How Much I Got Paid: #4

Title: Le Sex Shoppe

Publication: Dead by Charles Saatchi

Date: Not yet available

Word count: 0

Payment: $150

Notes: In July, I got an email from a woman doing research for a forthcoming book by ad kingpin and art collector Charles Saatchi to be called Dead. She had found a photo I took of a sex shop -- through Google Images, perhaps -- and she wanted to include the image in the book. She offered $100. I forwarded the email to a photographer friend of mine and asked, "Should I do this?" He responded, "Sure. See if you can get $150." I emailed the woman, "For $150, we can do this." I added, "If so, send me a contract, and I'll get that back to you. Thanks." This is a strategy I use often in negotiating. I assume the sale and make it easier for the co-negotiator to say yes than to say no. The co-negotiator doesn't necessarily want to pay you the least amount of money. They want to close the sale. They will pay more to not have to deal with you anymore. The amount here is small, but I found it works just as well when negotiating bigger sums. As for the photo, I took it over 10 years ago, and Le Sex Shoppe, which was purportedly beloved by Charles Bukowski, has since been demolished, according to a report.

Conclusion: When you're a freelancer, everything is for sale.

[How Much I Got Paid]