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02/11/2005 09:39:16 AM · #1 |
#1 Do you have to have formal training to do this?
#2 Do you have to let your client know that this is your first big event?
#3 What is the general policy if people don't like your work? |
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02/11/2005 10:04:34 AM · #2 |
Originally posted by Karalew:
#1 Do you have to have formal training to do this? |
In marketing or photography? In either case the answer is no.
Originally posted by Karalew:
#2 Do you have to let your client know that this is your first big event? |
You don't have to tell them anything you don't want to. Results are what matter.
Originally posted by Karalew:
#3 What is the general policy if people don't like your work? |
They should have a good idea of your work from your portfolio, online or print, BEFORE they hire you. If your work on their job doesn't measure up to the quality of what you showed them to get the job and agreed to provide, then do whatever you need to do to make them happy.
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02/11/2005 10:18:47 AM · #3 |
Thank you :-)
My first question was about photography :-) |
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02/11/2005 10:26:15 AM · #4 |
have you ever been self employed before? That is the 'training' for question #1. Actual photography will likley be 40% or less of the total time spent on the 'job'. If you intend to make a living at it, you will spend a good portion of your time selling yourself and getting clients and giving presentations (sales pitches). The better you are at sales, the more successful (financially) you will be as a photographer.
2. no. but...if you are going to shoot a wedding and have NO pics of things like that in your portfolio, an astute client will have to ask about it. If you are a good salesman, then it may not matter.
3. Hmm...I don't have an anwser to that one. I am just now thinking of trying to make some money with my skills and equipment. I am trying to get invited to a coworker's friend's wedding. I have another coworker getting married..i will try that too. I will then have some experience and some portfolio shots.
If the unhappiness can be reshot (product or architecture type things) then re-shoot. If it is an event (wedding, etc) then you are screwed. Refund the money and change your name or move!
Message edited by author 2005-02-11 10:26:41.
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02/11/2005 10:33:13 AM · #5 |
Don't tell people you're just starting out. If they hire you it's because they like your work. Of course everyone can always learn more and be better, but if they don't ask: don't volunteer the info. And if they DO ask then be honest and vauge, don't gush.
As for clients not liking your work, well lots of factors go into making a disastrous job - it happens. But if they end up just not liking your style, tell them to piss off since that's what made them hire you in the first place. |
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02/11/2005 10:39:16 AM · #6 |
Originally posted by GoldBerry:
Don't tell people you're just starting out. If they hire you it's because they like your work. Of course everyone can always learn more and be better, but if they don't ask: don't volunteer the info. And if they DO ask then be honest and vauge, don't gush.
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When i started selling real estate, i'd get questions like 'how long have you been doing this' and 'how many listings do you have', etc - you need to find creative answers that are not lies...
"I've been taking picture's for 15 years..."
" I take about 5,000 pics a year..."
If you ever got paid in the past for photowork, then "I've been a professional for over 2 year now..."
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02/11/2005 10:40:54 AM · #7 |
Originally posted by GoldBerry:
But if they end up just not liking your style, tell them to piss off since that's what made them hire you in the first place. |
Hmm...never worked in customer service, eh?
I would suggest that in the case above it's best that you apologize, act professionally and work towards a favourable solution. That's good business.
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02/11/2005 10:45:37 AM · #8 |
Originally posted by GoldBerry:
As for clients not liking your work, well lots of factors go into making a disastrous job - it happens. But if they end up just not liking your style, tell them to piss off since that's what made them hire you in the first place. |
Disclaimer: I'm not a wedding photographer, but I play one on TV...
I have done a lot of sales on eBay, and at one time was considering it as a side income. One thing I learned is that your reputation in business is worth more than you think, and costs far more to repair than to maintain.
I agree with GoldBerry's statement to a degree, depending on how you implement the "piss off" phase. If you do a job which truly disgusts the client, you need to go out of your way to leave it on as good a term as possible. If you didn't have to expend significant capital to do the job, and you don't yet have professional experience, I would offer them any prints they DID like at your cost, and move on to the next client. Obviously, situations will always be different, but the underlying principle is proficient damage control.
Every person who has a bad story to tell about you will tell at least 10 people. If you can keep them from feeling the need to do this you have probably saved yourself the loss of future jobs. Don't forget to put that value into your strategy.
