sticky situation

[whaussies]

On Friday I did a Christmas Photoshoot with some of the dog folks I usually shoot. I did this at a friend's shop. Well I had my camera (stupid me) up on a ledge with the flash cord from it. The light box was against the wall and the camera up behind it. The only want to knock it down would be go between wall and the light box. This hasn't been a problem all day until my agility instructor came in. She had her dogs, all 4 off lead. She was up front talking with my client before her and her dogs, all 4 where running loose. No one else did this, only her. Well one of the border collies ran in, and as you can guess knocked the camera off the ledge. One lens down, camera is ok. I went up front and told her she had to have her dogs on leash or with her they just knocked my camera down. She basically didn't realize and kept talking then came in for her appointment. I thought only the UV filter was broken until I got it home and really looked at it, the lens is trashed. It is still usable, but the whole front area where it screws the filters on is trashed.

OK now what? My husband feels I should bill her for the repair. I feel I should have known better then to put my camera there. I am usually soooo careful with my cameras, but just wasn't thinking with all the in and out of people.....

HELP!

Frustrated in Sanger.......

[Shelby Lane]

Heidi, do you have equipment insurance? I would consider this a "cost of doing business" sort of thing, unless you have specific rules that the client is aware of when it comes to having dogs on leashes.

I am sorry about your lens. As long as it's still shootable the filter ring area may not be such a costly repair.

[whaussies]

Thanks Shelby, this is what I was figuring. One of those things you live and learn!

Heidi

[Donner]

If you aren't going to bill her and the lens is still usable, then i'd just say use it without a filter. Yeah, it's dangerous, but people do it all the time. Since you didn't say what kind of lens it is, i'll just assume it's not a four-figured "L" series lens or anything like that. I'd look closely at the cost of the lens and what your insurance deductible is and what your rates might do if you claim it. Why cost yourself more money if the lens still works? Now if it starts developing other issues in the near future then yeah, i'd claim it or bill the person, but right now, if it works i'd keep using it.

That is just my opinion, though.

[HotHolly]

That stinks. I feel your pain. I had a 3 year old reach in my bag and bowl and nice lens under the pews at a wedding once. Stuff happens - especially with weddings, kids, and animals. See if you can get it repaired - may be cheaper than replacing.

[ol geezer]

I feel your client owes you the courteousy of controlling her beasts and is liable for damages they do in your place of business. I would advise her of the damage again and ask her to turn a claim under her liability insurance.

[CobyPhoto]

Depends on the insurance company too! If it is client negligence, chances are the insurance company may want you to pursue them or they will. I have seen this first hand...client gets drunk at wedding, knocks over photographers camera (and photographer) and it crashes down the steps (cement) and is trashed, lens included. Photographer had all-risk insurance, however, when the report was filed, the insurance company decided to go after the client and pursued a claim against them and the cient ended up having to pay for the camera.

I am usually pretty easy going with my clients, but kids running around a studio, dogs off a leash, etc. is NOT being responsible. I feel the client is responsible for the damage.

CJ

[nash]

Depending on the value of the lens, you can always add something like the Cokin filter system, though a bit unwieldy with some focus rings.

[Jezebel]

I think that unless you specifically tell your clients beforehand that they're required to keep their dogs under control that you can't really bill her for any damages without potentially having a big stink on your hands. Like you mentioned before, it's just the cost of doing business, live and learn, etc etc. For future appointments you may consider informing your clients ahead of time (probably with a contract) that they are required to keep their pets under control, and any damages caused by dogs running amok will be their responsibility. My 2 cents :)

[Toad]

Are there leash laws in Sanger? If yes, then it was illegal for her to have the dogs off their leashes in the first place.
It's like cars parked on the wrong side of the street (people parked facing you on the right side of the road). Even if you go out of you way to hit them, it's still their fault as they were illegally parked in the first place. Maybe this works with dogs and leashes too. Even if you had your camera hanging from a thin piece of string with a doggy chew toy attached to it, the dogs being off the leash illegally determines the case.
Just my .02.
Toad

[CobyPhoto]

Originally Posted by Jezebel

I think that unless you specifically tell your clients beforehand that they're required to keep their dogs under control that you can't really bill her for any damages without potentially having a big stink on your hands. Like you mentioned before, it's just the cost of doing business, live and learn, etc etc. For future appointments you may consider informing your clients ahead of time (probably with a contract) that they are required to keep their pets under control, and any damages caused by dogs running amok will be their responsibility. My 2 cents :)

The reason leash laws are in place...to require dog (pet) owners to contain and control them. Your outlook is the reason so many people disregard rules and laws now..."It isn't my fault until someone tells me I have to do it...even though there already is a rule."

It is called responsiblitiy. If you take your pet or your child to a place, it is your responsiblity to contain, control them. Someone should NOT have to tell you to do that. I shouold not have to deal with a "cost of business" because a dog owner didn't take responsiblity for her dogs.

I regularly go to venues to shoot weddings and I am required to furnish them with proof of insurance and I am responsible for what I or my employees might break and do. It is called responsiblity.

CJ

[rogerfsmith]

A photographer has to be responsible for his or her equipment. I have been shooting for over 40 years and have shot hundreds of weddings, all sorts of events, complicated commercial shoots, with people all over the place and children, etc. I've never had a camera broken simply because I don't leave the camera out of my control at any time. If it absolutely must be placed aside for some reason I place it in a large padded camera bag or a hard plastic case. Both have very secure closures to control access by people unfamiliar with how the items open.

On another note, I've found that a lens hood offers good protection (often better than filters) for protecting lens and a lens hood is almost always needed in most environments to control light getting in the lens. I always use a lens hood.

As Mark Twain once said "trust everybody, but always cut the cards". That means to me, take all reasonable precautions when you are in busy environments. With dogs and children that means that you leave as little to chance as possible. Anytime a camera is placed somewhere with a cord hanging out of it or the strap hanging down, and extra risk is created.

Anyway, I think this statement you made is the key information:

I feel I should have known better then to put my camera there. I am usually soooo careful with my cameras, but just wasn't thinking with all the in and out of people.....

So we could rephrase Twain's quote: "Trust everyone, but always give the camera and lens extra protection".

Cheers,
Roger

[123canon]

what kind of shop were you in? if it was a pet shop or kennel, i would think gear protection would be your responsiblility. after trashing some lights in a similar incident, i became very protective of my gear. i know how you feel, it really sucks to have your toys bashed!! hope everything works out ok!

[rages4calm]

Been in the same type of situation and realized no matter whose fault it is.. its usually much easier and cheaper and faster to take care of it yourself. You don't get as big of a headache either.

But thats just me. :)

[CaptainTom]

Originally Posted by 123canon

it really sucks to have your toys bashed!! hope everything works out ok!

For some people camera equipment is Toys. For others, camera equipment is your means to make a living and buy the groceries. Insurance is available and should be utilized by a professional photographer. Amateurs can list their high dollar gear on their home owners policy.