Frustrated...Am I the only one?

[CallMeAl]

Am I the only one that is frustrated by clients wanting photos that you just do not like? I have one client who is always finding a photographer's photo that she likes and then wants me to copy that style...such as selective color (which I personally don't like...not that there's anything wrong with that) or a processing style which looks overly sharpened..."sketchy" she calls it. I would think that if you like that photographer's style so much, that you'd want to hire that photographer. Truth is that she won't because in her words "They want $200 just to show up. That's crazy!"

It drives me nuts. But I guess giving the customer what they want is what pays the bills and is good customer service.

[Rson]

Charge them 190 to show up and call it a win win

[CaptainTom]

"If I do it MY way, I charge MY prices" If I do it SOMEBODY Elses way, I charge their prices !"

[jgrindal]

You need to remember that we are in the business of 2 things:

1) We are in the service industry. What's more, we are in the LUXURY service industry. The fact is, people don't really NEED photographers to take pictures of them. Hell, most of the time, it's cheaper for them to go buy a DSLR and have a friend do it at no cost. They hire a photographer because we can determine what they want and we can get it taken care of for them.

2) We are in the art industry. We get paid for our style. We get paid because we see things differently than other people. We get paid because we make the mundane interesting. Most of all, we get paid because we can tell a story with images better than most people can tell a story with words.

There is a (very large) element of customer service that we need to deliver, but don't let a customer request compromise your artistic vision. You are the one who has studied and trained to learn your craft, and you're being paid to execute it.

[texkam]

don't let a customer request compromise your artistic vision. You are the one who has studied and trained to learn your craft, and you're being paid to execute it.

...and sometimes you get paid more to be a photogratute. :)

[jgrindal]

Originally Posted by texkam

...and sometimes you get paid more to be a photogratute. :)

Professional discretion?

[CaptainTom]

Originally Posted by texkam

...and sometimes you get paid more to be a photogratute. :)

I thought the term was either Prostiphoto or Photostitute. I just refer to myself as a photo whore and leave it at that.

[jgrindal]

Originally Posted by CaptainTom

I thought the term was either Prostiphoto or Photostitute. I just refer to myself as a photo whore and leave it at that.

I'm making an executive decision. Henceforth, the term shall be 'Photostitute'

[CaptainTom]

Originally Posted by jgrindal

I'm making an executive decision. Henceforth, the term shall be 'Photostitute'

Henceforth I have changed my designation from Senior Member (which always sounded kinky ) to Phototostitute per executive decision of jgrindal.