idobelieve Posted January 9, 2007 Share Posted January 9, 2007 Okay, I admit it, I am a huge woose and I have been afraid to contact my clients after they receive their images to get there feedback. I am scared that they hate them and will rip me to shreds. I've never had this response to my work before. I have gotten only good or no feedback from B&G's, but I have heard other brides (friends) talk about hating there wedding pictures. So I am admitting this here as my first step towards not being an overly selfcritical hermit. I am being ridiculous and holding myself back from growing right? Do your worst... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
awhitt99 Posted January 9, 2007 Share Posted January 9, 2007 Well, what do you think of their images? In your professional opinion, are they good or bad? Is there anything to not like about them? From the way you doubt yourself, it sounds like you have cause to worry about it. If you think the images look great, then you need to believe in your work and not give the bride and groom any opportunity to be unhappy with it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robbie_caswell Posted January 9, 2007 Share Posted January 9, 2007 Come on! Give us a link! Plenty of people here can give you a qualified critique. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idobelieve Posted January 9, 2007 Author Share Posted January 9, 2007 Oh yeah, the link... <a href="http://www.idobelieve.biz">www.idobelieve.biz</a> I think I do a good job, otherwise I wouldn't be offering my services. But people react to photos of themselves in so many different ways. I think that they look beautiful, I just hope they agree! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idobelieve Posted January 9, 2007 Author Share Posted January 9, 2007 Woops, here it is again...<br><a href="http://www.idobelieve.biz">www.idobelieve.biz</a> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob_s___san_francisco_bay_ Posted January 9, 2007 Share Posted January 9, 2007 Are you kiddin' me... You have nothin' to worry about Michelle.<p> Your're work is gorgeous!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vlad khavin Posted January 9, 2007 Share Posted January 9, 2007 Uhm... Michelle... if the wedding you are talking about looks like the shots on your website, then I REALLY think you are far too hard on yourself. The stuff on your site is beautiful! It's good to look at your own work critically, but, if your stuff is up to your standards, which you present on your site, then ... I wouldn't worry about it so much. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
awhitt99 Posted January 9, 2007 Share Posted January 9, 2007 Michelle, your images are stunning. If the wedding in question is anything like the work you show on your website, then you should have no problems. However, sometimes brides can get werid, and sometimes you get a client that is impossible to please, no matter if you shot the wedding perfectly. Sometimes a bride might have a poor self-image and be unhappy with the images because she does not like how she looks. Sometimes you get people who cry for joy at the sight of their pictures, and some who are completely indifferent. That does not mean that you are a bad photographer, or that they are unhappy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daydreamsart Posted January 9, 2007 Share Posted January 9, 2007 I understand how you feel. I used to worry too, but the sad truth is, it's not common for a person to say thank you. At the reception I was photographing this past Saturday, a former bride of mine from an August wedding that now lives out of state was there. I never heard anything from her after she got her album and prints, but she came up to me and gave me a hug! She also told me she had a card that she had forgotten to send to me, but would. People get busy. Some don't know how to say thank you. Most don't realize how many of us really truly care about their happiness with our work. Some think it's simply a business transaction and no thank you is needed. The longer I do this, the less I worry. I think that the unhappy people are the ones who are most likely to make contact and complain. So, silence, most of the time, is not a bad sign. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michaelging Posted January 9, 2007 Share Posted January 9, 2007 Being self-critical "IS" how you get better. I like the photos on your website, If I was going to be as critical as you , I would not have all the horizons tilting to the left,and I would concentrate on showing more of the people faces and expressions. Many of the photos I looked at the faces where hidden by hands, turned heads,bubbles,things like that. I am always the hardest person to please, and I think that's a good thing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
