Headshot reshoot--what would you do?

[boxofrocks]

Last week I did a series of headshots at an office. The all looked good, except for one person that appeared to be slightly "squinty", for lack of a better term, in every single frame.

If they can't find a pose they like, would you charge for a re-shoot? If so, what would you charge (lets say you did 8 at $100 each--what would you charge--if anything--to come back out, set up again, and re-shoot one)?

I probably need to have an up-front policy on this, and wondered what those of you that shoot a decent amount of corporate headshots do in this situation.

Thanks!

[Bruce M. Morris]

Tom,
One train of thought is that they paid you for 1 headshot of each person. Until you provide that, you havent fulfilled the contract. I dont know too many people in ANY service industry that could stay in business like that, unless you can have unswerving quality control through the whole process.
I don't know a final solution to this for you, but I would ask, How interested are you in getting repeat business from this company? Would the new business be worth providing a free reshoot in this case? Are they going to start badmouthing your service if you charge full price for the reshoot? How does that company deal with THEIR customers? That might be an indication on what they are expecting and thinking.

Doesnt give an answer, but I hope that it provides food for thought.

[PeteQ]

Hey Tom!

I'd charge them through the nose! At least double!!

Nah, I'd probably just offer to re-shoot at my convenience (swing by on spare time) and shoot them. One SB-800 and a background is pretty simple so TO ME it's not a big deal. If you had a studio you could offer them to come by and pop a quick shot but that's not in the cards right now, correct? We're a service industry and that's just a way or doing more than the other guy. If they need a particular time and date, that's another story, but if they can be flexible I would try to be also. Plus I'd be sure to drop off sales materials like a brochure for the upcoming 2008 senior portrait season for the kids of those in the office.

Remember, 7 touches to make a sale.....

[boxofrocks]

Originally Posted by Bruce M. Morris

Tom,
One train of thought is that they paid you for 1 headshot of each person. Until you provide that, you havent fulfilled the contract. I don't know too many people in ANY service industry that could stay in business like that, unless you can have unswerving quality control through the whole process.
I don't know a final solution to this for you, but I would ask, How interested are you in getting repeat business from this company? Would the new business be worth providing a free reshoot in this case? Are they going to start badmouthing your service if you charge full price for the reshoot? How does that company deal with THEIR customers? That might be an indication on what they are expecting and thinking.

Doesnt give an answer, but I hope that it provides food for thought.

Thanks, and all of those are good points. I already know what I'm going to do (I'll do the reshoot if they are the least bit unhappy), but as I mentioned, I was looking for an up front policy, and "wondered what those of you that shoot a decent amount of corporate headshots do in this situation."

My question is, if someone is "squinty" (or has a crooked smile, etc) when they smile with or without a camera in front of them, and you take professionally lit, sharp photos of them the way they look normally, at what point do you just have to say "that's just the way you look" (not in so many words, obviously)?

It's more of a question of policy in the future, and not just for corporate headshots. These folks were super nice, and I'll bend over backwards to help them. There may come a case, however, when a customer is not happy with the way they look in an accurate photo of them. I wondered what you guys do in that case.

For example, a while ago, I did some portraits for a family. They turned out great, and I thought the wife looked beautiful in all of them. She was a bit on the heavy side, and hated them--she said I made her look fat (she was in the most minimizing poses possible). What I felt like saying was "I didn't make you look fat, your fat made you look fat", but of course, I never did.

So what's your standard operating procedure in cases like that (other than Photoshop, which might insult them further)? You've taken a nice shot that is a great likeness, but they hate it--and you know that a reshoot is not going to make them less fat/squinty/etc. Just curious, and thanks for the responses.

[bondarnes]

I never ever do a free re-shoot. However, I always do a few additional images at no charge. I think that's what you need to do in this case. I know your philosophy is under promise and over deliver and this is a time to do that. But are you sure they are not going to be happy with what you have done? Maybe the subject is squinty eyed all the time and the images look just like him/her.

