TLDR at the bottom.

I could use some perspective from my fellow filmmakers and photographers here.

I was asked to shoot video footage at a group yoga trip in a european country, 6 days on site plus 4-5 travel days. I’d be filming on 4 of the 6 on site days, but likely grabbing some shots here and there on my 2 “free days.” Broll, drone, and interviews. Deliverables are a 3-4 minute overview/testimonial based promo, a :60 teaser of the above, and all raw footage on a hard drive they supply.

They also want me to take some photos here and there, but most notably they want photos of the rooms at the retreat venue, which they plan to give to the venue for their own promotional purposes. No more 100 total selects edited.

They told me up front their previous videographer did all this for 1500-2k, as “that’s what we could afford, and they got a free trip to Belize/Greece/Switzerland/wherever out of it, so they were excited to do it for that.”

I’ve seen the previous videos they have, and it’s fine, nothing too amateur but nothing mind blowing. Pretty great considering the low budget, but honestly stuff I could create in my sleep.

Anyway, I’ve got nearly 20yrs experience in video, and have done photos for nearly 10yrs. I quoted this project and it came out to about $13k. I offered to do it for $3500 as long as I retain the copyright to all media (no work for hire BS) and I get to license photos to the venue, not them. I thought this would be within reach for them but still put some money in my pocket for the time commitment, and I could deal with that.

They sent a polite response saying the most they can afford is 1500 and with the venue they are contractually obligated to provide photos to them, so those have to be turned over. But that it could be less, like 20-30 photos instead of 100.

Is it just me or are they insane? They keep referring to “the trade” as if the expense for me being there is something that is part of this equation. Every other international shoot i’ve done it’s been all expenses covered, period, and I’m paid my normal rate…

I know for a fact that they could (and will if i turn it down) offer this to some young wedding filmmaker or something who would probably do a fine job (for their standards) and be absolutely thrilled to spend a week in europe and make $1500.

Am I being too stubborn and stuck on principle here? I love to travel and have always wanted to visit this location in particular but I feel like I’m being seriously lowballed… I’ll be mostly stuck with this yoga group so it’s not like I can go explore much on my “free day” in fact I suspect I’ll just end up shooting on those days anyway due to FOMAS. The whole “turning photos over to the venue” thing is really bothering me to- they’re using my work to get a better rate for their retreat, no? That alone should be $1500!

Thoughts? Should I just suck it up and enjoy a free trip? Or die on my hill of principle and let them go hire someone else?

TLDR: Should I accept a lowball rate of $1500 for 4 shoot days edits photos but I get to go to a cool country in europe for it?