problems with my customer

I had a customer this past weekend. He was busting my chops on what

kind of equipment I use and sending me photographs of some models

telling me how he wants and wanting a male make up artist. Anyways

after the photo shoot he tells me that now he wants a cd of all the

images no matter if they are good or bad. I told him I don't sell cds.

I can get him for a very cheap price 4x6s. He is fine with that but

now he wants me to get him 20 images in jpeg for some online modeling

agencies. I got stock now because I don't want him to be unsatisfied

customer but he starts to step on my feet about this. He haven't

purchased anything yet. He requests additional touch ups and changing

the backdrop colors . I explained to him that even I shoot digitally I

don't do that kind of major work on the photographs especially since

this is for his portfolio. He has a major issue about his looks and it

just makes me mad . What should I do and tell him about 20 images that

he wants right away. If he wasn't my pain in the ass customer I would

tell him to purchase 4x6v and scan them to the websites but

professionally can we tell them to do this? Is anyone dealing with

this all the time please help.

Luckily, I've only had one or two customers who behaved this way in the past 2 yrs or so.

the last time was about a month ago. The issues were very minor. I remember being so

mad my fingers were trembling and I could feel my blood pressure rising as I replied to his

email.

 

My husband had to review every email he sent me after that. I politely reminded him of

who's running my business :)

<i>If he wasn't my pain in the ass customer I would tell him to purchase 4x6v and scan them to the websites but professionally can we tell them to do this?</i><P>

You hold the copyright on the images, so you can give him permission to legally make copies.<P>

If you did the job for a very low price, you should probably just cut your losses: refund his money, apologize for not being able to make him happy, and wish him the best of luck. You'll lose a little bit of money, but you'll save yourself hours of headaches and hassles.<P>

Most of the issues you've talked about should have been discussed and negotiated before the photoshoot. Live and learn.

Maria,

 

You have to set the expectations in a written contract and have him sign it before the shoot. It should spell out exactly what he will get; # of photos, # of images for web use, types of poses, how many outfit changes, makeup artist availability, etc - what you will do as far as editing; light editing (mainly blemish removal) included. Anything else will be extra.

 

Most models expect a CD of the entire shoot so this is common but you can also include that in the contract as to the expectation of a CD.

 

In a nutshell, even with a signed contract, some clients are big pains in the collective asses but at least you can quote the contract and tell them "that's extra".

He paid me only for a sitting at this point. I am not refudning him money because even though he says that he likes only 5 and he likes only one head shot. He wants all the photographs and found 20 out of 64 that he wants to use for online agencies. I kind of slept on this and decided that he probably won't get to many prints anyways so I will charge him from 2 to 5 dollars per 500 pixels image. I tried to be nice to him but he is trying to take advantage of me and I will take advantage of him.I will let him get what ever he wants but for a cost.

Thanks

If a models expacting the cd than how much do you charge them. I only charge 85 for one hour session that includes touch ups, black and whites. I explained to him my numbers for prints. I didn't have any one yet asking me about cds so it was something new to me or even just few images. I have no idea how much to charge because then he might never come back for any prints. please let me know do you do both the prints and cd if not how much for cd separately.

I charge $150.00 for a 45 minute shoot which includes a cd rom of the images, and charge separately for any prints the client wants.

I can't help with this jerk, but in the future, consider this: <p>offer a package deal of a certain amount of time, a total number of images, a CD of thumbnails (4x6 @ 72ppi) and a specific number (like three) of high resolution image files. <p>Sell additional hi res files for a specific and expensive fee. Offer prints at a specific fee (like you already do) and make the prints cheaper than the additional files. <p>This will encourage them to order prints, and to carefully select (from the CD of thumbails) the images they like best for their 3 hi res files... t

Communication BEFORE the shoot is crucial.

 

First of all, my "low end" Head Shot package includes a shoot....usually several hundred images that I give them @72 ppi on disk (they can't do anything with them except proof) and then ONE single completely retouched image on CD in several different versions/sizes/B&W etc. That's it. Everything is marked ©.

 

Eveything elsethey might want (prints/additional images/retouching or rebuilding etc.) is a la carte. I don't ever under any circumstances give them a disk of the whole shoot. If they demand this up front...I always suggest another photographer that might be willing to shoot this way. They are not my potential client. You should be paid well for your skill.

 

As far as this idiot you are working with is concerned....I would offer to stop and cut your losses where you are. If you decide to continue working with him, it should be understood that you are doing it on a hourly basis from this point on out. If he wants to change his mind 100 times, you will be paid for it.

 

Also...I think your fee is WAY low for a model Headshot. Models (especially wanna be ones) are often hard to work with and expect the world for nothing. If you can make them look great and your work gets jobs....they should be willing you fairly for it...ALL of it

 

That's my wooden nickel's worth.

 

Tony