batskeets | The work before the work

I think my least-favorite part of doing freelance web site work is writing up proposals. I just sent out my fourth revision of one today, because there's been a lot of back-and-forth about the legalese. I'm adding clauses for what happens if I don't complete the work, which makes me laugh a little, because it's usually the client flaking on me, not the other way around.

It's not exactly fun to be writing contract language, either, because I like to be friendly with my clients, and it's no fun to be thinking about worst-case scenarios, or a project going south for whatever reason. And, well, it's always at least a little frustrating when you have to do a big brick of work in order to get actual work booked. I suppose I should be used to that by now, but, eh, it's still kind of a trial.

On a more positive note, it's looking pretty likely that I'll be getting actual paying gigs for photojournalistic coverage of a few local events happening in June and July, and possibly ongoing from there. I know one of the (paid) writers for an online news/events site that's established in other cities, but new to the Portland market, and I posted a couple of photos on their web site that I'd shot previously at local food establishments. Apparently, they actually saw those and want to give me money to take more photos for them. Considering I don't particularly chase after photojournalism jobs right now, that was pretty exciting news. The rate isn't my ideal, but it's good enough to be worth doing especially with the relatively-low time commitment. So, yay!

And oh, hey, even when my legs are dead, I can still be an okay jammer. There were a couple of times where I sneaked through the pack by using my own blockers as cover, and I believe this was one of them: