Difficult Clients (weddings)

[jessthespringer]

January 10, 2015 at 3:56 pm

Hi all,

first post here in a long time. Hope everyone is keeping well!

I have a question/s on difficult clients. I’m offering digital only package and am neither cheap or expensive. Clients typically end up with 180 – 220 edited, print ready jpeg file on USB & DVD (presented in a cute little box), and to date all the couples have been “over the moon” with their pictures. That’s always a pleasure and a relief, I’m still very new to weddings and am still developing a style.
I try and build a rapport with the couple, making sure I meet both the bride and groom together at least once, sometimes twice with the bride. We talk through everything, and build a really solid timeline of the day, I make a note of everyones names and memorise them for the day. The smoother I can make it, the better I get along with people and the timeline lets me get those really relaxed off the cuff looking shots.

I’ve missed three weddings lately, seemingly all on price “jimmy up the road will give us 400 edited images and an album for your price” “a graduate from your collage is almost half of what you are” “we love you, love your work, but we can get a storybook and two small albums for the same price” I’ll say it again, I’m neither cheap or expensive and while I can’t pass comment on the standard of work other people are offering it does baffle me how they can do so much at certain price.

I’m currently in talks with a client who is pushing me on price, I’m unwilling to budge on price, he was best man at a wedding I did last year, imagine how his mate would feel if he got £100 off!! He now wants to choose from ALL of the raw files I shoot on the day…

I think my question is, how do you deal with clients when they start to get a bit difficult?

Thanks in advance, Sinead

[Seaview]

January 10, 2015 at 9:20 pm

Hi Sinead, hate welcoming you back as your here longer than most :oops: . Having read your post a couple of times I think you know what to do already. If clients think they can get a cheaper package off Jimmy up the road, I’d say off with them. Of course you also have to make a living but from reading your post I feel you think your price is right for the service you’re giving them. I think the guy that wants to look at all your RAW files should buy a camera and shoot his own wedding :D , that sort of thing would do my head in.

Dave.

[snapperaaron]

January 11, 2015 at 8:39 am

In non photo terms I would always reccomended treating difficult people with polite consistent honesty. The price is the price. You select the photos based on your experience and expertise. As he has been best man at a wedding where you worked He knows your work. Chances are he’s just following some male belief that he needs to play hard ball. Closing down those conversations quickly and clearly keeps it simple.

Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk

[shutterbug]

January 11, 2015 at 9:13 am

Hi Sinead, great to see you back! I would agree with Dave and Aaron stick to
your guns, if he doesn’t like it then he is free to go elsewhere! Good luck.

[miki g]

January 11, 2015 at 10:19 am

Hi Sinead.
I think that if you feel that you’re offering good value for money, stick to your price for the goods. If “Jimmy up the road” is willing to offer a lot more for the same price & can still manage to be profitable, then fine, he is free to do so. I think most clients will be more interested in quality rather than quantity.

[Mark]

January 11, 2015 at 6:00 pm

Nice to hear from you on here Sinead !.

Regarding your post, stick to your guns for as long as you can Sinead.

[jessthespringer]

January 11, 2015 at 8:44 pm

Guys, thanks for the advice/support… You’re all right.

Haven’t had any face to face meetings with this client as yet, I find people are a lot pushier online, and this guy contacted me via Facebook, people seem to be even pushier on Facebook.

So if I’ve learned anything from this…

Leads from Facebook, direct them to email
turn emails into phone calls as soon as possible
set up face to face meetings
the price is the price, don’t waiver
deposits paid
contract signed (this is something I currently don’t have, but really need to sort quickly)

Good to hear from you all and thanks again, much appreciated.

S

[greenmoss]

January 13, 2015 at 11:53 am

Hi, im new to here but I run my own business in another area…people are always looking for a deal…the price I quote to each client is the price…any haggling let them move on quickly….iv found they will be back….if you feel you need business, run a special offer say for January etc….