Lizzie Peirce I bet it was! I was just dealing with an interesting experience with a future client today. The longer I do this, the more I lookout for red flags and try to avoid them. It can be really tough when you need the money though. Thank you guys so much for being honest and sharing your business experiences.
Excellent video. You guys made the right call I think. I turned down a huge job offer, and TBH, it was over a dispute over what was promised financially. However, other lifestyle items were in play, like a cross country move from SF to Boston. I’m pretty happy with how it turned out.
Chris, I normally do t comment on you or any of the big youtubers videos because I feel like my comment will just get lost in all the others but I wanna say thanks! You said if we take away anything from this video comment so here's mine... I woke up this morning to find my VERY first income from photography/ videography. It was just a simple video of a flag I took about a year ago and actually forgot I posted it to black box. It only made $60 but the motivation was priceless... Then I got ready and went to my 9-5 and just had a bad day. I just got home and was watching your video and when you said you wake up each day "Stoked" to make videos it gave me more motivation to get out there and pursue what I love instead of working my butt off only to make someone else money. Thank you again Chris! You are a true inspiration!
6:20 "If you network with slimey people, they only network with other slimey people and then you will live in the land of slime" I resent people who say "that's the business" amazing video, thank you for sharing.
Chris, this totally hit home. Years ago I was an art director in a well known agency in Europe. A client wanted a certain campaign and asked us to present his product in a way that wouldn’t have told the full story, leaving out unfavorable aspects and over accentuating positive ones. My team felt this was simply the way advertising was done and agreed. Buyer beware kinda thing. I realized that I needed to decide between money and my conscience. It was a hard decision, but in the end I decided to leave the client and the agency. Thank you for speaking out about standing firm on your own standards and not chasing greedily after every dollar, no matter the price. Well done, Chris.
“We’re a 5 - 7 edit company.! GAH! Points for self-awareness I guess... Great call. BTW, $100K isn’t that much for 15 videos, and given the red flags, no thanks!
I'm a beginner photographer, and I charge R150 (South African Currency) per hour for one and so on...but at times people want to include other people in the pictures and now it becomes a group photoshoot of which that was not agreed on, and I end up looking like a bad person when I keep refusing and reminding that 'no! this is your photoshoot, not theirs as well', whoo, exhausting 🤦🏾♂️
Slimeville is appropriate indeed Beginner photographer, been branching out towards bigger companies rather individuals/small businesses and the very first "big company" I did business qith failed to tell me that they had wanted me to do portraits of their clients plus pictures for their cars. Now this wouldn't be too big a deal if they didn't tell me during the photoshoot and said "it's only a few pictures of cars, can't be too hard."
I respect this big time. I s**t you not. Just when I thought you guys were as awesome as it gets I see even more values, integrity, foresight and insight in life demonstrated here. Thank you Chris. Keeping it real.
Fantastic advice, Chris. 15 videos in 30 days with 5-7 revisions sounds like a nightmare scenario more than a dream, and that was clearly your takeaway once those red flags started smoking. Such jobs end up zapping your energy, crushing your soul, and having you wishing you'd said No, which can be one of the most powerful things you can do. Kudos to you for doing that. I used to do TVC's for a company that would always ask for "ideas," hire me for one, steal a bunch, and then call again when they'd depleted other companies. It's refreshing to hear you have such stellar standards based on substantial indicators, and I wish you continued success. You deserve it.
The thing that struck me the most is... Within the context of this video your points used for selecting clients speaks very highly of the three companies you did name. I'm glad you have the criteria you use for selecting clients. It shows you value the ones you do take on and it shows you really value your skills and time. Very impressive.
I read a book called "start with why" and it really helped me understand why my gut is actually worth trusting. It's just another part of your brain operating
This is actually very relatable. Specially the part where you said these people gave out sketchy vibes. They have unreasonable timelines and the worst part is when they really don't have an idea of what they want to achieve. It is so much difficult to say no to these people but its hard because we are artists and we look for more than money when we do the assignments. Working with toxic clients can be emotionally and mentally draining.
Such a great and valuable video. I'm a producer at a video production company and I work with a close friend. We both share the same types of values you mentioned and I gotta say, it's hard to find good companies out there that don't try to take advantage. That said, it's worth it to hold true to what you believe. Thanks for publishing this. 👍🏼
For a video that tells you nothing about the client this was the most informative business advice video I've watched so far. Good job on sticking to your principles.
I feel like I've been roped into doing work for an identical type of corporate client. You guys really dodged a bullet here. Not only would this have been torturous and soul-suckling work, but these type of clients will never leave you alone after completion of the project. They'll want a million changes and you'll start hearing from 20 different people all wanting to get their way. Also, the intensity of this schedule will absolutely distract you from your other good clients, and your own family. I hope you and Lizzie are breathing easier now that this ordeal is done. Rock on.