[bondarnes]

You posted as I was typing and answered my questions. We sort of have a policy for this, but each must be handled on a case by case basis. I have told a client that I have done all that I know to do and I would be happy to refer them to another photographer if they would like. I refunded their session fee and gave them the names of three photographers that I don't like very much.

[boxofrocks]

Thanks, Don. You crack me up.

I guess for a multiple headshot session like mine above, in your example, if they hated one and you couldn't make them happy, you'd charge them for the others and call it a day.

BTW, I have about a dozen shots of this one lady, and she looked the same in all of them. She has an older headshot where she's not squinting, but I know nothing about the circumstances under which that was taken.

[Ahh!]

Originally Posted by bondarnes

...and gave them the names of three photographers that I don't like very much.

I am working to keep myself off THAT list!

[esi7esi7]

If you do a reshoot for one person, does that mean you have to reshoot for everyone?

[brad]

My general policy for reshoots is:

If a reshoot is because of something the subject did (or didn't do)... then I will do it for half the original price.

If a reshoot is because of my something I did (or didn't do) or equipment malfunction... then I will reshoot for free.

[boxofrocks]

Originally Posted by brad

My general policy for reshoots is:

If a reshoot is because of something the subject did (or didn't do)... then I will do it for half the original price.

If a reshoot is because of my something I did (or didn't do) or equipment malfunction... then I will reshoot for free.

Thanks, Brad. Interesting, and sounds fair.

[dsjsws]

Brads policy seems somewhat fair. (wavering greatly to the side of the customer.)

There is a reason I picked up a camera... (at least one of the minor reasons...)
It gives me something to hide behind. I haven't liked a photograph of myself in 20 years.
The photographs do not look like I am 18 any more.
I just did a photoshoot for a friend of mine. She said she wished she had a photo of herself when she was younger, and prettier. She wanted her kids to know that she had been young and pretty once. (Most of us by the way will admit that truth if we are forced to.) By the time I finished photoshopping it she looked about 25. However, it had no resemblence what-so-ever to her appearance at the time the photo was taken.
For women, being a woman, I always ask if they want a photographer or a plastic surgeon to work miracles and transform reality. I guess that would be harder for a man to ask up front....
Good luck,

Donna

[katiexjo]

Originally Posted by boxofrocks

For example, a while ago, I did some portraits for a family. They turned out great, and I thought the wife looked beautiful in all of them. She was a bit on the heavy side, and hated them--she said I made her look fat (she was in the most minimizing poses possible). What I felt like saying was "I didn't make you look fat, your fat made you look fat", but of course, I never did.

So what's your standard operating procedure in cases like that (other than Photoshop, which might insult them further)? You've taken a nice shot that is a great likeness, but they hate it--and you know that a reshoot is not going to make them less fat/squinty/etc. Just curious, and thanks for the responses.

I have had that recently. I photograph alot of middle aged real estate brokers and agents, and I just did 3 mornings of shoots this week, and I posted everthing online for proofing, and the woman doesn't like them and says she looks fat, and now is going to hire a different photographer to take the shots.

What is a photographer to do in a situation like this?

Any helps on posing would be appreciated.

Katie Jo

[katiexjo]

Please CC me..I need all the help I can get. I know the posing is way off..I dunno how I missed the dad's funny position, but I did!

Thanks

~KJ

[jon_k]

Originally Posted by katiexjo

the woman doesn't like them and says she looks fat, and now is going to hire a different photographer to take the shots.

If you're looking fat in photographs then "this might be your sign" If you want to bury your head and say it's the photographers fault then I suppose thats your prerogative. You'll just end up getting larger and larger unbeknown to you.

Chances are, if you're concerned about being fat in a photo, you're going to be showing the photo to people you know. Chances are, these people probably /know/ your fat already. If the people don't know you, they won't care that you're fat. Unless of course your photographing these people for a personals website.

I'm happy I don't do photography for a living. People are picky! It's hard work.