Custom Footage Job.

A quick question of opinion/etiquette for the shooters on p5.
If you get a footage request, ie. someone asking you to shoot something in particular, in a specific way, is it fair/normal/insulting to ask the particular client to cover some of your hard costs?
Realistically, is there any chance that even in the long run you're going to be able to recoup your costs on a specific shoot?
What is your experience? I'm new here so I don't know if you just expect to not get paid anything ever, except the one-time download fee?
Please let me know.
Thanks

If this particular clip would have chance to sell more than one time i think i would do it, but if i think this will never sell more that one time i would set for this clip higher price, maybe sell this clip outside pond5/other footage site.

Hi Inpost,

it depends on the kind of shooting. A smiling girl's footage is likely to be bought at least once or twice; a red-haired smiling girl with a sunflower in her hand is more difficult to sell; and so on.

Anyway, as the name says, "custom footage" is something rare, so 90% of it should be fully paid in advance.

But it's just my humble opinion. :)

- Gianfranco.

Shoot like you own the business. Residual stock sales should not figure into reducing the charges to the customer. Figure out what your time and equipment is worth. My guess not less than $75 hour. Get a release from all parties to use footage as stock. Far too many artists here at P5 give their work away by setting ridiculous low pricing for their stock footage.

Thanks guys,

That was exactly what I was thinking too, but I didn't know if that is the P5 mentality. I am glad to shoot something, but not unless my costs are covered,
I don't think most people understand the premise of stock footage.

thanks all, (so i'm NOT crazy)