[rossnordby]

Having done a little work across the spectrum, this is definitely correct. Years ago, I targeted the cheaper end, and the amount of work expected was absurd. The nonmonetary terms of the deals were often even worse; think business destroying levels of exploitation. (I declined those!)

In contrast, I've quoted hundreds of dollars an hour while explaining that I didn't think I would offer enough value to actually justify that price in context and encouraged alternatives- and got the job immediately. And the project went very smoothly. In another recent case, I requested tens of thousands of dollars for some project-relevant expenditures, and received a deposit without a single question.

Organizations that are willing to spend money tend to be the ones that understand what they're buying and how to value it.

[justinlloyd]

I gave up on the cheaper end long ago - too many trials by fire. Raising my rates was the best thing I did for my own sanity. I still run into an odd client here and there that makes my life Hell on Earth for a while. I also stopped giving discounts. And on the advice of good friend who runs a sizable creative agency in Los Angeles, came up with a "fuck off" rate for when I really don't want the work. Right now, I don't charge a sky-high rate, but I've started applying "9am to 6pm, no on-call, no toxicity, no arseholes, no high pressure to deliver at all costs." I am so over client-induced PTSD & anxiety disorders.