When a client takes one creative's bid and shops it around to get someone else to undercut it, they're not evaluating based on value, vision, or fit, they're turning it into a race to the bottom. That devalues the work across the board.

And on the flip side, a photographer who's willing to drop their rate just because they saw someone else's numbers isn't really pricing based on what the project is worth, they're just reacting to pressure. That's not sustainable, and it hurts the industry long term.

Healthy competition is presenting your best work, your best concept, and your true rate. Not reverse-engineering someone else's bid.

If a client is playing creatives against each other like that, it's usually a sign they're shopping for the cheapest option, not the right partner.

https://jamespatrick.com/