My 2 pet peeves about portrait photography. What are yours?
May 14, 2012 08:28:34 #
My 2 biggest pet peeves about portrait photography:
1. Children with dirty faces
2. Relatives showing up, (by surprise) yeah right!
I do on location portrait sessions with families, and I can't tell you how many times I have arrived at a persons home and the family is "ready" for the portraits to start, with children with food or dirt on their little faces.
Really?? Do you really think I am going to do this with dirty looking children!
And the parents don't seem to mind.
So now, I always have some baby wipes with me and ask the parents to clean them up a bit.
I ask nicely of course, and the parents usually always say, "oh, I didn't realize it was there"!
No? How can you not notice chocolate all around a childs mouth??!!
And #2, I am at a familyies house to do a session, and about 5 minutes into it here arrives the wives sister, husband, and 2 children. Surprise!
The sister says, "oh, I didn't realize you guys were having this done today"!
Yeah, right!
So of course then, it's "do you think you can get my niece and nephews pics with our kids?".
Then, their family too, and before you know it, I am doing a photo session of 2 different families for the price of one!
And being the nice person that I am, and can't say no, I do it!
Thank goodness this doesn't happen too often, (the food on the face does though).
What are some of your pet peeves?
Am I the only one these things happen to?
:?
1. Children with dirty faces
2. Relatives showing up, (by surprise) yeah right!
I do on location portrait sessions with families, and I can't tell you how many times I have arrived at a persons home and the family is "ready" for the portraits to start, with children with food or dirt on their little faces.
Really?? Do you really think I am going to do this with dirty looking children!
And the parents don't seem to mind.
So now, I always have some baby wipes with me and ask the parents to clean them up a bit.
I ask nicely of course, and the parents usually always say, "oh, I didn't realize it was there"!
No? How can you not notice chocolate all around a childs mouth??!!
And #2, I am at a familyies house to do a session, and about 5 minutes into it here arrives the wives sister, husband, and 2 children. Surprise!
The sister says, "oh, I didn't realize you guys were having this done today"!
Yeah, right!
So of course then, it's "do you think you can get my niece and nephews pics with our kids?".
Then, their family too, and before you know it, I am doing a photo session of 2 different families for the price of one!
And being the nice person that I am, and can't say no, I do it!
Thank goodness this doesn't happen too often, (the food on the face does though).
What are some of your pet peeves?
Am I the only one these things happen to?
:?
May 14, 2012 10:47:08 #
May 14, 2012 10:52:21 #
Keep the proofs and only show them in your studio, never give a disc for them to copy or have printed. Do your own printing and SELL copys.
May 14, 2012 10:53:27 #
donrent wrote:
Are these setting freebies ???
No, not freebies for the original clients, but when the second family shows up unexpectantly, i suppose they end up free for them.
I have to start putting my foot down I guess.
I just don't want people saying I'm mean, I guess!
Haha
May 14, 2012 11:01:27 #
Why not make a Contract for what their requesting, once they sign it .. no extras.
when the relatives show up, ask them which photo Package they would like. This way they see it's going to cost them money. Your off the hook being taken advantage of.
Yours is a Business, not a free will neighbor policy.
when the relatives show up, ask them which photo Package they would like. This way they see it's going to cost them money. Your off the hook being taken advantage of.
Yours is a Business, not a free will neighbor policy.
May 14, 2012 11:22:13 #
Bob101 wrote:
Why not make a Contract for what their requesting, once they sign it .. no extras.
when the relatives show up, ask them which photo Package they would like. This way they see it's going to cost them money. Your off the hook being taken advantage of.
Yours is a Business, not a free will neighbor policy.
when the relatives show up, ask them which photo Package they would like. This way they see it's going to cost them money. Your off the hook being taken advantage of.
Yours is a Business, not a free will neighbor policy.
Hmm, that seems like a good idea. Thanks Bob.
I do have them sign a contract, but I do not have that subject addressed in it. It may be time to add that.
I understand that this type of thing with extra people showing up usually only happens once in a while.
But I can also tell which ones are accidental and which were planned ahead of time.
It just annoys me.
May 14, 2012 11:22:48 #
Mine...
An invite to an event that is followed by... don't forget to bring your camera we would love to have some pictures.
Sometimes I think I only get invited places to take the pictures, those days I leave the camera at home. :)
An invite to an event that is followed by... don't forget to bring your camera we would love to have some pictures.
Sometimes I think I only get invited places to take the pictures, those days I leave the camera at home. :)
May 14, 2012 11:24:31 #
djw60 wrote:
quote=Bob101 Why not make a Contract for what the... (show quote)
When the extra family shows up perfectly groomed and in coordinating outfits... that's usually a very good sign that it's been pre-planned. If they show up in play clothes and messy hair, I'm going with accidental. :)
May 14, 2012 12:15:11 #
Are you charging a sitting fee? It's not really fair to charge the first family a sitting fee and not the second family....so...."Oh, well, I'd certainly be happy to take your photos....let's just take a moment to go over the fee schedule..."
It's not a matter of being mean, it's being professional. You charge for everything you do. You don't give freebies.
It's not a matter of being mean, it's being professional. You charge for everything you do. You don't give freebies.
May 14, 2012 12:21:23 #
MWAC wrote:
quote=djw60 quote=Bob101 Why not make a Contract... (show quote)
Oh yes, I can definitely tell!!
So annoying!!
May 15, 2012 05:40:52 #
SteveR wrote:
Are you charging a sitting fee? It's not really fair to charge the first family a sitting fee and not the second family....so...."Oh, well, I'd certainly be happy to take your photos....let's just take a moment to go over the fee schedule..."
It's not a matter of being mean, it's being professional. You charge for everything you do. You don't give freebies.
It's not a matter of being mean, it's being professional. You charge for everything you do. You don't give freebies.
The perfect solution. :thumbup: They wouldn't expect freebies from any other professionals, well, I would hope not anyway.
May 15, 2012 06:49:25 #
I feel the same way as MWAC...I always get "reminded" to bring my camera..I once did photos at my husbands daughters wedding. It's been over a year and still no thank you..I learned to only bring a small point and shoot camera in my purse..after all why can't I enjoy the event like every one else..oh and my other pet peeve ..I never get to be in photos or get sent photos others take but they are always asking for mine..
May 15, 2012 07:01:39 #
I too have always been asked to bring my camera to affairs etc. and what a sucker I am, I always give a 5x7 or an 8x10 photo and a cd of all the photos processed no less. Most times not even a thank you, perhaps a little gift like a small ottos of wine. I think I'll take mwac's advice and start leaving the camera home.
May 15, 2012 07:02:59 #
I think bob hit the nail on the head. Hand them a contract if they want to be in the session.
May 15, 2012 07:27:08 #
djw60 wrote:
My 2 biggest pet peeves about portrait photography... (show quote)
Many years ago I work for a company that would send a photographer to "events" (not weddings or portraits) for free.
They provided the client with a contact sheet and they could order from that! As the photographer, I got paid a percentage of whatever sold. I made good money so what I was taking must have been selling. I think you can still do that although I occasionally still get caught in one of those traps!
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