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02/11/2005 10:47:47 AM · #9 |
I'm on the tail end of a fairly successful 16 year career as a freelance animator and designer. Here's what I've learned...
#1 Do you have to have formal training to do this?
Portfolio is king. In fact, I met this kid four years ago, wanted to be an animator. Sat in his spare bedroom animating what he saw on commercials he liked for his portfolio (demo reel really). He's made the "big time" with no training (other than four years 20 hours a day in a dark room) on the strength of his portfolio.
My experience is the same. I developed a portfolio while working for someone else, and started showing it around. Work came, the rest is history.
#2 Do you have to let your client know that this is your first big event?
Clients hire you largely to solve problems. If you can solve their problems in a competent, friendly, professional manner, they don't care how many times you've done it. If you can keep your cool, think quickly on your feet, and roll with the punches you'll be fine.
#3 What is the general policy if people don't like your work?
Fire them. If clients are hard to work with and don't appreciate you, then find new clients.
I think you are asking about general satisfaction with your work after it's done. My motto has always been "make them happy". Redo the work, they still gripe, reduce the invoice, they still gripe, do another job for free. I live in a small market, it's important to keep people happy because they all talk to each other!
What Prof Fate says is very true. Actually pushing the button is so little of what it takes to do this for a living, (or actual time pushing pixels in my case). But it's great to make money doing what you love - best of luck!
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02/11/2005 10:50:50 AM · #10 |
"piss off" was a loose term.
And yea, I've done more customer service than I care to remember - I'm done with apologizing for what is out of my control. Hence the "piss off" statement. There's a big difference between bending over for an idiot client and being professional in adverse situations. My way of saying piss off is to just end the working relationship and walk away.
Of course if it really was my fault then yea, I'd run damage control.
Thank you Digitalknight! I think most people here haven't had enough clients (let alone baaaaad ones) to know that it's okay to get rid of bad clients.
Message edited by author 2005-02-11 10:54:16. |
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02/11/2005 10:59:18 AM · #11 |
Originally posted by GoldBerry:
"piss off" was a loose term.
And yea, I've done more customer service than I care to remember - I'm done with apologizing for what is out of my control. Hence the "piss off" statement. There's a big difference between bending over for an idiot client and being professional in adverse situations. My way of saying piss off is to just end the working relationship and walk away.
Of course if it really was my fault then yea, I'd run damage control.
Thank you Digitalknight! I think most people here haven't had enough clients (let alone baaaaad ones) to know that it's okay to get rid of bad clients. |
All very true.
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02/11/2005 11:11:15 AM · #12 |
Originally posted by GoldBerry:
Thank you Digitalknight! I think most people here haven't had enough clients (let alone baaaaad ones) to know that it's okay to get rid of bad clients. |
Those are the ones you refer to your competition.
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02/11/2005 11:15:52 AM · #13 |
What kind of things or events are you talking about photographing?
If you can spend some time photographing the same kind of events as you hope to photograph as a paid photographer you should be able to build up a online portfolio pretty quickly. Good 8 x 10 prints are a great thing to take around with you, people love looking at those. If you are going to be knocking on some doors looking for jobs a portfolio with a few really fantastic 8 x 10s would go a long way to getting people to want to use your services.
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02/11/2005 11:21:12 AM · #14 |
Originally posted by scottwilson:
What kind of things or events are you talking about photographing?
If you can spend some time photographing the same kind of events as you hope to photograph as a paid photographer you should be able to build up a online portfolio pretty quickly. Good 8 x 10 prints are a great thing to take around with you, people love looking at those. If you are going to be knocking on some doors looking for jobs a portfolio with a few really fantastic 8 x 10s would go a long way to getting people to want to use your services. |
So what should be in one's portfolio? All 8x10s, in a binder or loose or? A variety of pics(showing arts things as well as expected photographs?) Awards (as in DPC ribbons or other items or accolages, resume/schooling, etc?) List of references/clients/recomendation letters? 5 pics, 10 pics, 100, 300? Should one assemble a portfolio based on the job interview (one for weddings, one for portraits or product shots or ...)?
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02/11/2005 01:06:38 PM · #15 |
The Luminous Landscape did a series on creating a portfolio. I thought is was very well written, and definitely opened my mind.
Hope this is useful...
//www.luminous-landscape.com/columns/briots_view.shtml
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02/11/2005 05:57:16 PM · #16 |
| Great Advice, thank you all. :-) |
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