One thing you can add to the list is that while you're working on this project, you might also have to pass on projects with clients you actually want to work with. And if those clients have to find someone else, you may be skipped for future projects because they found someone they also like. In business, this can be a bit of a snowballing effect and really hard to get out of.
Chris great video and I can totally relate. Me and my fiance run a Jazz band and we do a lot of corporate work. In the beginning when we first started we said yes to everything, and now after 10 years we decline more work than we take. Yes we do lose out on making more money, but we are happy working only with clients who respect us and create a good environment for us to work in. And you're absolutely right that the more "slimey" work you take, the more "slimey" people you will end up working with. The stress and your health is just not worth it to make more money. Oh and also, the more you decline, the more you can increase your prices for the "good" jobs. Great video Chris!
Hey man, Awesome story. I had a similar scenario too with one of my First Clients. He was over 60 years older than me so I showed my respect, but after about 2 weeks into our project. He didn't show his respect to my decisions and conditions for the project. (Basically the person was just using me to do all the hustling). Then when I finally convinced him to have a discussion and showed my Standard Fee, he instantly disagreed and told me I'm too young. So He decides how much he should give me after the Project gets finished. Obviously The person did not Respect me. I had to say No eventually. It's really important to know our Worth before entering into any Business. I believe Respect should be the number 1 thing to consider in a business. That "No" was worth saying man.👌
Really great video Chris! I can relate to this with a similar large job that we ended up passing on and apparently it turned out to be a disaster, so we're thankful for looking at all the facts and considering if it was a good fit or not. Saying no can be very beneficial, and so can deciding not to work anymore with existing clients that do not respect your time, or efforts, even though in the short term you miss out on the income.
This story was so refreshing! I'm so glad that you both figured out that this $100,000 project wasn't just about the videos, it was about them being allowed to put almost inhuman amounts of pressure on you. Imagine the amount of sleep you would have missed in a month. Those unplanned phone calls filled with anxiety with little regard for your time. That's the definition of hell! You guys absolutely did the right thing by turning down that deal with the devil. And the excuse of "that's what business is like" is being turned around by your generation. That's part of what TH-cam is about. If you want, you can create your own schedule, make healthier choices about your time and creativity. Congratulations on passing this sort of test. Who needs $100,000 dollars when you can't enjoy it to the fullest and in good conscience with peace of mind.
Thanks for the video! I love how you laid out the reasons why. A lot of starting photogs/videographers fall into this trap of being offered a ton of money but once you breakdown the effort and other factors, the amount paid isnt worth the stress involved.
Props to you & Lizzie for making sound business decisions based on ‘your’ business philosophy!!! These are the types of decisions ALL creators should be considering (so our work opportunities keep being a value-Add to both ourselves AND the company(ies) we choose to collaborate with in business!
Excellent video man! As a creator I have had those times where I wished I had said no and ended up getting burned. This is some great advice for people! Keep up the great work man!
What’s to dislike about this video? Seriously great, sound advice. Greatly appreciated Chris. Good reminder that “not ALL business is good business.” You’ve earned my sub.
The power of the word "NO" is a beautiful thing. I've heard other business owners turn down deals because their wives had a bad feeling about the prospective clients or new potential employees. Sounds like a good call to turn it down.
So happy you made this “screw you” letter to them. It makes me happy as someone who didn’t know how to respond when I was taken advantage of in business
100% true... I was actually talking about this with a friend over the weekend... I've dealt with this both when I was a General Contractor and a Creative... Instead of red flags I called it "three strikes and you're out"... Going over a construction project, the potential client kept tsaying that they'd like to do certain parts of the project to save money because they "did it college part-time" or they looked online so the price should be "$XX", finally I asked if they had a budget in mind and they told me they don't want to tell me because I'd just quote max budget, I told them politely that I just don't think we would work well together... Similarly I turned down what could've been a decent commercial photo shoot because they kept saying "it shouldn't be that hard if I'm just pressing a button on a camera"... I'd rather work less jobs and get paid my worth and enjoy the job/environment than work in "Slimeville" and earn the reputation as the guy that'll do anything for a cheap buck... Thanks for the great video reaffirming it's alright to say no to clients...
I had the same thought process the entire time I was working for this local restaurant. They paid alright for someone who is starting their first job, but what I did not like was the management. My former boss was not respectful to me or to any of his workers. And apparently, he let everyone go because he "could no longer afford to pay everyone." And I was ticked off, for sure. But luckily, I found a new job that is pretty nice and the work environment is acceptable..
Holy crap! This was so raw, authentic and inspirational at the same time. Thank you for sharing this story, very relatable on many levels. Keep up with these story time type videos, Chris. Greetings from Estonia.
This is video is just mindblowing...it came up in a moment that I deal with the same f***** situation. Client asks repeatedly for revisions. Doing videos again and again and no payment for that. So stresfull time consuming and yes if they dont respect your time just dont get the job. Never saw that coming but will for sure be in the nex contract agreement , every revision involves additional payment. That's it! Great video man!!
