Virtual Assistant Forums

#1 (**permalink**) 06-08-2012

I'm not sure where I was supposed to place this thread:

But if I blog for a client, do I buy the photos? And does anyone blog for a client?

Thank you in advance.
Jan

#2 (**permalink**) 06-08-2012

Jan,

I blog often for clients.

You can do a few things...

Open an iStockphoto.com (or similar, there are many photo sites) and purchase the photos on behalf of the client and charge them back on your next invoice.

Or, have the client open the iStockphoto.com account and have them select the photo and send it to you.

Or, have the client open the iStockphoto.com account and just have them send you the password and username to use. Select the photo yourself.

I have done all three options.

I prefer the client opening the account and paying for the pictures in bulk ahead of time. That saves me the time to do the accounting later and I am always looking for ways to spend less time billing.

Janine

#3 (**permalink**) 06-08-2012

Thank you, Janine. I always appreciate your wise and thorough answers.
Jan

#4 (**permalink**) 06-08-2012

Jan,

You are most welcome.

A tip, if you haven't worked this into your proposal...

Sometimes (no, many times) selecting the photo takes many, many minutes. I've spent a good deal of time searching for just the right photo to use because it is very important when posting blogs.

Be sure, if you are the one selecting the photo for the client that you build that time into your quote or be sure to be compensated hourly because photo selection can eat into valuable VA time.

That is why I will ask the client to send me the photo as a jpg attachment and I explain it saves time otherwise, I do charge for that service.

I have one client who sends it to me and another who has asked me to choose the photo. But I do give them the option and I do charge for the time.

I'm sure you have that covered but wanted to bring that up just in case.

Janine

#5 (**permalink**) 06-09-2012

Oh Janine,

Thank you for your vote of confidence. I don't have anything covered yet. I'm so new that I haven't had a blogging client yet. I just know that the only reason I don't blog as often on my own personal blog (Imp3rfect Mom) is that it takes such a long time to find a pic. So your reminder is vital.

How much time do you charge your client? 30 mins? And can you give me a range of the minutes you've taken to find a photo?

Thanks, again.
Jan

#6 (**permalink**) 06-09-2012

Jan,

I always try to charge the client the least amount of time for the services I provide. I would say that on average it takes me about 20 minutes to keyword a photo in the search section of the photo site, look through the photos, select, purchase, download, upload, resize, format and insert a photo into a blog post.

That's an average. There have been times it has taken me 10 minutes and other times, I've been so stumped for a photo, having to check several sites...even Wikipedia public domain photos that I've used 30 minutes or more.

There are times I take my own photos too for a blog post if I couldn't find a good photo online.

I offer blogging packages which includes time for photo searching and posting. But most of my clients for whom I blog buy retainer packages from me in which case I keep track of my time used.

Please don't let the photo-search hold you back from blogging. You can blog and then go back and insert the photo later. It is to your benefit to get those blog posts up especially if you plan to offer blogging as a service, you will want to attract people to your sites where they can see the good work you do. So I highly recommend that you blog and worry about the photos later.

Another tip: I buy most of my photos from iStockphoto although there are many other good and free photo sites. One benefit I like from iStock is that they give away one free photo, audio, video, audio and vector selection per month. I have signed onto their newsletter. Every month they send me a newsletter which is a reminder to go on their site and download the free photos. When I write a blog post, I will search my free library for photos and often use those for my blog posts. That saves me a lot of time.

You can also take photos with a camera and keep them on file until you need them. Take pictures in groups and then file them in groups such as 'nature', 'flowers', 'sunsets', etc., and then use those in your posts when you need them.

Finally, if you are really stuck for a photo you can create your own image using a site such as FotoFlexer.com. Sometimes images don't have to images. They can be text-based images with slogans, sayings and single images.

Here's a link to several free photo sites that might be of use to you. http://www.my-creativeteam.com/blog/...-for-bloggers/

Janine