http://photoravlik.blogspot.com/2006/10/top-10-lies-told-to-naive-artists-and.html

Thank you for posting that, very... revealing :)

And my response every time I'm confronted with one of those, is and always has been...."thank you for your time and good luck"

HI Doug... I really enjoyed reading all those "facts"...
I must admit that I'm experiencing some of those "facts" on daily basis, not that I take my work for granted, but it's just the way it is.. with only one difference "I always collect my money" ....

And one another thing, it's pretty hard to get paid in fully or get paid at all , before the job is completed, at least that is the case in my country...

My advice on the subject is to always calculate the chances not to get paid , before even make an click with your mouse(pen) on the offered project...

Thank you

50% down - 50% upon approved (signed) proof of job to be printed.

~Nancy~

Haha, you can explore all of these on the freelance sites (like getafreelancer).

"Hey, send me 10 sample before and after retouches, 1000x800px size, I am a great photographer and will give you a lot of work if I approve it."
"Here is a photo for you to restore, restore in the next 6 hours and send it back, we will give you a lot of work later"
"Dear bidders, I need to get this photos cut from the background for maximum 0.5$ per photo. Happy bidding."

Am I sick to see that. But a lot of people catch on this. And they send samples and they work almost for free. It's sad :(

I never bid on jobs. And very rarely do I do a "test" job (only when I am not sure of my ability to do the job or how much time it will take). I ask for 50% up front and 50% on delivery. So I am fully paid before they get the job. After I have been working with a client for awhile, I'll set 30 day terms. I've never been stiffed on a job. This is how I treat my commercial clients. Consumer clients are usually friends or referred to me by friends and I am much more flexible with them.

I am a free-lancer for more than 20 years, and I have always been payed correctly. (never in advance, but always 30-90 days later)
I always make a price /job, and I only work for advertising agencies.