Not sure how to handle this - DPChallenge Forums

Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 EX Aspherical DF for Canon

10/28/2008 02:49:37 PM · #26

Originally posted by karmat:

If she insists that there isnt' anything in particular, she is just wanting to "look," set up a time for an appointment and tell her you will need to charge her your standard hourly consultation rate for that appointment.

Don't forget to charge for any of the initial PS work you do on the bad images.

Message edited by author 2008-10-28 14:50:06.

NikonJeb

Nikon D850

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 28-300mm f3.5-5.6G ED VR

10/28/2008 03:04:58 PM · #27

Originally posted by zeuszen:

Dear X,

I appreciate your interest and respect your desire to choose from a variety of available shots. As a serious photographer, I am, of course, concerned with satisfying my clients' needs and preferences, but I must do so without compromising the integrity of my work.

This is why I am asking you to appreciate any evaluative and aesthetic choices I may make as part of my workflow. I view this also as part of my responsibility to you as much as to any future clients I may have.

I trust that you can appreciate my position in this matter and invite you choose from ... etc... (include a positive remark about a particular image or a group of them, you'd suggest for consideration).
If you need any further assistance... (offer your help).

Sincerely,
Sig.

Excellent!

Point is, these images are yours, regardless of any commisioning since your services were requested.

This person accepted your standards by asking for your services, and though you may have to point that out less gently than you'd like, any images you are unwilling to show......should not be shown.

Stick to your guns, dear lady!

Art Roflmao

Canon EOS-6D Mark II

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

10/28/2008 06:51:45 PM · #28

Send her an incendiary letter bomb. I can provide some for you if you want. I have hundreds, but I will only show you the ones that are the most effective - please don't ask to see them all.

-Art (aka Mr. Customer Service)

yanko

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Carl Zeiss 50mm ZE f/1.4 Planar T for Canon

10/28/2008 07:25:13 PM · #29

Personally, I would be more worried about an angry client who didn't get their photos (and thus likely to bitch about it to their friends) than a happy client with some crappy photos. Luckily it doesn't sound like the client is upset so either continue the "I'm a professional" routine or just send her some blackened out photos and tell her "see you don't want these" and call it a day.

Message edited by author 2008-10-28 19:26:10.

Jutilda

Canon EOS-7D

Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4.5 DC Macro for Canon

10/28/2008 08:01:58 PM · #30

Here's the deal: The original person to request it is someone I met through a photo shoot of 54 kids. She is the co-owner of the school. She said that she wanted a group shot of her family of 10. I told her I don't ordinarily do group shots, but I'd give it a try and if they didn't like it, they could find someone else. As part of the group is the sister-in-law (who does NOT live here) who is being so insistent. I sent them small non-printable imbedded images in an email just to show them what there was to choose from. I chose one of each pose we did unless it was so awful or blown out (the lighting was pretty harsh - outside). Frankly, she said "oh, I just want to see all of them to see what I missed, good, bad, or whatever." She's kind of treating me like the girlfriend down the street who has an instamatic and I'm holding out on all of the photos that I just got back from the Walmart Photo Center. I have held off on replying, so I can talk to the original person who asked me. I am taking all of the kids' photos to the school tomorrow, so hopefully I can tell her what's going on and maybe all will end well. I took about 250 photos - I have shown them 35. Many are repeats with a slightly different pose. I swear, she remember every single one because she asked for one "where dad was slightly .... blah blah." I do not show them numbers, so that's not an issue. Thank you so much for all of your ideas. I'll keep you posted.

10/28/2008 08:05:10 PM · #31

Originally posted by GeneralE:

Unless you stated up-front that you would only show a selection of images, I don't see why the customer shouldn't have the choice of commissioned images -- they are the client. How would you feel if a waiter said thay they'd decided that you couldn't order menu items #3, #7 and #14?

Not quite the same thing. A closer analogy would be the waiter refusing to give you the choice of ordering the plateful that fell on the floor.

Having said that, I do agree somewhat with your post.

I've never done portraits, but what I'd probably do is delete any that are poor because of the photography but not those that you consider poor because of the subjects.

Some of my favourite shots of loved ones are not because they're beautiful or perfect, but because they have captured the person perfectly; the goofy expression, the lock of hair that won't stay put no matter what... the kind of thing that makes one say, "That is so YOU!! ". As a photographer of near-strangers you don't usually get the opportunity to know just what will strike a chord with some family member, unfortunately. Maybe the lady is just looking for something less perfect and more "them". :)

edit to fix quote... duhhh

and again to add that the OP explained while I was typing... but I guess my opinion still works in general :)

Message edited by author 2008-10-28 20:06:48.

Strikeslip

Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS

10/28/2008 08:12:49 PM · #32

When I do a shoot, people are overjoyed simply to have my greatness show up and press the shutter button. I am the one who tells them what they damn well like, and what they will damn well buy!

