No Man Can Live At That Speed!

After quite a slow week of not making much progress, things are suddenly moving rather quickly indeed.

I found an ad in the paper which said:

WEB SITE PHOTOGRAPHER
Portsmouth based surf/lifestyle website requires a full time photographer to start with immediate effect. W need you to be able to hit the ground running!
If you would like to join a fast moving company and have the following qualifications and a flexible attitude then get in contact with us now!

Qualified to A Level standard in photography.

Knowledge of a digital SLR camera.

Proficient in the use of Adobe Photoshop or similar software.

Experience of a flash studio set up.

You need to be able to work using your own initiative and respond to the seasonal demands of the business. You may also be required to help out with product descriptions and web design if necessary.

Salary negotiable depending on experience.

References required.

Contact us by Email.

I thought that sounded interesting so yesterday evening I sent sent this email:

Dear Jane

I am emailing to enquire about the website photographer position you advertised last week.

I am a graduate from Staffordshire University with a BSc (Hons) in Digital film, Animation and 3D Technology.

The course included working with both digital video cameras and digital still photography, image manipulation using Adobe Photoshop, 2D animation using Adobe After Effects, 3D modelling and texturing using both Maya and 3DS Max, lighting for both photography and film and 3D rendered models, video editing and effects in both Adobe Premier Pro and Adobe After Effects and DVD authoring.

I do not have experience with a flash studio set up, but I thought my experience with lighting for film and photography would be helpful.

I have attached a copy of my CV with a more complete list of my skills and also contains a link to a showreel of my previous projects.

If you think I would be suitable for the photographer position or if you have any other positions you think I would be suitable for, please let me know.

Yours Sincerely

Now I wasn't expecting much to come from it, but when I woke up this morning I found an email in my inbox from a certain Jane.

Hi Matt – thanks for your email

Our website is: www.boardsportwarehouse.com – take a look.

All product is photographed in our studio at our base in Farlington.

We need all our products photographed and loaded onto the site which at times would also require product descriptions. We are a seasonal business so there are peaks and troughs as to when product arrives. At the start of each season i.e. Aug/Sept & Feb/Mar there is a constant flow of goods coming into the warehouse this then peters off which is why we need someone who can be flexible. At peak times it is a matter of getting as much photographed and onto the website as quickly as we can. Outside of these busy times we need design work done on the site and monitoring of other sites who we see as competitors.

Our website is fulfilled by our retail stores – currently numbered at 6 – we have partnerships with Animal & Quiksilver.

Hours are Mon to Fri 9.00 to 5.30 (with an hour for lunch).

If this interests you then please email your salary expectations.

Thanks

Jane

Now i'm slightly worried. I have no idea what sort of salary to ask for. I have no idea what they're thinking. If I ask for too much they could cast me aside and hire somone out of college with a photography a level for minimum wage, if I ask for too little they could stamp my file with a big "CHUMP" stamp, hire me for my suggestion and put however many thousands a year extra I could have been earning into their profits. Scary stuff.

Having thought about it for a bit, and discussing it with the parentals, I'm going to ask for something in the region of £17000-£20000. I suppose I'd better draft an email now....I'll come back when I'm done...

UPDATE:
It took a lot of thinking but I've finally written my demands in the form of an email:

Hi Jane

Thanks for getting back to me, the position does sound very interesting.

The salary I was thinking of was something in the region of £17000 to £20000, depending on terms and conditions. I would be interested to hear what sort of salary you had in mind.

As I said, I am interested in the position, and I would be happy to come in to discuss it and have a look around.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Thanks

Matt

Just after I sent it I got an automatic reply saying she'll be out of the office on monday the 8th and tuesday the 9th, but thats fine by me because on sunday I'm going to Frome to visit Hogie, we're going to the Doctor Who Exhibition in Cardiff on monday and I'll be coming home tuesday, so its all good :)