How to say no??

[carrbowl]

I am usually very good in this area but I stink at saying no when parents want to do something stupid like shoot at their house in a swamp in the back yard and in the noon day (1:00 pm) sunlight. So do I need to say no, because my photos now stink and I'm ticked off about it, or do I need to learn how to shoot in the stark sun and take the money and run????

[Digital Prophet]

I don't think that it has to be a case of "NO!" I think that you just need to explain the difficulties of what it is they are requesting. Then explain the alternatives while still aiming for the same goal. And most important, explain to them the effect that thier request will have on the quality of the final image.

Then say no.

Prophet out.

[gardener]

That may depend upon the amount of money being offered... The customer may "always be right" but that doesn't mean you can't try to put some pressure on them to both change the hour of the shoot and the location to something far more suitable for you both... they may also not not know what works and what doesn't.
I don't shoot for pay so take this for what it's worth...

[Jake]

Yes, you should learn to shoot in the sun.

Or, don't give them the option of noon or 1:00pm or whenever. Just tell them you can't do 1:00pm, but you can do it @ 6:00pm.
If you only shoot part time then only schedule when you want to shoot.(that's what I do)

But really, learning to shoot in the sun will be a great help.

[JohnRushing]

I've got two kids so I'm very, very good at saying no, sometimes I even add a little extra in front of it when my teenage daughter trys to talk me into letting her go to dallas with friends for the weekend to shop. She's only 15 but thinks she is 30.

[carrbowl]

Well John I have 4 kids and one girl who is 12 going on 30...so I can relate...so you know I am very good at saying no...lots of practice..!!! BUt Jake...you can shoot in full sun?? and how much PP am I going to have to do?? I tried using the diffuser yesterday and failed miserably...but the shot below was the one Mom wanted..I just couldn't figure out how to get ..

[JohnRushing]

Are you using any filters? A UV filter might help or maybe a Polarizer? Seeing the shoot on th water made me think of something i tried several years ago when a frind told me aout it. If you can get your hands on a Mirror Reflex lens try doing a shoot like that around water. Everywhere the sun id reflected off the water there will be little circles. I know it's off the suject but it's a pretty neat effect and the water just made me remember it.

[Jake]

Originally Posted by carrbowl

.....BUt Jake...you can shoot in full sun?? and how much PP am I going to have to do?? I tried using the diffuser yesterday and failed miserably...but the shot below was the one Mom wanted..I just couldn't figure out how to get ..

The way I would have shot that photo is by putting my flash on high speed sync, get it off camera and underexposing the background by about 1 stop.

I like your photo, it really doesn't look bad, I think little post work is all it needs. Great location and pose.

[bondarnes]

Have you tried saying, "My session fee for photographing at the correct time of day is only $XXX, however if I must do this session in the middle of the day when the lighting is horrible I will need to charge three times my normal session fee to cover all the extra work I will have to do bringing in special lighting and also the extra post processing to save the images." It has always worked for me.

[texaskev]

Man, I've also been put in that position. I like Don's comments about charging 3x.

[carrbowl]

Thanks folks..I think this is where my problem begins, is not communicating the problems it will cause up front. The learning curve is big, and it's not just taking photos!! I have been horrible about charging enough for my services, because I feel they aren't that good, I'm still learning, etc. (I can give you all the excuses you care to listen to!!!) but the fact remains I must stop that practice. I hired a maid for the first time in years. I paid her $75 for 5 hours. She has no equipment, no learning curve, doesn't need experience...need I go on?? And I'm charging how much with $XXX worth of equipment, time and energy to learn, reading, etc, ....it hit me square in the face!!! So I am getting better...thanks for the comments.

[JoeBannon]

Originally Posted by JohnRushing

maybe a Polarizer?

Would a polarizer help?

[JohnRushing]

I have no idea, still learning a lot myself. Just thought I would through it out there. I know in a situation like that polarized glasses help me see better so I figured mabe a filter would do the same for the photo?