It depends if revisions are needed or not. I've hired videographers whose rough cut was horrendous and needed 15-20 revisions. If your work has obvious errors and needs revising, you can't charge for that.
Trev Rielly Of course. If it's my bad no problem. But if you tell me after a week I don't like the music and change 1/3 of the video because I want different things in it then you should consider paying that "revision" :)
Few things, i would not have taken that job either, dude sounded like an absolute DB. Secondly, thank you for being professional enough to edit out bad language in your own videos. As a viewer i really appreciate that you respect us and not everyone wants to hear it. Now im sure someone is going to be like grow up your an adult, but i watch these when my kids are around. So thanks.
Man that would be hard to turn down but the points you made about the client make sense as to why you’d turn it down. I need to practice saying no! I’ve done a few jobs that just drained my creativity and the final product turned into something completely different from what was originally planned. Thanks for posting!!! Love your videos!
This hits home for me big time. I think we tend to ignore red flags or take low paying jobs when we're just starting out, or don't believe there's anything better. I've worked with crummy teams, toxic work environments, and low paying jobs. Any of those things is disrespectful at best. Ultimately, I ended up really down on myself and I couldn't see my own value. I'm just starting to crawl my way out of that hole. Thanks for sharing Chris.
Chris, I like how you allude to your ethics, the inappropriate jokes. Not necessary. Don't ever take the money if it violates your faith or spirit. Good video. BTW Pete sent me
Thanks Chris! This really spoke to me and my current situation. It can be hard to say no sometimes when finances are low. But your peace of mind is far more important
BRAVO!!! Good for you. That was totally the right call. Defining and refining your companies values is one of the most important things that any business can do. Your foresight to identify your values early on will lead to greater success.
People don’t understand that $100,000 sounds great, but when you factor in all the players involved, travel, and “PITA” factor, it’s not worth the pain...
I'm not turning down $100,000 videos... but I'm in my start-up year of Freelancing where turning down anything feels like business suicide... so it's really comforting to hear that your philosophy is very similar to the one I've adopted. I'd begun to feel like I'd been going about it the wrong way but I'm a huge believer of trusting my instincts and not ignoring the red flags so.... it's nice to hear it from people doing well in the game! Thank you!
Yes mate! Lots of people will tell you to take every job you can and work for free and bla bla bla... No. Always pick and choose; those red-flag jobs will bite you in the butt. Do create the portfolio of work you want to get paid for, but don't ever forget that nothing is free. Everything we choose to do has some cost associated with it. Keep it up! 🤝
@@MiaogisTeas Thank you for the support William! I've already put in the ground work over the last three years before I took the big leap into full-time freelancing so I definitely don't feel the need to be working for free! At the end of the day you either get paid to do something or you're paying to do something! It's just balancing the demands of my bank account with the philosophy of getting the best kind of work that'll help me thrive, but I know from past experience that working with clients who "felt off" ultimately isn't worth it for any sum!
A customer that on one hand doesn't have a clear view of what they want and just want you to be "creative" and on the other hand is asking for 5 to 7 revisions is a huge, HUGE red flag! Been there. These people want you to create this great work and when its complete they have you make a thousand changes, just so they can feel like they created it. It takes all of the joy out of the creative process.
Those are really good and valuable advice man. That is so true! It's really important to respect ourselves, priorities and values. I had to refuse a 10 000$ once. Gosh it's hard, but in the long run you feel much better cause god knows how much negative would have come out of this.
No, actually I was like:"I need a clickbait that isn't a clickbait. how should I do it? say no to a lot of money". You're brave, man, I can give you that, and you have awesome hair, you should make a video about it.
In the beginning, I didn't listen to my gut, and it was never worth the money. Once I started saying no, my business started to grow more, and I was less stressed out.
It's great that you are one of the few youtubers that actually openly talks about the business side of photo/videography. Good content, thanks for sharing!
Thanks a lot for sharing this with us. The mutual respect between business people it is mandatory and I love the perspective of how you make businesses at this level. much love :)
YES Chris! This is so important, I have gone through that recently, and the same thing happened, I was ready to do it and my girlfriend has said - no don't do it if you don't feel like you want to do it 100% and now I think it would've been a nightmare! And the thing is, different work came along and it was much more creative as well! And I can and want to show it in my portfolio and put my name on it!
Dude you are speaking the truth dude. I did work for a big client when i had a bad feeling from the first meeting and i regret doing that job till this day. But now i know because of that experience.
15 videos under a month for a 100k budget seems very hesitant project in my opinion. There are so many factors into a 100k project in under a month & if I was given to that project, I would definitely say no unless it benefits for everyone. Companies have to understand that if they want to give a project, they have to have a very detailed plan & solid blueprints. I would feel scammed from the start if someone would tell me "Hey wanna do a project for $100k?!". Glad you've shared your story, Chris! Also, still waiting for your guitar singing intro for your next video 😆
I think you made a good decision. If you were having that much trouble in the beginning then imagine the amount of stuff that would come up during the project... Money isn't a good enough reason to do something if its going to be mentally straining and irritating.
