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The client who paid me in 'exposure' via a framed photo of a sunset
Had a local artist hire me to build his website last spring. He swore he'd pay $500 cash after seeing the mockup. Showed up at his studio in Austin, he pointed to a blurry sunset photo on the wall and said 'that's worth more than money.' Took me 3 months and a group email to his art collective to get $250. Still haven't seen the rest. Anyone else get offered weird stuff instead of cash?
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sanchez.julia6d ago
Oh man, that sunset photo story is wild. But I gotta say, the way you framed it - saying it was "worth more than money" - that's an old trick some artists pull to avoid paying people. Having been on the receiving end of some weird payment offers myself, that one's not really about the photo being valuable, it's about them not wanting to hand over cash. The sunset might be pretty, but it doesn't pay your rent or buy you groceries. And honestly, taking 3 months to get half the money? That's rough. You probably had to chase him way more than you should have.
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aliceharris6d ago
@sanchez.julia caught me I've definitely been that person chasing a check longer than I should have.
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kellyallen6d ago
I see what you're saying, but I think calling it "an old trick" is a little harsh. I've had clients pay me in things like equipment or extra work on my own projects because cash was tight for them too. It's not always about avoiding payment, sometimes it's just a different way of working out a trade. Though I agree, 3 months for half the money is way too slow, and that part sounds like he was dragging his feet. But saying the photo was worth more than money could just mean he wanted to give her something he thought was special, not that he was trying to scam her. I've taken payment in gear before and been happy with it, so it really depends on the situation.
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