annealmasy Posted January 9, 2007 Share Posted January 9, 2007 Hi Michelle! I didn't look at your work, because it really doesn't matter what *I* think, only what your clients think! :) I have to tell you though, I deal with the EXACT same fears EVERY time we shoot a wedding. We've never had anything but positive responses, but I'm always terrified nonetheless! The longer we've been in business, the less freaked out I get. I suppose that now I'm just used to the flow of things, and I'm more confident in my work. One of the things we did to help: 99% of our clients prefer to have all of our communication by e-mail, which is especially great because it allows us to have a "paper trail" of communication. When we've finished processing someone's wedding, we e-mail them the link to their gallery, along with a detailed reminder of the items included in their package, and what (if anything) they need to do next. (E.g., choose images for album, etc.) At the end of the e-mail we say, "We can't wait to hear back from you once you've looked through all of your photographs! We know you'll love them just as much as we loved working with you!" - or something to that effect. Just saying "we can't wait to hear from you..." seems to influence people to respond. We get anything from a simple "Thanks! We love them" to long, fantastic testimonials. We also have begun putting a link on each couple's gallery page that takes you to our blog, where you can add a comment on the photographs. This has allowed us to get comments from parents, grandparents, friends, etc. Great stuff! If we don't hear back fromt he couple right away, we most certainly will hear from someone else who has looked at their photos! Just keep putting yourself out there and communicate with your clients! It will just make them love you even more! :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
don_hill Posted January 9, 2007 Share Posted January 9, 2007 Remember - No news is good news.</p>If the clients don't like the work, you better belive that they will contact you. Everytime. </p>If you would like feedback, pick up the phone or drop them an email. Everyone loves to be invited to an informal coffee or lunch so step out and get some feedback. You may be suprised at how much they actually love their images. Few clients will take the time to write a thank-you, but lots will complain if everything is not just perfect. So, congratulations! It sounds like you are doing great. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bkromer Posted January 9, 2007 Share Posted January 9, 2007 Judging from the ratings you give other people it looks like your everyone else's worst critic as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jenni k. - vancouver, b.c. Posted January 9, 2007 Share Posted January 9, 2007 I really like your work Michelle. Time to raise those prices I think! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ni_gentry Posted January 9, 2007 Share Posted January 9, 2007 quote: "Judging from the ratings you give other people it looks like your everyone else's worst critic as well."<p>OUCH! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mo_jo Posted January 9, 2007 Share Posted January 9, 2007 Good Job Dont worry. Nice excellent, exposure pics Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
d_gillespie Posted January 9, 2007 Share Posted January 9, 2007 I think I agree with Anne, as well as the others because and I did not review your wonk on the link because it doesn't matter. I feel I may get flamed here but to take the thought further, I would suggest you consider moving away from wedding photography if you feel your lack of ability would cause a client to be critical of the work they are paying you to perform. As a potential client I would hesitate to engage your services if you showed such a lack of confidence in person as you do in your question. Since I can only base my comments on this one post and having never met you, I am certain my observations may be in error. But I feel, and I may be speaking for others, that self-deprecation can be taken too far. If you feel your work is inferior, then change something. If you are wanting a pat on the back for work that is clearly poor in quality then we would only be making it worse by praising average work. If you want a pat on the back for work that is up to the standards of the professionals in your area then don't hold your breath, its business and that means competition. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idobelieve Posted January 10, 2007 Author Share Posted January 10, 2007 I think maybe Benjamin is MY worst critic ;) Thanks for the positive responses as well as the critical ones. I admit that I was allowing my vulnerability show through more than a professional should. I am not looking for a pat on the back....I think I ought to have not put my weblink up (Mary, feel free to remove it) I what I what I wanted to hear is that other professionals that I really admire, have (or had) some nerves too. Thankyou Anne and Cindy for sharing that with me, and Michael for the constructive criticism. As for changing to a less stressful or nervewracking career--NO WAY! I don't fall to my nerves that easily! Life is about taking risks. I am going to stop being such a ninny and find out what my clients have to say. Thanks again... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idobelieve Posted January 10, 2007 Author Share Posted January 10, 2007 Jeez, sorry for the ridiculous grammar!--I what I waht I mean to say :P What I now see is that I wanted to hear that other professionals that I really admire, have had some nerves too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patuphotographykenya Posted January 10, 2007 Share Posted January 10, 2007 you ARE to hard on yourself. images are pretty good, so is the website and layout, though takes a little long to load photos. Of course there is always room for improvement so go on and get better. All the best Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve_levine Posted January 10, 2007 Share Posted January 10, 2007 I'd have to say you have a "good eye". And according to my former mentor, this is half the battle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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