How are 3dsmax/vray users finding the freelance market at the moment

[stevesideas]

I'm still freelancing using 3dsmax & Vray and although I have work coming in I have noticed it slowing down compared to previous years. I see a lot of jobs advertised for C4D these days but maybe that's just the groups I'm in make it seem that way.

Is there still a good market for 3dsmax/vray users/freelancers? Any tips on groups to join or recruitment agencies to contact?

Thanks

[glorybound]

Your work is awesome - I am a fan!

I am super busy, with the potential of being overwhelmed. I have my usuals, who keep me busy full-time, the usual drop-ins, and lately some large stock home builders who want to redo their images for marketing. Both say that they have 100's of plans that they want done this year (maybe just sales BS). I have done one house for both of them, as a test. Both these guys came to me from a reference from another stock home plan designer, that I have done a few dozen for them last year, and into this year.

I am in the US, and I think people are ignoring the financial forecast of a recession, since they have been saying that for years. Or they are being smart and investing in marketing when things are slow. I hope it picks up for you.

[glorybound]

There is a disconnect in what we do. I had a fellow this month, who was a project manager for a construction company in TN, want to pick up some side work. He was asking some questions, and he wanted to know if asking for $150 per image was too much. I guess if it is extra money, and you don't have family and friends, do what you want. However, you can't build a business on $150 an image unless you are pushing out four renderings a day, every day. He wants to eventually go full time; I guess he didn't think things over very well. Insurance, retirement, and healthcare. If people are doing work this cheap, things might get slow for the rest of us I know Fiverr is spending a lot on advertising; I am seeing their ads everywhere.

[stevesideas]

Your work is awesome - I am a fan!

I am super busy, with the potential of being overwhelmed. I have my usuals, who keep me busy full-time, the usual drop-ins, and lately some large stock home builders who want to redo their images for marketing. Both say that they have 100's of plans that they want done this year (maybe just sales BS). I have done one house for both of them, as a test. Both these guys came to me from a reference from another stock home plan designer, that I have done a few dozen for them last year, and into this year.

I am in the US, and I think people are ignoring the financial forecast of a recession, since they have been saying that for years. Or they are being smart and investing in marketing when things are slow. I hope it picks up for you.

Thanks Bobby, much appreciated. Your work is great too! I think you've been busy since I've known you on here It's a good position to be in with so much work coming in for you.

I guess there is a market out there but sites like Fiverr and Freelancer seem to me like a race to the bottom...lowering everyone else's value in the industry. I still think that the higher paid work is out there but I don't specialise like you. I'm wondering if that's part of the issue. I'm trying to network but I've never been great at marketing...trying to get my work in front of the right people is a challenge.

Anyway, thanks. I hope things pick up too.

[glorybound]

Once places like Fiverr can produce high-quality at the low cost, I know I am screwed. Often I get clients to come to me from there, because the communication was awful, and the quality was low. We have to sell ourself on more than just a pretty picture, although that is what they are buying. People have been crying that the sky is falling from the dawn of time, it isn't and the work is there. My blessing is Google. If you Google Exterior Renderings, I should be # 1. They find me, see my quality, and then the process begins. I am not even close to the best work out there, but I try hard. We look at sights like Behance, which has some insanely good work, but the normal people who search for people like us don't. As far as what you find on Google, which is where people search, my work looks pretty good.

I had a guy sign a project with me last week, wanting to replace his local guy. I didn't ask why, but yesterday he sent me an example of the local guys' work, and it impressed me. He sent it to me to show the contrast of the roof to the brick. I had to pixel peep to see that it wasn't a photo. Unless this guy closed the shop, I don't know why they wanted to change shops. Point is, we have to always do better than everyone else, at a fair price. This rendering kicked me in the butt, and now I have to look into how to make my images even better. I am not too concerned with the folks on Behance, because most of that is play-time and takes them months.

[T0ofic]

..don't feed the troll please...

[stevesideas]

..don't feed the troll please...

What are you talking about?

[glorybound]

What are you talking about?

Ignore him. I blocked him a long time ago. He is rude in every post, to every member, and they should ban him from the site.

[stevesideas]

Ignore him. I blocked him a long time ago. He is rude in every post, to every member, and they should ban him from the site.

The guy on Behance?

By the way Bobby, do you subscribe to Quixel? There are some great textures on there and models that might help boost your quality levels.

[glorybound]

No, T0ofic. I only see him becasue he is quoted in your post. I did subscribe to Quixel, but I found that I wasn't uses them often. I'll check them out again. Mostly, I use Poliigon for my textures and 3DSKY for my models.

[stevesideas]

Yes, I was going to mention Polliigon too.