts?

3 comments

3 Comments

jennybailey20d ago

Did you try setting a minimum flat rate for your time before you started? I did the same thing my first time out... I quoted a flat $30 for a "quick" batch, spent 10 hours and wanted to cry. What ended up helping me was timing myself on a single test image first, then multiplying that by the total number of photos plus a buffer. Now I always add an extra 50% to my time estimate just in case the client's lighting is a nightmare.

joseph4820d ago

Tbh @jennybailey that test image trick is gold. I learned the hard way after quoting $50 for a batch of 200 photos that took me two full days. Now I always time myself on one photo first and then add that 50% buffer like you said. Lighting can absolutely wreck a timeline.

kai_ramirez3819d ago

Nah, I just blind quote and hope for the best, works out fine most days.