For someone like me it’s not easy to say no to a person who’s basically paying your bills.
At some point, though, it’s necessary. When that happens you need to make sure the client understands where you’re coming from and why you are not willing to do what he/she asks.
I Don’t Have a Budget, but It’ll Be Great Exposure for You!
This has to be the most common one of all on this list. While there are instances where collaborative work, editorials, charity, and other types of arrangements can be beneficial to your business, taking on a commissioned job without the commission is not one of them. If the project is entirely dictated by the client and would lead to images that do not benefit your portfolio, then there is no amount of exposure that can properly compensate you.
You would never ask to pay your lawyer in exposure, nor would you do the same to a chef. For some, they can’t see the value in what a photographer has to offer to them, and these are not the clients you want.
Why Can’t You Provide More Photos?
When a photographer specifies that they will deliver a certain amount of photos, a client may not understand why they can’t receive all of the images. Like the other concerns on this list, it will come down to educating your client, while building value in your brand.
In my case, I explain to the client that in order for my images to maintain the same level of quality they see, that it is not only what happens when I take the photograph, but how it is processed afterward that produces the final result. There are a lot of misconceptions in professional photography, with retouching having to be near the top.
Your job is to explain to them how your process differs, and why they are investing in a professional.
Can’t You Get the Images Done Sooner?
How many times have you had a client sign a contract that specifies the turnaround time, only for them to email you shortly after the session requesting that the images be delivered ahead of schedule? While you are welcome to work faster out of the kindness of your heart, there are other ways to handle these requests.
If their time crunch is unreasonable, explain to the client that you would love to accommodate their time frame, but that you would need to charge them a rush fee. This rush fee will be to cover the resources you have to move around in order to oblige them. Remember that as a photographer, your time is your greatest commodity, and there should be a price tag attached.
Can’t You Do This Crazy/Simple Thing in Photoshop?
If I have learned one thing about Photoshop, it’s that most people don’t understand what the possibilities are. Clients often have misconceptions about what can be accomplished in post-processing. This can vary from very simple tasks to very time-consuming composite work that would require hours of detail-heavy editing, and a drastically different lighting setup in the first place. On the flip side, a client may be overly concerned about very minor details such as color correction, contrast, etc. Explaining to them what can be easily addressed in post may put them at ease.
In order to avoid an issue with unrealistic expectations, try to hammer out what it is your client is looking for during the estimate stage. Your post-processing costs and the time required need to be taken into consideration early on.
Read the full article over at Fstoppers.
Source: Fstoppers
