Frustrated with a client
Sep 23, 2014 16:40:46 #
Sep 23, 2014 17:00:59 #
Xantoz
Loc: Delaware
[quote=TomballLegend]TEN-Four!!! My problem was Mothers In Law! Not mine---but one of the bride's to be. Funny thing was when I totally walked away from demanding, spoiled brat brides , I made more money from neighborhood parents and my candid shots of their kids and yard projects. Who needs the drama?
sandheinrichc wrote:
I have a question and I wanted to know if anyone e... (show quote)
First, your contract should be pretty specific about what you will supply for the job. The equipment you use to photograph the event is not the business of the client. As a professional, you decide what equipment to use to get the end results you promise. If she wants a changing booth, tell her you don't have one, but you will certainly accommodate the wedding party by waiting for them to change if she would like to supply the booth. Set a firm position (in a non confrontational way) now to avoid having her keep coming back to you looking for extras.
If you are not getting $5,000 - $8,000 for this job, you should not be giving her any extras.
Sep 23, 2014 17:22:42 #
I have done two weddings. First, was smooth with good planner who gave me all the time I needed. Told me ahead of time when things were happening. Problem. Sme after when groom's parents said I took too few pictures of their side. I thought that was wrong so divided picture in three groups bide, groom, mixed or neutral (church,flowers). Of the 300 + photos there were two more bride pics than grooms.
I swore off weddings until another relative begged. This time planner never let me know anything. I raced from place to place. In the end everyone pleased but missed bouquet toss and departure.
Never again. Animals don't complain. Landscapes stand still. I don't need it for income so I admire those who can do it and put up with the hases
I swore off weddings until another relative begged. This time planner never let me know anything. I raced from place to place. In the end everyone pleased but missed bouquet toss and departure.
Never again. Animals don't complain. Landscapes stand still. I don't need it for income so I admire those who can do it and put up with the hases
Sep 23, 2014 18:14:10 #
RichieC wrote:
I am an art director by trade, the liaison between... (show quote)
Excellent post RichieC. (Are you the real Richie Cunningham? ;-) )
Anyway... My reply (question) is: When are we not whores when we prostrait ourselves for an almighty dollar?
Sep 23, 2014 18:29:52 #
bottom line... i'd walk my ass away, you don't need the stress over somebody who wont let you & do your job right, or is bugging you with 20 questions. :thumbdown:
Sep 23, 2014 19:30:14 #
romanticf16
Loc: Commerce Twp, MI
sandheinrichc wrote:
I have a question and I wanted to know if anyone e... (show quote)
I would suggest that she go to the photographer that has the equipment to meet her needs. Refund her deposit and part ways. Let someone else be miserable for a year or more.
Sep 23, 2014 20:13:23 #
I would strongly advise you to get out of it SAP. If she is like this now she will only get worse and make your day hell when it arrives. You have plenty of time so cut the ties. You will never be able to satisfy her and she will always find some issue; if she is how you have portrayed her. Be aware that she could even make your life hell after the event so you have (in my view) far more to lose than gain. The problems seem to have been telegraphed to you so avoid at all costs.
Sep 23, 2014 20:36:24 #
Give her a cutoff date after which you will accept no more changes. Put this statement in writing, and then ask her to sign it along with a witness.
Tell her you need this cutoff date as a certainty for planning and organizing the event.
Include in the written statement that any changes to which you agree after the cutoff date will mean an extra charge according to the type of change specified.
You must gain control over the shoot for it to go as intended.
Further, your reputation lies at stake here. If you flub the event owing to her meddling, the flubbing will reflect on you, not her.
Tell her you need this cutoff date as a certainty for planning and organizing the event.
Include in the written statement that any changes to which you agree after the cutoff date will mean an extra charge according to the type of change specified.
You must gain control over the shoot for it to go as intended.
