How do I filter out unrealistic or underbudgeted requests?

The project request form asks for the client's budget at the very first step. You'll find it displayed in each request's detail, under Projects > Requests, letting you judge at a glance whether the budget fits your pricing before you even reply.

Viewing a request's budget

Open Projects > Requests and click a row: the detail panel shows the body area, the size, the style, the requested service, and the budget indicated by the client, alongside their description and reference images. Everything is gathered in one place, no need to dig for the information in a message.

Sorting an underbudgeted request

Once you've checked the budget, two options are available from the detail panel.

• Decline: opens a form with an optional reason. Useful if the budget is too far off from what the piece requires to make the conversation worthwhile.
• Send a quote: if the project interests you despite a tight budget, you can propose your own price, estimated duration, and deposit. The client keeps the choice to accept or decline your offer.

Why the budget is asked upfront

Having the client state a budget from the request avoids back-and-forth messages over projects out of the client's reach (for example, a multi-session piece for a touch-up budget). It saves you sorting time before you even open the conversation.

Edge cases

The budget field is empty on a request. The client didn't fill in this field, it wasn't required at submission. You can ask for clarification directly in the conversation thread linked to the request.

I still get unrealistic requests despite the displayed budget. This is common with references seen on social media, disconnected from the real time or price of a piece. Declining with a reason remains the right move, it avoids wasting time negotiating a project that won't work out.

I want to adjust my listed prices to reduce these requests. Check that your services and flashes are priced accurately: a realistic budget shown upfront filters out some requests before they even come in.