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

10/28/2008 08:15:01 PM · #33

Originally posted by Strikeslip:

When I do a shoot, people are overjoyed simply to have my greatness show up and press the shutter button. I am the one who tells them what they damn well like, and what they will damn well buy!

Don't sell much, do you?

zeuszen

Canon EOS-1Ds Mark II

10/28/2008 08:19:03 PM · #34

Originally posted by BeeCee:

Originally posted by Strikeslip:
When I do a shoot, people are overjoyed simply to have my greatness show up and press the shutter button. I am the one who tells them what they damn well like, and what they will damn well buy!

Don't sell much, do you?

or he sells 'em for seven grand a piece...

Judi

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

10/28/2008 08:38:20 PM · #35

Originally posted by zeuszen:

Originally posted by BeeCee:

Originally posted by Strikeslip:
When I do a shoot, people are overjoyed simply to have my greatness show up and press the shutter button. I am the one who tells them what they damn well like, and what they will damn well buy!

Don't sell much, do you?

or he sells 'em for seven grand a piece...

He is a legend in his own lunchbox...hehehehehe!

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro

10/28/2008 08:44:12 PM · #36

Originally posted by zeuszen:

Probably through a gov't arts grant.

Spork99

OM System OM-1

10/28/2008 11:28:30 PM · #37

Originally posted by BeeCee:

Originally posted by zeuszen:

Originally posted by BeeCee:

Originally posted by Strikeslip:
When I do a shoot, people are overjoyed simply to have my greatness show up and press the shutter button. I am the one who tells them what they damn well like, and what they will damn well buy!

Don't sell much, do you?

or he sells 'em for seven grand a piece...

Probably through a gov't arts grant.

No, no, no, the grant funds the bricks of cheese he eats to get blocked up and generate that constipated look.

Strikeslip

Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS

10/29/2008 05:22:37 AM · #38

mmmmmmmmmmm.... cheeeeeeeeeeezzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

rossbilly

Nikon D200

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.4D

10/29/2008 08:28:04 AM · #39

<<<<< just had cheese grits for breakfast :)

NikonJeb

Nikon D850

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 28-300mm f3.5-5.6G ED VR

10/29/2008 08:32:36 AM · #40

Originally posted by Art Roflmao:

But isn't Mr. Roflmao merely a fig-newton of our imagination?

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

10/29/2008 02:56:48 PM · #41

mmmmmmmmmmm.... fig newtonnnnsssssss

GeneralE

Canon PowerShot S3 IS

10/29/2008 03:09:40 PM · #42

Originally posted by Strikeslip:

When I do a shoot, people are overjoyed simply to have my greatness show up and press the shutter button. I am the one who tells them what they damn well like, and what they will damn well buy!

Yet another devotee of the Chuck Norris ~~School~~ Dojo of Studio Photography ... ;-)

Jutilda

Canon EOS-7D

Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4.5 DC Macro for Canon

10/29/2008 09:19:57 PM · #43

Originally posted by GeneralE:

LOL

I spoke with the woman here and told her what was happening with the sister in law and she said "oh she can be a pain in the ___ sometimes, I'll talk to her."
She totally understood and said "nobody sees ALL of the photos." Who knows what will finally come of it but frankly if the answer to that is nothing, I'll just shrug it off to experience and I'll know better next time.

Physics_Guru

Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

11/02/2008 01:36:58 AM · #44

The key here is to stick to your guns. You have a policy and you follow that policy. It doesn't matter how much whining, pushing, and arguing they put forth. You tell them how it is and that is that. The second you let someone push you around and you give in then everyone will know that they can push you around and they will do it. You will never hear the end of it.

So stick to your guns and be tough and pretty soon you'll have a reputation in which people will know that you cannot be bullied into doing things you aren't comfortable doing.

sempermarine

Apple iPhone 5s

11/03/2008 11:52:49 AM · #45

Originally posted by NikonJeb:

Originally posted by Art Roflmao:

But isn't Mr. Roflmao merely a fig-newton of our imagination?

Where is he? His portfolio is gone. I go there at least once a week for a good laugh.

vxpra

Pentax K100D

Pentax DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AF

11/03/2008 12:28:10 PM · #46

Originally posted by sempermarine:

Originally posted by NikonJeb:

Originally posted by Art Roflmao:

But isn't Mr. Roflmao merely a fig-newton of our imagination?

Where is he? His portfolio is gone. I go there at least once a week for a good laugh.

He posted this:

Originally posted by Art Roflmao:

I am thinking of breaking up with DPC. Any advice? ...maybe I'll stare at my concrete pillar for awhile....

In this thread.

I had noticed Art didn't seem to be around much. This isn't the first time Art has taken a sabbatical (spelling?) from DPC.

Maybe we should start a "Where in the World is Art Roflmao...." thread. (instead of hijacking this one)

hankk