"That's just business..." Only if that's how you want to do business. I like that you noted for people starting out that this is harder to say no to. That's real. Sounds like you guys made the right call.
Oh man. When they already know they need 5-7 revisions before they’ve even seen anything. Just making things complicated for the sake of it. I’ve learned this one the hard way. Easy red flag now! So many on-point concepts here.
Yea I learned that not all money is worth it even to small projects the stress anxiety and time don’t be worth it no matter how much money is thrown in it
Loved this. Thanks for this video, Chris. I got to learn a lot here. Saying no has always been my weak side but now it has started becoming my strength.
Really good advice, and 100% true. Super early on a guy I knew was slimy was giving me opportunities until I finally cut out business relationship off after he refused to pay me what I'd quoted him on a project. Business has been better and my mental health has been the last couple years since I decided to be done with him.
Wow Chris! Dude, I love your business talk. Had the same on a project (app and brand dev) where we got a deposit the next day after the meeting total project of about $90 000, scope was 4 months, this guy ended up burning $30 000 out of my own pocket in the end, holding me "hostage" for 3 months with reviews and and and (Total in the end $120 000 and he paid $90 000). Only was able to get out this month and now its up to me to recover that fees and to find my creativity again. My soul was drained. I will for always and ever follow this checklist you have here. I will stick to my good heart and only share this with good people, nevermind the financial reward offered. In the end all I got to take away from this project is debt and a life lesson to always trust my gut and to align my creativity with those that RESPECTS it. If I hear the words "lets jump on a call" my whole body freezes now. No respect what so ever for capacity and time. Never ever have I been so broken by trying to only provide a good professional service! Thank you for this Chris! Thank you!
one thing about clients is you do all the work, and then you have to constantly chase to get paid aaaah! Anyways, great insight Chris, definitely the youtuber I'll drop anything for to watch a new video of yours! will be checking out yours and Lizzie's podcast :)
Definitely some good things to consider. Maybe not in that order, but it does sound like to did the right thing. That's an important thing for entrepreneurs to consider. It's not just about getting a job or contract it's about getting the right work.
I really appreciate your honesty. I totally agree with you I'm passing up the job. It's not a lot of money if you spend more time and stress dealing with a client only experience can teach you that. Great video
Solid points and I appreciate this video and I'm new to the industry. Need to hear these tips from seasoned pros like yourself. I'm going to adopt these values for my own business. Again thanks!
This video is really good in teaching self discipline and learning about saying no and knowing your self-worth. Sometimes it is not always about the money
This was such a tough decision for us! But ultimately a good call :)
Thank you for all your help with this decision. We made the right choice
Lizzie Peirce I bet it was! I was just dealing with an interesting experience with a future client today. The longer I do this, the more I lookout for red flags and try to avoid them. It can be really tough when you need the money though. Thank you guys so much for being honest and sharing your business experiences.
@@thechrishau STOP YOU GUYS ARE TOO CUTE
the "no plan, multiple edits" instantly turns me off, its a lot of money, but it's not enough for this type of stress and working vibe
Excellent video. You guys made the right call I think. I turned down a huge job offer, and TBH, it was over a dispute over what was promised financially. However, other lifestyle items were in play, like a cross country move from SF to Boston. I’m pretty happy with how it turned out.
Chris, I normally do t comment on you or any of the big youtubers videos because I feel like my comment will just get lost in all the others but I wanna say thanks! You said if we take away anything from this video comment so here's mine...
I woke up this morning to find my VERY first income from photography/ videography. It was just a simple video of a flag I took about a year ago and actually forgot I posted it to black box. It only made $60 but the motivation was priceless... Then I got ready and went to my 9-5 and just had a bad day.
I just got home and was watching your video and when you said you wake up each day "Stoked" to make videos it gave me more motivation to get out there and pursue what I love instead of working my butt off only to make someone else money.
Thank you again Chris! You are a true inspiration!
Nah, it’s not crazy. Never sell your dignity
6:20 "If you network with slimey people, they only network with other slimey people and then you will live in the land of slime"
I resent people who say "that's the business" amazing video, thank you for sharing.
Slime just gets thicker and stickier.
Chris, this totally hit home. Years ago I was an art director in a well known agency in Europe. A client wanted a certain campaign and asked us to present his product in a way that wouldn’t have told the full story, leaving out unfavorable aspects and over accentuating positive ones. My team felt this was simply the way advertising was done and agreed. Buyer beware kinda thing. I realized that I needed to decide between money and my conscience. It was a hard decision, but in the end I decided to leave the client and the agency. Thank you for speaking out about standing firm on your own standards and not chasing greedily after every dollar, no matter the price. Well done, Chris.
