NGO's - You are relatively cheap, aren't you?

How to negotiate fees with a European trade union? Tonight a I got a call and suddenly I had to figure out what a photographer would cost here in China. They were not very clear about what they wanted, but, said the voice at the other side of the line "you guys are pretty cheap overthere, aren't you?"
I laughed my head off and said I could not confirm that nasty rumor. We only work for trade union fees!