Pixtus - Photography Forum, Photographers, Photo Tips

EagleGirl · **Photography somewhat Thankless? -** 10-10-2007, 04:14 PM

Would you say Photography is a somewhat "thankless" career. I'm only part-time but find that people just don't take time to say thank you or even acknowledge receipt of prints. Like you send them a complimentary print and you never hear thanks. You might hear that they told their friends how great the pictures are but they don't tell you. Is this just a society thing? I haven't been doing this long and am getting where I am starting to just expect this.

TheObiJuan · 10-10-2007, 07:50 PM

Joanne, I agree with you; sad, isn't it?

AndrewCCM · 10-10-2007, 08:01 PM

LOL - Work in most other industries and it's WORSE.

I find my photo biz is my creative outlet, social outlet and warm-fuzzy creator. My IT biz is just the opposite. Talk about thankless.. Do a great job, you keep your job...do a bad job, they fire you... Do a great job, and they outsource you to India... For me, I have been lucky...but I can't say that for many I know in the industry.

As far as receiving a thank you.. It comes and goes in the photo biz for me... Mostly, I get my thanks in person...not after the fact. Doesn't bother me at all.. At least it's a thanks and people genuinely are happy to work with you.

JohnT · 10-10-2007, 08:43 PM

Here's how it works with me. I shoot, I upload the proof gallery, the client usually gives a compliment and a thanks, and they orders prints. There's seldom any mention of how good the prints look though so I don't know if they like them or hate them but just aren't saying anything. However, repeat business is a sign of a satisfied customer, and that does happen. Also, I figure a glowing testimony for my web site is a sort of "thanks" as well.

EagleGirl · 10-10-2007, 09:11 PM

I'm getting used to it and looking back a longgg time ago, I think that when I got pictures done it was always just you show your friends. You don't really think about the photographer that much. It is really all about how YOU look. So I'm dealing with it. I've done stuff for people tho for either free or next to free and I think in a case like that a thank you would be in order, but oh well. It doesn't make me like doing it any less. I work in engineering and they actually do say thank you. It is just boring and non-creative work that I'm tired of. Too bad it pays so well right now so I can't consider quitting.

OversighT · 10-10-2007, 09:13 PM

Ditto everything Andrew said... especially...

Quote:

Originally Posted by AndrewCCM

...I find my photo biz is my creative outlet, social outlet and warm-fuzzy creator. My IT biz is just the opposite...

Couldn't have said it better myself.

T.

brad · 10-10-2007, 10:11 PM

I get customers that are thanking me all the time... both with words and by sending more people my way (the only real advertising I do is word-of-mouth from happy customers).... so its probably a matter of cultivating it with the people you shoot.

LonestarMan · 10-10-2007, 10:18 PM

I've just recently started selling portraits. I immediately noticed the same thing. At first, I was worried that my work was not good enough. Now, I think that's just the way it is. I've noticed also that I get many more compliments from others that look at my images. then they book a sitting and I feel better.

Gordon · 10-10-2007, 10:19 PM

Life somewhat thankless ?

FWIW, I get thanked a lot for my pictures. People send me gifts, tell me they haven't had as good pictures taken since high school, write me letters, etc, and that's just this month. Probably depends on who you are giving them to :)

LadyShutterBug · 10-10-2007, 10:31 PM

i consider the large portrait enlargement orders to be wrodless thank-you.

but seriously... most all of my couple thank me profusely when i tell them goodbye. i have received several thank-you e-mails and often even a thank you note dropped in the mail.

maybe it's because brides are writing all those thank you notes?

carrbowl · 10-11-2007, 08:52 AM

I'm thinking thank you notes in general on pretty much a thing of the past for the most part...yes people still do them. I think of doing them alot...but actually don't do them very often....it's sad..

LoungeLizard · 10-11-2007, 10:17 AM

My customers thank me...they buy my products, they contact me, and they appreciate what I do. That is the key. The customers who don't appreciate photography don't thank me as much.

Last night was a perfect example. It ruined my evening. I had plans. I had to deliver a proof book - to a bride's mother. We wound up sitting and talking for about 45 minutes. She browsed through the book three times. She told me how she keeps the gallery on slideshow mode at her job. She told me about how all the out of state family loves the photos (groom's grandmother just placed an order!) I've received e-mails from other family members telling me how they loved the images - including one telling me to have my bags ready to travel when her three daughters get married.

Last week I had two inquiries from referrals from previous brides - one likely to book a VERY large package.

I try to establish a personal relationship with my couples. People thank friends a lot more than total strangers.

my3peas · 10-11-2007, 10:24 AM

I guess I don't let it bother me if I don't get an outright "Thank You". The best thanks I've been given are not given directly, but by my clients spreading the word, showing off my work, and in turn, sending me referrals.

I agree with Jesus. Creating a personal relationship with clients has really been a big part of my business.