“We’re a 5 - 7 edit company.! GAH! Points for self-awareness I guess... Great call. BTW, $100K isn’t that much for 15 videos, and given the red flags, no thanks!
WHOA. "5-7 revision type of company" :O Sounds like you guys definitely made the right call! LOVE the piano quote too.
Exactly with 5-7 revisions they would have had to produce all 15 videos in about 15 days. Revisions take time too!
So they want to put the storyboard after the shoot?
Who has been to slimeville? haha jokes. Anyone dealing with rough clients??
I'm a beginner photographer, and I charge R150 (South African Currency) per hour for one and so on...but at times people want to include other people in the pictures and now it becomes a group photoshoot of which that was not agreed on, and I end up looking like a bad person when I keep refusing and reminding that 'no! this is your photoshoot, not theirs as well', whoo, exhausting 🤦🏾♂️
I haven’t, I guess it feels good to be in The Land Before Slime.
pay little yet still want multiple change..
Slimeville is appropriate indeed
Beginner photographer, been branching out towards bigger companies rather individuals/small businesses and the very first "big company" I did business qith failed to tell me that they had wanted me to do portraits of their clients plus pictures for their cars. Now this wouldn't be too big a deal if they didn't tell me during the photoshoot and said "it's only a few pictures of cars, can't be too hard."
Who dosn't haha?
Knowing when to say no is far more productive than knowing when to say yes.
I respect this big time. I s**t you not. Just when I thought you guys were as awesome as it gets I see even more values, integrity, foresight and insight in life demonstrated here.
Thank you Chris. Keeping it real.
$ 100,000 for 15 videos, which makes $ 6666.66 per video! 666 to infinity! 😱
you did well, it was a devil's contract. 😁
😂😂
So conspiracy is riding here also 😂😂
LMAO 😂
lol
Lol
Fantastic advice, Chris.
15 videos in 30 days with 5-7 revisions sounds like a nightmare scenario more than a dream, and that was clearly your takeaway once those red flags started smoking.
Such jobs end up zapping your energy, crushing your soul, and having you wishing you'd said No, which can be one of the most powerful things you can do. Kudos to you for doing that.
I used to do TVC's for a company that would always ask for "ideas," hire me for one, steal a bunch, and then call again when they'd depleted other companies. It's refreshing to hear you have such stellar standards based on substantial indicators, and I wish you continued success. You deserve it.
The thing that struck me the most is... Within the context of this video your points used for selecting clients speaks very highly of the three companies you did name. I'm glad you have the criteria you use for selecting clients. It shows you value the ones you do take on and it shows you really value your skills and time. Very impressive.
Man, what a GREAT story. I just LOVE stuff like this - thank you for telling this story.
I read a book called "start with why" and it really helped me understand why my gut is actually worth trusting. It's just another part of your brain operating
This is actually very relatable. Specially the part where you said these people gave out sketchy vibes. They have unreasonable timelines and the worst part is when they really don't have an idea of what they want to achieve. It is so much difficult to say no to these people but its hard because we are artists and we look for more than money when we do the assignments. Working with toxic clients can be emotionally and mentally draining.
Such a great and valuable video. I'm a producer at a video production company and I work with a close friend. We both share the same types of values you mentioned and I gotta say, it's hard to find good companies out there that don't try to take advantage. That said, it's worth it to hold true to what you believe. Thanks for publishing this. 👍🏼
For a video that tells you nothing about the client this was the most informative business advice video I've watched so far. Good job on sticking to your principles.
I feel like I've been roped into doing work for an identical type of corporate client. You guys really dodged a bullet here. Not only would this have been torturous and soul-suckling work, but these type of clients will never leave you alone after completion of the project. They'll want a million changes and you'll start hearing from 20 different people all wanting to get their way.
Also, the intensity of this schedule will absolutely distract you from your other good clients, and your own family.
I hope you and Lizzie are breathing easier now that this ordeal is done.
Rock on.
One thing you can add to the list is that while you're working on this project, you might also have to pass on projects with clients you actually want to work with. And if those clients have to find someone else, you may be skipped for future projects because they found someone they also like. In business, this can be a bit of a snowballing effect and really hard to get out of.
Chris great video and I can totally relate. Me and my fiance run a Jazz band and we do a lot of corporate work. In the beginning when we first started we said yes to everything, and now after 10 years we decline more work than we take. Yes we do lose out on making more money, but we are happy working only with clients who respect us and create a good environment for us to work in. And you're absolutely right that the more "slimey" work you take, the more "slimey" people you will end up working with. The stress and your health is just not worth it to make more money. Oh and also, the more you decline, the more you can increase your prices for the "good" jobs. Great video Chris!
Honestly, love hearing these stories and makes me more confident to say no to certain situations as a content creator. Thank you for this!
Hey man, Awesome story.
