12 days almost without sleeping :( ->continued

[dominiquelaksmana]

actually enexis, it's really not that bad, because it's all in one style. once you get the first image, the rest are like following the first one. color, wood, mapping.. maybe it has few several maps but well, still in the line, so it's not that bad. but if let's say so many jobs from different client, i will surely die. but anyway thanks for all your kind words. they really lift me up when i'm down.

[pailhead]

Wow, you are a one man rendering army


It's a great job without considering the time frame, it's an even better one if you consider it.

[alexthg]

Hi, Dominique... 11 images in 12 days??? alone??? man, that's not good for your health!

... hehe, just kidding

really great work ! really really great texturing, modelling, rendering job... and best of all, u managed to meet the deadline with such high quality!


and those crazy time frames.... let me guess.... singaporean architect?



Regards,
Harry G

[stanslavov]

CONGR i like your ideya for leaf in the swimming pool

[Jean-Brad]

Quite niceeeeeeee, the Lighting is awsome!

[paulison]

I agree with everyones comments - excellent work and timeframe. You really do have a unique style!

The only thing id say is that for your own sanity you need to have your working hours limited per day....you dont want to burn out!!!. For me i have my solid 8 hours working and any training, testing or learning is in my own time.

Sometimes you have to say no to clients or at least fight them initially regarding deadlines. Honest estimate how long things will take working 8 hour days, then add a contingency amount. I think you could use the turnaround for this job as a precedent for future work - i'm guessing you kept track of all the hours spent on it?. I think i remember you said that you charge per image? i think this can be dangerous as well because the time variation in each image based on content. Usually we charge in stages...modelling stage for the entire project, then have images and finished product after amendments. If they want an additional image, it wont cost them much. Sorry, just think you may be screwing yourself over a bit in terms of sleepless nights and possibly your fee!

[pengo]

Sadly I agree with dominiquelaksmana and his rythms of works
Still not can decide high prices to do one or two works per month so a lot of nights of works too but rarely with this nice results as him
Congratulations again dominiquelaksmana
Paulison u are lucky man u can work only eight hours and then u can do what u want in FREE TIME
bye have nice day to all

[dominiquelaksmana]

well sadly, the competition here is getting really unhealthy Paulison... most of the cg artists in these region here really have good quality images. the only thing differentiate between them is the speed. price range is also very disturbing. we have crazY range here, starting with something like this: WE ARE CHEAP. $150/VISUAL, well, who can compete with that price. not even one third of market price. so the only thing that can bring my service to the surface is the speed. and they are fast. so, there's only one thing to beat them, that is being faster. and it's starting to take it's toll on me....
here's one example:

http://www.gemsvale.com/

i am not poking at them, well for legal reason...
if there's any reason that is so called "unapropriate" to put this weblink above, i apologize, and moderator, feel free to undo this post. well at least it got out of my chest.

cheers

[dlparisi]

I noticed you can also do hourly for $9.5/Hour! I think I can go work at Starbucks and make close to this. If you figure that's what there changing to the customer including overhead and profit there's no way most companies can compete with that. Granted most of the clients I work with either haven't discovered outsourcing renderings or most likely they probably just prefer someone local who can come to there office, sit down with them and discuss the project.

EDIT: By "you" I meant Gemsvale, not you.

[dominiquelaksmana]

just to clarify, i am now "at the market price"

[alexthg]

I think i can really understand Dominique situation. I'm afraid it's quite becoming a 'trend' in this region. There is always someone / some companies charging for less AND faster (and sometimes somehow they render GOOD also... ).

[paulison]

luckily it hasnt become as competitive where i live and there is a shortage of people who can do this work here...so things are still good here. we still have very short deadlines though from some clients...but if they pay well and the works good, then its worth it!

I think that in your situation, initially you may have to work cheap to get the reputation for doing better quality work than the competition for a small amount more, then increase it as clients start coming back more often.

$9.50/ hour?... i don't see how anyone can run a business with legit software for this rate. We charge almost 20x this amount from our regular clients because we have worked with them long enough that they ask how much to budget for the 3D in their fee proposals. new clients typically are less profitable and more demanding for us as they learn the process.

still i think you shouldnt sacrifice sleep for doing this work because you will burn out like i said. These businesses charging low rates will come and go...

[dominiquelaksmana]

i am totally agree with you paulison, i've been thinking about it and i think i am on the edge of sanity. quite true if i keep continue doing this stuff, i only collect money from client and transfer it to my future hospitalisation. i gotta think fast how to solve this problem.

you guys out there please if you have this kind of problems before and you solved it, shed some lights here, thanks.

or maybe i should go stay in london. i heard they pay like 1200 pounds a piece.

[visumporec]

I think that quality of you work must have very very high price and totally agree with paulison about this, but keep in mind that you health is most important thing to do this fabulous job...
For me you are one of the best 3D artsit...and people shuold pay that very much!
I wanna respect for 3D that we make with lot of sacrifice...

Alex

[dominiquelaksmana]

thank you alex for your compliment.
hopefully i can live up to that.
i am gonna give it a thought on this problems.
hopefully i get some positive solution.