Stiffed for art job $3000

[texasrose609]

I live in Tennessee, client and work performed in Georgia.
I did some photography for a greenhouse several months back, after showing the owner the pre-edited work he loved my work and offered me a job doing advertising/photography but I live in Tennessee so I only do it as a side job for the moment. He is a lawyer during the day so I had to correspond through his only other employee. The flower shows start this month and his employee instructed me to get some prints ready for the shows, which I did. It cost me $450 out of pocket which doesnt include the photography, editing, printing, packaging and so on. When I tried to deliver the materials all of a sudden the employee could not be found nor could I reach the owner. Would I have a leg to stand on in small claims court since there was no written contract and it goes across state lines? I am even willing to donate my time which so far is worth about $2500, but since I am a broke college student I really need to be reimbursed for the expenses. I would even be happy to give him the unused materials so he could utilize them in the future. I know Im too nice and should never do anything ever again for anyone.