I'll Get Paid, When They Get Paid
This morning I received a call from a web designer who wants me to make some photos for one of his client. I don't really know him, I just know of him through a common acquaintance. Right now, 7 photos for the end of next week, plus the possibility of more photos later1). We start to discuss design, format… no problem, yes, yes… Then I start talking money, budget, the amounts sound reasonable. I can make these photos and still make an almost decent profit, and finally I say:
My standard fee is 50% to start and the rest on the delivery of the photos.
If they balk at that, I will negotiate down to 1/3 to start, 1/3 on delivery of the photos, and the last 3rd 30 days later or I'll give them 10% if they pay fully on delivery of the photos. I have not always followed my own rule/policy and I always regretted it. I wrote many times about it, see: Business Curse and many others Search for paid.
A big silence on the other side of the phone line, nothing, I still keep quiet2) then he pipes in, in a lower voice:
Him – I'm sorry but we pay, when our customer will pay us.
Me – I can't afford to finance you especially when I don't even know when I'll get paid for my photos and my expenses.
Him – You're missing a great opportunity, there could be lot more work later3).
I had to turn him down. Why? Because my expenses would have been at least a thousand dollars in equipment rentals and travel. Can't afford it, especially when I don't even know if I will get paid, what if his client doesn't pay him? If I don't receive a cheque or a PO from a “real company” to start then I can't afford to work.

I set my keywords in Lightroom, I also make sure that I save them, but Bridge does not see my keywords
That's because Lightroom, by default, only save all information and changes in it's own database. Lightroom doesn't save it to the photo if it's a DNG file or to the XMP sidecar if it's in another format. You need to tell Lightroom to save all the changes to it's database and to the XMP sidecar or the DNG file with:


