Help with 1st Possible Paid Shoot.....
Nov 16, 2015 16:58:27 #
I was contacted by e-mail today by someone I'm not familiar with asking if I was available for a 4 hour 'Family Reunion' shoot in January. I'm intrigued but have become very sceptical about unsolicited emails of any sort. Do I respond? Dump it in the trash? I've been wanting to get into this sort of thing & could really use some extra cash as a GAS enabler but I am no sure about which direction to head in w/ this.....
Nov 16, 2015 17:00:42 #
ajohnston3 wrote:
I was contacted by e-mail today by someone I'm not familiar with asking if I was available for a 4 hour 'Family Reunion' shoot in January. I'm intrigued but have become very sceptical about unsolicited emails of any sort. Do I respond? Dump it in the trash? I've been wanting to get into this sort of thing & could really use some extra cash as a GAS enabler but I am no sure about which direction to head in w/ this.....
Watch yourself here. If they want to overpay you and have you send back the remainder, they're going to scam you.
Nov 16, 2015 17:10:41 #
Nov 16, 2015 17:49:40 #
I think you are right to be skeptical. If you aren't already a pro, how would they have known to solicit you? If you want to follow up, I would ask how they found you, and did someone recommend you.
Nov 16, 2015 18:00:42 #
ajohnston3 wrote:
I was contacted by e-mail today by someone I'm not familiar with asking if I was available for a 4 hour 'Family Reunion' shoot in January. I'm intrigued but have become very sceptical about unsolicited emails of any sort. Do I respond? Dump it in the trash? I've been wanting to get into this sort of thing & could really use some extra cash as a GAS enabler but I am no sure about which direction to head in w/ this.....
I get requests like this frequently and they never give a date but ask me my availability. HOW can you schedule a family reunion without a date??? It's very suspect and I can never delete them fast enough. I would be VERY careful.
Nov 16, 2015 18:05:32 #
Ask em lots of questions, time, date location and contact phone number. If they reply ,great, if they wont give that info, then its a scam, if they want a security deposit in case you break a lamp, its a scam. If they want to pay you and then they "accidentally overpay" dont send them any money.. its a scam. if its too good to be true then it usually is.
Nov 16, 2015 18:12:42 #
ajohnston3 wrote:
I was contacted by e-mail today by someone I'm not familiar with asking if I was available for a 4 hour 'Family Reunion' shoot in January. I'm intrigued but have become very sceptical about unsolicited emails of any sort. Do I respond? Dump it in the trash? I've been wanting to get into this sort of thing & could really use some extra cash as a GAS enabler but I am no sure about which direction to head in w/ this.....
There is a very popular scam going around exactly like this, usually an email or a text message about family reunion. Play it very careful. I love baiting scammers, but it is not for the faint of heart, you can easily get into trouble if you are not careful.
Nov 16, 2015 18:31:31 #
bdk wrote:
If its too good to be true then it usually is.
If its too good to be true then it usually is.
Yes, if you are being offered a job AND they want to pay you as well......, it's gotta be to good to be true!!!!! :lol: :lol:
SS
Nov 16, 2015 19:37:43 #
ajohnston3 wrote:
I was contacted by e-mail today by someone I'm not familiar with asking if I was available for a 4 hour 'Family Reunion' shoot in January. I'm intrigued but have become very skeptical about unsolicited emails of any sort. Do I respond? Dump it in the trash? I've been wanting to get into this sort of thing & could really use some extra cash as a GAS enabler but I am no sure about which direction to head in w/ this.....
In the more than a decade of shooting, I have never gotten a request for a job from any where, but from my website or recommendations.
Nov 16, 2015 21:20:14 #
twindad wrote:
Watch yourself here. If they want to overpay you and have you send back the remainder, they're going to scam you.
The old bait and switch with a certified check....
:thumbup: :thumbup:
Nov 16, 2015 21:21:09 #
n3eg wrote:
I didn't know they had family reunions in Nigeria.
Must be the royal family if the prince is involved!! :)
Nov 16, 2015 21:24:44 #
JohnSwanda wrote:
I think you are right to be skeptical. If you aren't already a pro, how would they have known to solicit you? If you want to follow up, I would ask how they found you, and did someone recommend you.
I think I'll play along for a bit & give them just enough feedback to keep THEM on the line..... Of course there's the outside chance they are legit but I'm betting not.... At least it wasn't another unsolicited call from 'Microsoft Support' in Mumbai......
Nov 16, 2015 21:26:18 #
ajohnston3 wrote:
I was contacted by e-mail today by someone I'm not familiar with asking if I was available for a 4 hour 'Family Reunion' shoot in January. I'm intrigued but have become very sceptical about unsolicited emails of any sort. Do I respond? Dump it in the trash? I've been wanting to get into this sort of thing & could really use some extra cash as a GAS enabler but I am no sure about which direction to head in w/ this.....
Arrange to meet with them in a public place. It could be entirely legit.
Nov 16, 2015 21:26:50 #
I recall another very similar situation with another Hogger a year or two ago. He quit communicating when they never could give him a firm date or place.
Nov 16, 2015 21:32:03 #
donnahde wrote:
I get requests like this frequently and they never give a date but ask me my availability. HOW can you schedule a family reunion without a date??? It's very suspect and I can never delete them fast enough. I would be VERY careful.
That's another reason my curiosity was piqued.... They did give me a specific date.... Jan. 16th but no location... I just sent an email asking how they heard about me...... We shall see.... Of course they could simply be trolling Flickr...
Will post updates.....
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