did i handle this wrong?

[123canon]

recently, as a favor to a good friend, i did a portrait session for a family that was "down on their luck". i priced it at third of my normal fee and at the pre-session consultation i made recomendations on clothing and locations i thought suitable. the mom went polar opposite of my recomendations and when she viewed the proofs let me know that she loved the lighting and poses, however, i should have told her how awful their outfits and location looked and that i would HAVE to reshoot as soon as possible. i explained that i had made clothing and location recomendations and she disregarded both. i returned her deposit and explained due to schedule conflicts she would be better off with another photographer. now she keeps emailing me with the opinion that i owe a repeat session at no additional charge. i have a fairly decent repeat client base so i am not worried about her costing me business. should i have handled this better?

[JohnT]

I think you did fine. Let's see... You did her a favor, made recommendations, she ignored them, she wasn't pleased, you returned her deposit, and she still thinks you owe her something? That doesn't make much sense. None really.

[Howard Barlow]

Let's see...

No good deed goes unpunished.

You just can't help some people.

When you drop your price, people believe you do not believe in the value of your work.

People do not value, what you do not value.

People who get something for nothing, consider its value. Nothing.

At this point, I would simply tell her, "I 'owe you'? I don't 'owe you' anything. I tried to do you favor, I told you what you needed to do to make the best of it. You chose to disregard what I said, you now agree you made a mistake by doing so, you have your money back. Now, you say I 'owe you'? Yeah, right. This is why I do not make special exceptions like this."

Never consider what one unhappy freeloader may do to your business.

[toverman]

I think you handled it in the best way possible.

[adam75south]

i don't think it should be up to you if they make bad clothing decisions. i think you handled it just fine. i would have reshot with them, but i don't have regular business at all so i wouldn't have much of a choice.

how awful was the clothing anyway?

[123canon]

thanks everyone i feel better. BTW- the parents wore solid dark tops and light slacks and the girls were in very loud flower print dresses and i honestly think her three year old son dressed himself. thanks again

[arcproducts]

Adam ......

I hate to disagree with your comment,

" but i don't have regular business at all so i wouldn't have much of a choice "

We ALL have CHOICES.......



Regarding the 'client' :

When someone gets something at a much reduced rate, or FREE, in THEORY it would be the normal thought process that they would get reduced product or service. The situation sounds like it was handled well. If there were ANY SUGGESTION at all, I might add to the 'client' that it included one session and no re-shoots, especially if they disregard any photographer recommendations.

It's possible these clients wouldn't have been happy with ANY outcome....

In my honest opinion the situation sounds to have been handled well.

[Rson]

Some people will bitch that the sky is blue. There is nothing you can do but ignore them until they find the next subject to cry about.

[J Eddington]

I hope you got a reciept for the returned $$$.

[123canon]

thanks janice, the reciept is taped to my monitor as a reminder of the age old saying" drop your price and your pants at the same time, it's all the same" i nearly forgot to get a reciept and then she acted like she did not want to sign it! oh well, live and learn i just don't know if i will live long enough to learn enough!

[Angelo]

MIchael, put it behind you.
It's so true what Howard says, "People who get something for nothing, consider its value, Nothing".

[Jeff_Green]

This reminds me of another hot thread on here and I think this is a good example of the dangers inherent in dropping your price. There are exceptions, but as others have said, if you drop your price they raise their expectations of what you will do for them and demand more.

[ka5txl]

You have done all you can do, I've been in retail all my adult life and learned along time ago you can't make everyone happy. If she persist's then qoute her your regular price times her "positive attitude factor" say two or three times your normal rate

[billash1]

Sometimes you just have to stand on principle. You punched all the right buttons. You did more than I would have done had I been faced with this woman.
I seriously doubt I'd have returned the deposit, in light of the fact you fulfilled all obligations to the family.
It never fails to amaze me the audacity of some people.

[Duffy Pratt]

You did this as a favor for your friend. Does your friend understand what happened and agree with your decision? If so, then you are done with this family. You certainly have satisfied any obligations you might have to the woman. So the only reason to reshoot would be as a further favor to your friend, I think.

Duffy