The Secret to Bidding Commercial Gigs: It Never Gets Easier

I have learned a lot over the years regarding pricing and bidding commercial photography. I still have a lot to learn. I've made mistakes (lots of them) and had some victories (fortunately). Sometimes as photographers we feel isolated on this psychological roller coaster of wins and losses. The reality is, no matter where you are in your photography career, no matter how big (or small) your clients are, we're all struggling with the same issues when it comes to bidding a gig.

Blinkbid published a post this week that reaffirmed everything. It helped me step back and realize that I'm following the natural order of things. Some days I just want to sell everything and find another career. I figure nobody is ever going to hire me again, and my time must have slipped by without even knowing it. I see others who are crushing it while I'm trying to figure out how I'm going to keep the lights on. Other times, things are going so good, I'm afraid to go outside for fear of an anvil falling on my head like in the cartoons, ending all my good fortune.

It all comes down to this: If you work at this profession, I mean really hustle; hit the streets, knock on doors, build your presence, and don't just sit around waiting for the phone to ring . . . you can continue to feel anxious and wake up in a cold sweat after every bid, just like the rest of us.

Do yourself a favor and read The Psychology Behind Photography Bids published on Blinkbid's blog. It's one of the best summaries I've ever read about life in the fast lane of commercial photography.