I had a similar scenario too with one of my First Clients. He was over 60 years older than me so I showed my respect, but after about 2 weeks into our project. He didn't show his respect to my decisions and conditions for the project. (Basically the person was just using me to do all the hustling). Then when I finally convinced him to have a discussion and showed my Standard Fee, he instantly disagreed and told me I'm too young. So He decides how much he should give me after the Project gets finished. Obviously The person did not Respect me. I had to say No eventually.
It's really important to know our Worth before entering into any Business. I believe Respect should be the number 1 thing to consider in a business.
That "No" was worth saying man.👌
Really great video Chris! I can relate to this with a similar large job that we ended up passing on and apparently it turned out to be a disaster, so we're thankful for looking at all the facts and considering if it was a good fit or not. Saying no can be very beneficial, and so can deciding not to work anymore with existing clients that do not respect your time, or efforts, even though in the short term you miss out on the income.
This story was so refreshing! I'm so glad that you both figured out that this $100,000 project wasn't just about the videos, it was about them being allowed to put almost inhuman amounts of pressure on you. Imagine the amount of sleep you would have missed in a month. Those unplanned phone calls filled with anxiety with little regard for your time. That's the definition of hell! You guys absolutely did the right thing by turning down that deal with the devil. And the excuse of "that's what business is like" is being turned around by your generation. That's part of what TH-cam is about. If you want, you can create your own schedule, make healthier choices about your time and creativity. Congratulations on passing this sort of test. Who needs $100,000 dollars when you can't enjoy it to the fullest and in good conscience with peace of mind.
Thanks for the video! I love how you laid out the reasons why. A lot of starting photogs/videographers fall into this trap of being offered a ton of money but once you breakdown the effort and other factors, the amount paid isnt worth the stress involved.
Props to you & Lizzie for making sound business decisions based on ‘your’ business philosophy!!! These are the types of decisions ALL creators should be considering (so our work opportunities keep being a value-Add to both ourselves AND the company(ies) we choose to collaborate with in business!
💎💎💪💪 Appreciate your integrity Chris.. You're a true example.
Excellent video man! As a creator I have had those times where I wished I had said no and ended up getting burned. This is some great advice for people! Keep up the great work man!
It takes balls to walk the libel line here. Nicely done dude.
really love your criteria, definitely going to use that going forward!
Thanks Iz :) Miss your face.
What’s to dislike about this video? Seriously great, sound advice. Greatly appreciated Chris. Good reminder that “not ALL business is good business.” You’ve earned my sub.
The power of the word "NO" is a beautiful thing. I've heard other business owners turn down deals because their wives had a bad feeling about the prospective clients or new potential employees. Sounds like a good call to turn it down.
So happy you made this “screw you” letter to them. It makes me happy as someone who didn’t know how to respond when I was taken advantage of in business
100% true... I was actually talking about this with a friend over the weekend... I've dealt with this both when I was a General Contractor and a Creative... Instead of red flags I called it "three strikes and you're out"... Going over a construction project, the potential client kept tsaying that they'd like to do certain parts of the project to save money because they "did it college part-time" or they looked online so the price should be "$XX", finally I asked if they had a budget in mind and they told me they don't want to tell me because I'd just quote max budget, I told them politely that I just don't think we would work well together... Similarly I turned down what could've been a decent commercial photo shoot because they kept saying "it shouldn't be that hard if I'm just pressing a button on a camera"... I'd rather work less jobs and get paid my worth and enjoy the job/environment than work in "Slimeville" and earn the reputation as the guy that'll do anything for a cheap buck... Thanks for the great video reaffirming it's alright to say no to clients...
I had the same thought process the entire time I was working for this local restaurant. They paid alright for someone who is starting their first job, but what I did not like was the management. My former boss was not respectful to me or to any of his workers. And apparently, he let everyone go because he "could no longer afford to pay everyone." And I was ticked off, for sure. But luckily, I found a new job that is pretty nice and the work environment is acceptable..
dang, as a professional it takes a lot of guts to put something like this up, thanks for sharing!
Good for you, it takes a lot to say no to high paying clients.
It’s so refreshing to hear somebody else having to say no... on a couple of projects I had a really bad feeling and walked away.
Holy crap! This was so raw, authentic and inspirational at the same time. Thank you for sharing this story, very relatable on many levels. Keep up with these story time type videos, Chris. Greetings from Estonia.
Your time and creative work is something that $100K can’t pay. Y’all are so much valuable than that. Keep it up guys!
You Rock!! This is absolutely the truth!! Don’t give up your integrity for some short term cash.
I love the quote "It's not the notes you play, it's the note you don't play"
This is video is just mindblowing...it came up in a moment that I deal with the same f***** situation. Client asks repeatedly for revisions. Doing videos again and again and no payment for that. So stresfull time consuming and yes if they dont respect your time just dont get the job. Never saw that coming but will for sure be in the nex contract agreement , every revision involves additional payment. That's it! Great video man!!