Further, your reputation lies at stake here. If you flub the event owing to her meddling, the flubbing will reflect on you, not her.
sandheinrichc wrote:
I have a question and I wanted to know if anyone e... (show quote)
Sep 23, 2014 21:09:43 #
MT Shooter wrote:
I quit shooting weddings in 1998 just because of having to deal with people JUST like that, it just wasn't worth it after almost 20 years. I prefer wildlife, they never offer opinions, never have derogatory comments, and never make unreasonable demands! And I don't even miss all the money because my health is more important to me.
A wise decision. Congratulations on having the guts to make it. Amen!
Sep 23, 2014 21:18:19 #
I do pro shooting and once in a while, a wedding. I have found that overall, women make the best wedding photographers because of their ability to work with the bride and mother-in-law, and their pic - taking seems to really get the "princess for the day...center of the universe" thing which many women rank as the best day of their lives. For guys, not so much....at least not the princess bit. Oh, I know, there are MANY excellent male wedding photographers who will probably bite my head off over my sexist(?) statements...... Anyway, I agree with the need to be explicit with regard to your services, including post-processing and number/type of photos delivered. I always do so in writing and include itemized costs for additional services beyond the "package". If your client is so hard to please now, a year before, wait until she is all stressed out (very real condition). Also know what you are going to do in case she doesn't like the photos afterward. Good luck, my friend.
Sep 23, 2014 21:32:35 #
The reason why I don't do weddings. There's nothing worse than a woman's scorn on the most important day in her life. Too much pressure.
Sep 23, 2014 21:49:18 #
I was just annoyed more than anything. The first the she asked me about was a no brainer and something I use any way, but the changing booth kind of caught me off guard. I was just dumbfounded that she thought she knew better than me what I equipment I should be using. We went to college together and I used her as a model when I was shooting film. I was just frusyrated with her.
Sep 23, 2014 23:33:10 #
Hi,
I have been a professional videographer for over 18 years and I know EXACTLY what you're going through. We've seen it ALL. Have you ever see the TV program - "BRIDEZILLA?" I don't know if it is still on TV.
My first question to you is "Contract." Your contract should spell out exactly what you are doing and the cost. Anything extra will cost extra. Over the years we kept revising our contacts to meet aspects of a job we hadn't thought about.
For example, on a typical wedding day, we're working 10-12 hours; we had a bride who told us to bring a bag lunch because we wouldn't be fed. After that, we included a HOT meal as part of our contract. Over the years, hunger for the $$$ is what lead me to put up with those brides you're talking about. My partners and I have a totally different attitude now: if a client looks like he/she is going to be extremely difficult, we won't take the job. It's just not worth it.
Do you really want to put up with un-reasonable demands??? My advise: dump her! Is it worth getting a heart attack over? Today, we shoot very, very few weddings and we don't miss them. There is plenty other video work than having to "fight" the bride and especially Catholic priests who dislike cameras and videographers in "their" churches.
I have been a professional videographer for over 18 years and I know EXACTLY what you're going through. We've seen it ALL. Have you ever see the TV program - "BRIDEZILLA?" I don't know if it is still on TV.
My first question to you is "Contract." Your contract should spell out exactly what you are doing and the cost. Anything extra will cost extra. Over the years we kept revising our contacts to meet aspects of a job we hadn't thought about.
For example, on a typical wedding day, we're working 10-12 hours; we had a bride who told us to bring a bag lunch because we wouldn't be fed. After that, we included a HOT meal as part of our contract. Over the years, hunger for the $$$ is what lead me to put up with those brides you're talking about. My partners and I have a totally different attitude now: if a client looks like he/she is going to be extremely difficult, we won't take the job. It's just not worth it.
Do you really want to put up with un-reasonable demands??? My advise: dump her! Is it worth getting a heart attack over? Today, we shoot very, very few weddings and we don't miss them. There is plenty other video work than having to "fight" the bride and especially Catholic priests who dislike cameras and videographers in "their" churches.
Sep 23, 2014 23:42:54 #
sandheinrichc wrote:
I have a question and I wanted to know if anyone e... (show quote)
This client has "shopped you out". She has priced your competition and her girl friends. They have filled her head with ideas of which she knows nothing. She will run you ragged chasing her every whim. As fast as you can, cause she is Trouble!
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