unpaid invoices

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   THis is a topic that comes up often, and one that I found in another online forums and I thought it was worth addressing again. 

---- origanal post ------
I am writing to get other photo assistants advice on dealing with unpaid invoices. This is the second time I have worked for a photographer who has failed to remit payment by the date indicated on my invoice. Is it acceptable practice to put a note on your invoice stating "invoices not paid by the date indicated will be assessed a fee equal to the total plus 10%" or something similar? Also, how long do you allow for payment to be received? 
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My reply.

Day rates and terms of payment should always be discussed before taking a job, and when possible confirmed in an email.

The accepted practice for the last 60 years has been: Payment end of day or last consecutive day of the shoot.
Of course there are those that will tell you other wise, but they too tend to be those that can not pay there invoices in a timely fashion.
And NEVER NEVER NEVER accept the terms of payment: when the photographer or photographer rep or photo producer gets paid.
Walk away form those jobs as fast as possible.

If a photographer could not pay the first time there should not have been a second until the first obligation was met.
You can try to asses a late fee but if they can't pay the invoice it hardly seems likely that you will ever see any late fee.

Work on getting paid what is owed you and never work with that person again.
And then make sure that every photo assistant, digital tech, stylist, Hair and make up person, and related crew members are made aware of your experience.
Word travels fast in the most incestuous of industries.
Before taking jobs ask around about the experiances other have had.
Call your friends at rental companies & rental studios and ask them about the photographers reputation.

In the past I've warned friends about certain photographers and they would always say  "..oh it will never happen to me, he likes me too much.."
Well sure enough the assistant ends up being owed $6000 or more but keeps working with the guy because he doles out $200-300 dollars every 2 weeks just stringing the assistant along.
One friend ended up being owed $20,000 from several photographers and got evicted because he couldn't pay his rent; but he got to work on great jobs with infamous photographers.
Poor guy ended up having a nervous break down on someone else's set and ended up in the hospital for a month.

Yes it is a real story, and he no longer works in the photo industry.

...More real stories upon request.

JamesNYC

Edited by JamesNYC - 04/Dec/2009 at 12:37AM

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JamesNYC Members Profile Find Members Posts Admin Group Joined: 03/Apr/2008 Online Status: Offline Posts: 151	Quote Reply Topic: unpaid invoices Posted: 04/Dec/2009 at 12:37AM
	THis is a topic that comes up often, and one that I found in another online forums and I thought it was worth addressing again. ---- origanal post ------ I am writing to get other photo assistants advice on dealing with unpaid invoices. This is the second time I have worked for a photographer who has failed to remit payment by the date indicated on my invoice. Is it acceptable practice to put a note on your invoice stating "invoices not paid by the date indicated will be assessed a fee equal to the total plus 10%" or something similar? Also, how long do you allow for payment to be received? ------------------------------- My reply. Day rates and terms of payment should always be discussed before taking a job, and when possible confirmed in an email. The accepted practice for the last 60 years has been: Payment end of day or last consecutive day of the shoot. Of course there are those that will tell you other wise, but they too tend to be those that can not pay there invoices in a timely fashion. And NEVER NEVER NEVER accept the terms of payment: when the photographer or photographer rep or photo producer gets paid. Walk away form those jobs as fast as possible. If a photographer could not pay the first time there should not have been a second until the first obligation was met. You can try to asses a late fee but if they can't pay the invoice it hardly seems likely that you will ever see any late fee. Work on getting paid what is owed you and never work with that person again. And then make sure that every photo assistant, digital tech, stylist, Hair and make up person, and related crew members are made aware of your experience. Word travels fast in the most incestuous of industries. Before taking jobs ask around about the experiances other have had. Call your friends at rental companies & rental studios and ask them about the photographers reputation. In the past I've warned friends about certain photographers and they would always say "..oh it will never happen to me, he likes me too much.." Well sure enough the assistant ends up being owed $6000 or more but keeps working with the guy because he doles out $200-300 dollars every 2 weeks just stringing the assistant along. One friend ended up being owed $20,000 from several photographers and got evicted because he couldn't pay his rent; but he got to work on great jobs with infamous photographers. Poor guy ended up having a nervous break down on someone else's set and ended up in the hospital for a month. Yes it is a real story, and he no longer works in the photo industry. ...More real stories upon request. JamesNYC Edited by JamesNYC - 04/Dec/2009 at 12:37AM

Logan Members Profile Find Members Posts New Member Joined: 25/Jun/2010 Online Status: Offline Posts: 1	Quote Reply Posted: 25/Jun/2010 at 6:13PM
	Hey James! Any advice on the most tactful way to approach informing a photographer that they are past due?

JamesNYC Members Profile Find Members Posts Admin Group Joined: 03/Apr/2008 Online Status: Offline Posts: 151	Quote Reply Posted: 25/Jun/2010 at 6:39PM
	Hello Logan, Seeing as how you've read the above.... In this economy it is an unfortunate fact that delays in payment are inevitable and unfortunately effects all of us on both ends of the invoice. First be tactful, ok you've already done that. Be persistent but not a pain in the ass, cause you may just want to work with that person again sometime. Rather than calling alone, send emails that are dated and contain all relevant information regarding your attempts at payment in the event that you need to go to small claims court to collect. Always make sure you document everything. Should you call in an effort to collect follow that up with a pleasant email rehashing the high lights of that phone call and the terms discussed. Remember that this is a business and if they threaten to never hire you again than that is probably a good thing for you. Depending on how long you've been waiting for that payment you may need to send a final notice and then file a small claims case. Fee there was $35 a few years ago. Understand that even if you when your case the other party gets another 45-60 days to pay. Should they still refuse to pay your next option is to have a marshal go after there property and assets. This I have been told will set you back about $3500 to initiate. If it's only 1 day of work you may have to take the lose. If it is multi day than you may be able to contact the client and get paid that way. It is amazing how quickly a photographer can find their check book once the client calls them and asks why they are screwing the photo assistant that saved the photographers ass. James Sullivan www.1ProPhoto.Com www.1ProPhotoTV.Com www.1ProCrew.Com Edited by JamesNYC - 26/Jun/2010 at 12:53PM