I will deffinatly be referencing this for the next one! :D
It depends if revisions are needed or not. I've hired videographers whose rough cut was horrendous and needed 15-20 revisions. If your work has obvious errors and needs revising, you can't charge for that.
Trev Rielly Of course. If it's my bad no problem. But if you tell me after a week I don't like the music and change 1/3 of the video because I want different things in it then you should consider paying that "revision" :)
Few things, i would not have taken that job either, dude sounded like an absolute DB. Secondly, thank you for being professional enough to edit out bad language in your own videos. As a viewer i really appreciate that you respect us and not everyone wants to hear it. Now im sure someone is going to be like grow up your an adult, but i watch these when my kids are around. So thanks.
Man that would be hard to turn down but the points you made about the client make sense as to why you’d turn it down. I need to practice saying no! I’ve done a few jobs that just drained my creativity and the final product turned into something completely different from what was originally planned.
Thanks for posting!!! Love your videos!
This hits home for me big time. I think we tend to ignore red flags or take low paying jobs when we're just starting out, or don't believe there's anything better. I've worked with crummy teams, toxic work environments, and low paying jobs. Any of those things is disrespectful at best. Ultimately, I ended up really down on myself and I couldn't see my own value. I'm just starting to crawl my way out of that hole.
Thanks for sharing Chris.
Ahhhh yesssss love this video! Boundaries, intuition manifestation, abundance. You are killing it!
As you progress the line of those waiting to hand you money just gets longer. Congrats and glad to hear you're being choosy!
Chris, I like how you allude to your ethics, the inappropriate jokes. Not necessary. Don't ever take the money if it violates your faith or spirit. Good video. BTW Pete sent me
Bro, you are 110% right!!! I had a lot of people like that when I started doing graphics.
Thanks Chris! This really spoke to me and my current situation. It can be hard to say no sometimes when finances are low. But your peace of mind is far more important
Awesome Chris - good for you guys on trusting yourself!!!!
BRAVO!!! Good for you. That was totally the right call. Defining and refining your companies values is one of the most important things that any business can do. Your foresight to identify your values early on will lead to greater success.
People don’t understand that $100,000 sounds great, but when you factor in all the players involved, travel, and “PITA” factor, it’s not worth the pain...
I'm not turning down $100,000 videos... but I'm in my start-up year of Freelancing where turning down anything feels like business suicide... so it's really comforting to hear that your philosophy is very similar to the one I've adopted. I'd begun to feel like I'd been going about it the wrong way but I'm a huge believer of trusting my instincts and not ignoring the red flags so.... it's nice to hear it from people doing well in the game!
Thank you!
Yes mate! Lots of people will tell you to take every job you can and work for free and bla bla bla... No. Always pick and choose; those red-flag jobs will bite you in the butt.
Do create the portfolio of work you want to get paid for, but don't ever forget that nothing is free. Everything we choose to do has some cost associated with it.
Keep it up! 🤝
@@MiaogisTeas Thank you for the support William! I've already put in the ground work over the last three years before I took the big leap into full-time freelancing so I definitely don't feel the need to be working for free! At the end of the day you either get paid to do something or you're paying to do something! It's just balancing the demands of my bank account with the philosophy of getting the best kind of work that'll help me thrive, but I know from past experience that working with clients who "felt off" ultimately isn't worth it for any sum!
Great advice! It is like you were given this opportunity just so that you could share it with all of us. Thank you.
Somebody or company is gonna see this and respect your process and decision and you’re going to be rewarded. I can feel it.
Would love more business videos like this! Thanks Chris!
A customer that on one hand doesn't have a clear view of what they want and just want you to be "creative" and on the other hand is asking for 5 to 7 revisions is a huge, HUGE red flag! Been there. These people want you to create this great work and when its complete they have you make a thousand changes, just so they can feel like they created it. It takes all of the joy out of the creative process.
Those are really good and valuable advice man. That is so true! It's really important to respect ourselves, priorities and values. I had to refuse a 10 000$ once. Gosh it's hard, but in the long run you feel much better cause god knows how much negative would have come out of this.
No, actually I was like:"I need a clickbait that isn't a clickbait. how should I do it? say no to a lot of money". You're brave, man, I can give you that, and you have awesome hair, you should make a video about it.
In the beginning, I didn't listen to my gut, and it was never worth the money. Once I started saying no, my business started to grow more, and I was less stressed out.
as crazy as it sounds, its awesome to see that you're true to yourself and what you want to be doing!
"Trust your gut!" That's wisdom right there bro. Maintaining your integrity the always the wisest business decision.
Love this video, Chris! So many great nuances explained here for those of us running our own businesses and making these decisions.
so many positive and good vibes in this video!!!!!!
It's great that you are one of the few youtubers that actually openly talks about the business side of photo/videography. Good content, thanks for sharing!
Thanks a lot for sharing this with us. The mutual respect between business people it is mandatory and I love the perspective of how you make businesses at this level. much love :)
Very well said! Very good choice!
YES Chris! This is so important, I have gone through that recently, and the same thing happened, I was ready to do it and my girlfriend has said - no don't do it if you don't feel like you want to do it 100% and now I think it would've been a nightmare! And the thing is, different work came along and it was much more creative as well! And I can and want to show it in my portfolio and put my name on it!
Dude you are speaking the truth dude. I did work for a big client when i had a bad feeling from the first meeting and i regret doing that job till this day. But now i know because of that experience.
15 videos under a month for a 100k budget seems very hesitant project in my opinion. There are so many factors into a 100k project in under a month & if I was given to that project, I would definitely say no unless it benefits for everyone. Companies have to understand that if they want to give a project, they have to have a very detailed plan & solid blueprints. I would feel scammed from the start if someone would tell me "Hey wanna do a project for $100k?!". Glad you've shared your story, Chris! Also, still waiting for your guitar singing intro for your next video 😆
I needed to hear this man !! Thank you so much
I admire you so much! Keep pushing and keep going!
Great story! Thank you for sharing! It's always so important to work with companies and people that respect you and your work!
I think you made a good decision. If you were having that much trouble in the beginning then imagine the amount of stuff that would come up during the project... Money isn't a good enough reason to do something if its going to be mentally straining and irritating.
"That's just business..." Only if that's how you want to do business. I like that you noted for people starting out that this is harder to say no to. That's real. Sounds like you guys made the right call.
Super cool way to share this story. I like how it was 1 long story with tactful. I also appreciate the inside into how you choose clients
So much value, love the intention and thoughts behind business decisions like this.
Oh man. When they already know they need 5-7 revisions before they’ve even seen anything. Just making things complicated for the sake of it. I’ve learned this one the hard way. Easy red flag now! So many on-point concepts here.
Yea I learned that not all money is worth it even to small projects the stress anxiety and time don’t be worth it no matter how much money is thrown in it
Learning when to say NO is one of the hardest but most important things when you're building your own business
"Love you, bye!" Hahah! Old habits die hard! I could've totally said something like that!
Loved this. Thanks for this video, Chris. I got to learn a lot here. Saying no has always been my weak side but now it has started becoming my strength.
Really good advice, and 100% true. Super early on a guy I knew was slimy was giving me opportunities until I finally cut out business relationship off after he refused to pay me what I'd quoted him on a project. Business has been better and my mental health has been the last couple years since I decided to be done with him.
Chris! Super impressed! This is such good advice. Thumbs up 👍
Wow Chris! Dude, I love your business talk. Had the same on a project (app and brand dev) where we got a deposit the next day after the meeting total project of about $90 000, scope was 4 months, this guy ended up burning $30 000 out of my own pocket in the end, holding me "hostage" for 3 months with reviews and and and (Total in the end $120 000 and he paid $90 000). Only was able to get out this month and now its up to me to recover that fees and to find my creativity again. My soul was drained. I will for always and ever follow this checklist you have here. I will stick to my good heart and only share this with good people, nevermind the financial reward offered. In the end all I got to take away from this project is debt and a life lesson to always trust my gut and to align my creativity with those that RESPECTS it. If I hear the words "lets jump on a call" my whole body freezes now. No respect what so ever for capacity and time. Never ever have I been so broken by trying to only provide a good professional service! Thank you for this Chris! Thank you!
It's refreshing to see you sharing your past experiences like this! Thanks Chris :)
one thing about clients is you do all the work, and then you have to constantly chase to get paid aaaah! Anyways, great insight Chris, definitely the youtuber I'll drop anything for to watch a new video of yours! will be checking out yours and Lizzie's podcast :)
Man that’s crazy. I most likely would have still taken the job and grabbed the check. Slime ball and all. Not 7 edits tho. That’s nuts.
I work on a company that work on 5 times revise minimum, and even final product revise. It's really hard man.
Those are the hardest, but in the long run, the best decisions! Way to stand your ground!
Definitely some good things to consider. Maybe not in that order, but it does sound like to did the right thing. That's an important thing for entrepreneurs to consider. It's not just about getting a job or contract it's about getting the right work.
Really needed this. WOW! just turned down a job before seeing this video because of too many red flags. Thanks for this meant a lot to me!
I really appreciate your honesty. I totally agree with you I'm passing up the job. It's not a lot of money if you spend more time and stress dealing with a client only experience can teach you that. Great video
So true!! I might be a new small business just starting, but those words truly resonate. Thank you Chris!
Wow, great video, straight to the point! Subscribed!
Solid points and I appreciate this video and I'm new to the industry. Need to hear these tips from seasoned pros like yourself. I'm going to adopt these values for my own business. Again thanks!
Really useful insight. And it is very difficult for small businesses as you want all the business you can get.
This video is really good in teaching self discipline and learning about saying no and knowing your self-worth. Sometimes it is not always about the money