fotoman150

Relief.

For those of you who were following my Bridezilla thread, the couple texted back and said they were going with another photographer. Thank God.

Crisis over. Thank to everyone for your responses.

DeanS Loc: Capital City area of North Carolina

Congrats! Disaster avoided.

sirlensalot Loc: Arizona

You are blessed! lol Potential crisis averted. Time for celebration!!

PAR4DCR Loc: A Sunny Place

All's well that ends well!!

Don

Mr palmer Loc: Currently: Colorado, USA, Terra, Sol

It's tough, but you need to practice saying "No!" when you have ANY doubts. Wedding photography just has to be a love affair between you and the bride. Anything else, just say 'No'. Your brides will find you. It truly is a leap of faith.

GoofyNewfie Loc: Kansas City

Nice when things work themselves out.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

Congratulations!! The best businesses are always the ones with the best customers. Part of successful marketing is avoiding and rejecting bad customers. A salesman's job is to recruit the finest!

I used to sell small, personal airplanes. I judged one prospective buyer to be a danger and potential nut case. I refused to let him spend his $100,000. I was thrilled when he spent it with the competition.

fotoman150

Thanks guys. Never been so glad to get rid of a customer before.

E.L.. Shapiro Loc: Ottawa, Ontario Canada

As professional photographers, we are not in business to refuse business- we go through a good deal of effort and expense to bring in business. Without clients, there is no business and no profits. Nevertheless, there are occasions when refusing certain prospective clients is the wisest decision.

I have attended a seminar sponsored by the Better Business Bureau where there were panel lawyers, consumer protection advocates and investigative reporters who specialize in consumer complaints. In a discussion about customer complaints about dissatisfaction, surprisingly enough, it was revealed event the top-rated companies that were recognized for high-quality products and excellent customer service still get occasional complaints. It was mentioned that these companies always address these complaints and usually make good and settle things amicably. It was also brought out that most of these complaints arose due to misunderstandings, misapprehensions and well-meaning but inexperienced sales staff overselling or failing to qualify their clients.

The thrust of the seminar was to encourage the preparation of very concise written contracts and work orders without ambiguity so all the parties are literally on the same page. If there are disagreements or objections, the should be addressed and resolved before deals are consumated and if there are unresolvable issues it is better to discontinue the relationship before it gets started.

Then, besides the legalities, there is the human factor. Not everyone is emotionally, psychologically and business-wise compatible with everyone else. Personality conflicts in business environments happen all the time. Folks have different tastes and concepts that don't always mesh. Wedding photography requires teamwork and the bride and groom, the wedding party and some of the other vendors are all part of the "team". If folks are not getting along, chaos and serious disagreements are going to occur.

If the client is very uncomfortable with the price, the financial arrangements or your terms of service, trouble is in the offing.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with bowing out of potentially bad situations. At the end of the day, its the most ethical, kind and practical thing to do for everyone concerned.

The only thing I object to is name-calling, making insulting or demeaning remarks about clients- it's unnecessary and unprofessional. A contract involves a "meeting of the minds and an agreement". If I can't facilitate such a meeting of the minds with any potential client, I have no animosity toward them, I assume they are ordinarily nice folks but we just can't do business together.

I have even had a few cases, over the years, where I could not close a sale- they either did not care for my style or my price, perhaps they simply could not afford my fees? Surprisingly enough, later on, they actually referred other clients to me. I don't know if the went elsewhere and were dissatisfied but I did hear that the liked the way they were treated when they came in to see me. It pays to be nice. If you say bad things about folks, it is likely to get back to them- bad idea! Bad PR!

Perhaps it's out political and media environment lately. Lots of name-calling, bullying, nasty business and dirty tricks. It's catching- like a bad virus!

fotoman150

The name calling is cathartic for me and I have a feeling it is for others also. We have to have some place to go to air our frustrations. There was a time where I respected all women but it’s apparent to me that all women are not deserving of respect. Men are really getting the shaft by women these days. It makes me sick to see it when men are accused of something that was alleged to have happened 30 years ago and they lose their reputation, job and livelihood over a vague accusation from a feminist b***h. We men have to stick together. I have no problem calling it like it is.

tdekany Loc: Oregon

I’ve seen every episode of Bridezillas, I believe. In your case, she didn’t like your photos correct? You did the right thing by entertaining the idea of not taking the job.

On the other hand, what men has done to women over our existence, is inexcusable. So if some of us get caught and brought to justice, I say FANTASTIC!!! We deserve it.

Can you imagine if you were a female, wanting to have an abortion and MEN decided that it was not ok? Who are we kidding?

Enjoy the Super-ball btw.

fotoman150

Yes some men have dominated and abused women but that doesn’t mean the tables should be turned and now men have to be abused. That’s not right either.

tdekany Loc: Oregon

If bad men get caught, we should have no issues with that at all.