Determining initial deposit

[Mike McCarty]

Here's a question - It's not uncommon for an artist to get the first one third or so initial down payment at the time of a photo session. This pretty much sets the serious wheels in motion. The question is - a third of what?

Many times the composition is established after the photo shoot from many different poses which may or not include hands, backgrounds etc. There may be h&s to 3/4 poses explored at that time. All these differences can suggest much variance in what that third may be in terms of dollars. How do you, before the composition is set, determine the down payment?

One way to come to grips with this is by asking: where will the portrait hang? This should give some indication as to what kind of pose is in order. If the space suggests a 40x30 it's probably not going to be a head and shoulder. Even so, there may be several possible hanging locations which gets you back to the question.

What I have done in the past, with the intent of getting something of a commitment going, without an all out negotiation, is make an estimate on the low side. Anything to get them committed to the deal. I then, after the pose is established, create an invoice showing full amount and the initial down payment. If the initial down payment is anywhere close to my third I will just load the difference onto the back end.

This issue, and the conservative estimate, can be gone over at the time you ask for the deposit without having to go through a bunch of difficult calculus which spoils the mood, and at a time when you're trying to muster all your creative thoughts for the composition.

Any one have a better idea?