Client never mentioned amount of work in the job ad.

[mohsin-bhatti]

I am basically a photographer and retouch lightroom catalogs for other photographers. 

I bid on a lot of job ads and most of the time the client agrees to an amount x $ after we have a discussion on workflow and how much work they will give me, 

Now this client posted this ad

"If you understand how Lightroom Smart catalogs work, this should be simple enough. We have organized the images into categories and need you to delete the multiples, poorly exposed and awkward faces. If you're not sure about whether to delete it, leave it and I will review it before color correcting"

her budget was 80$ and I bid 63.40$ on the project because I didn't know any of the details. and there is nothing mentioned in the ad So I thought we will have a discussion on workflow then we will come to a mutual understanding on payment terms. 

After this, I received a message from the client.
"I really like the crisp edits that you have in this collection:
xxxxxx
You will find a lightroom catalog for a wedding that needs to be color corrected ASAP:
xxxxxx
There is a teaser folder that will give you a starting point for the color. Ideally everything is bright, white and the skin tones are right...consistently"

and she started the contract by paying 63.40$ in escrow. Now she is saying I bid on her ad and I have to edit all of the images which are more than 1900 in numbers. I feel scammed I never said I will do anything for 63.40$ normally for this amount of work I charge up to 350-400$.

What should I do?

[petra_r]

---

Mohsin A wrote:

What should I do?

---

Simply decline the contract.

Renegotiate.

[martina_plaschka]

---

Mohsin A wrote:

I am basically a photographer and retouch lightroom catalogs for other photographers. 

I bid on a lot of job ads and most of the time the client agrees to an amount x $ after we have a discussion on workflow and how much work they will give me, 

Now this client posted this ad

"If you understand how Lightroom Smart catalogs work, this should be simple enough. We have organized the images into categories and need you to delete the multiples, poorly exposed and awkward faces. If you're not sure about whether to delete it, leave it and I will review it before color correcting"

her budget was 80$ and I bid 63.40$ on the project because I didn't know any of the details. and there is nothing mentioned in the ad So I thought we will have a discussion on workflow then we will come to a mutual understanding on payment terms. 

After this, I received a message from the client.
"I really like the crisp edits that you have in this collection:
xxxxxx
You will find a lightroom catalog for a wedding that needs to be color corrected ASAP:
xxxxxx
There is a teaser folder that will give you a starting point for the color. Ideally everything is bright, white and the skin tones are right...consistently"

and she started the contract by paying 63.40$ in escrow. Now she is saying I bid on her ad and I have to edit all of the images which are more than 1900 in numbers. I feel scammed I never said I will do anything for 63.40$ normally for this amount of work I charge up to 350-400$.

What should I do?

---

Tell the client exactly what you wrote here, in your most professional tone. Maybe it's a simple misunderstanding, maybe they are trying to scam you. No matter what, remember that a professional will never be pressured to do something that he does not want to do. 

[petra_r]

Of course, if you actually accepted the contract, you have a problem.

Did you accept the contract?

[mohsin-bhatti]

Yes, I did accept the contract and details were shared after accepting it. 

[mohsin-bhatti]

Maybe its time to learn from my mistake, I did tell her last night about all the things and issues which I was having while chatting with her I felt threatened for a bad review. 

Well, I can let this one slide but I did learn something new next time I will keep this in mind before accepting any contract in the future, previously all of my clients were super nice. 

[petra_r]

Why did you accept a contract without knowing what is involved at all?

[mohsin-bhatti]

I didn't even know things can go in another direction. you can say that I am very stupid. Well, I will keep this experience close to my heart. Look on the bright side there are only 1900 images, it could have been more than these. 

[wlyonsatl]

I wouldn't say you're stupid, Mohsin.

You just have to learn more about how Upwork and the Upwork proposal process works and how you can protect yourself from unexpected consequences.

Don't do anything for any client that is unfair or unethical or requires far more work than the client led you to believe you were applying for just because you're worried about your Job Success Score. 

If you have a steady flow of projects and over-perform on all of them to some extent, the occasional less-than-five-star rating from a client will be more than outweighed by the occasional difficult client. (It's too bad Upwork has made five star ratings/100% JSS "ratings" the minimums so many freelancers think clients have the right to expect.)

And it's unfortunate the JSS is so poorly structured that freelancers feel trapped into bad projects. You'll learn how to deal with clients in a way that doesn't expose you to some of these traps.

[kbadeau]

Do a batch edit and then only color correct any that still look way off.

Also in your proposal (in the future) specify how many images the money -- $63 or otherwise -- covers.

[kbadeau]

---

Will L wrote:

I wouldn't say you're stupid, Mohsin.

You just have to learn more about how Upwork and the Upwork proposal process works and how you can protect yourself from unexpected consequences.

Don't do anything for any client that is unfair or unethical or requires far more work than the client led you to believe you were applying for just because you're worried about your Job Success Score. 

If you have a steady flow of projects and over-perform on all of them to some extent, the occasional less-than-five-star rating from a client will be more than outweighed by the occasional difficult client. (It's too bad Upwork has made five star ratings/100% JSS "ratings" the minimums so many freelancers think clients have the right to expect.)

And it's unfortunate the JSS is so poorly structured that freelancers feel trapped into bad projects. You'll learn how to deal with clients in a way that doesn't expose you to some of these traps.

---

I have even felt trapped in "good" projects. Basically the JSS structure is just unfortunate, period. (Don't get me wrong... I otherwise feel very fortunate on this platform.)

[mohsin-bhatti]

Thank you, Kelly, You are absolutely right about the fortunate part sometimes I feel blessed. But still, I will put my heart in it I love my work. 

[feed_my_eyes]

---

Mohsin A wrote:

Now this client posted this ad

"If you understand how Lightroom Smart catalogs work, this should be simple enough.

---

This sounds like a variation of the now-classic "this is an easy job for someone who knows what they're doing." I never bid on jobs that are described as "simple" or "easy" or "this won't take long" - that's just clientspeak meaning, "I want to grossly underpay you."

[mohsin-bhatti]

First of all thank you, everyone, you guys are really supportive. 

Yes, Maam, I will keep this in mind, definitely should have understood this classic strategy. 

[filip_knezevic]

---

Christine A wrote:

---

Mohsin A wrote:

Now this client posted this ad

"If you understand how Lightroom Smart catalogs work, this should be simple enough.

---

This sounds like a variation of the now-classic "this is an easy job for someone who knows what they're doing." I never bid on jobs that are described as "simple" or "easy" or "this won't take long" - that's just clientspeak meaning, "I want to grossly underpay you."

---

I love those. "It shouldn't take more then an hour for an experienced person." I always respond to the client that they are free to finish the job themselves as obiously they are the experts, not me.