Underpricing - Tell me i was right

[Clementine]

Hi !

I have a question concerning a contract that i let go.
Just want to have your 5 cent on this.

It is still in my first times charging for photos - even though it's been a couple of years i'm doing it (i just finished art school and aiming to a professional goal)

I had the chance to be the night photographer for a private party.
I set my price, explain the service offered and let the customor know that if he wanted more, i could do this/this or that for more, or let go some services if the price was to high for him (less time shooting, retouching on less pictures, no cd of all the pictures)
At a certain limit, i don't care lowering my price a bit, as long as it is not underpricing my products or the quality of the result
That was almost one month before the date of the event.

But the customer wrote back one week before the event, trying to have a cheap 50% deal off my price...

I said no for some reasons
-I now have a better plan for that night
-I don't feel it is a photographic challenge
-I don't consider it's polite asking for a so huge discount considering the customor will be hiring professionals for the event

I don't like spitting on possible income but that one was seriously annoying me..

I am not mentionning any price here because i would prefer having your comments on savage dealing customers rather then numbers

Thank's in advance !

[SusanH1970]

I've turned people down for the same reason.

[OhSnapPhotos]

There comes a time when you have to say the price is the price. Yeah, there may be 'wiggle room' in most any situation, but rarely is it going to be 50% of the original price!

My contract says that I get half the agreed upon fee up-front. If we can't agree on a fee, I don't do the job.

Calling you back a week before the event and expecting you to come down for them is almost like them saying they know you can't get any other work on that short amount of notice and you should work for whatever they offer you. That's not the way it should be. My contract also states that if they change their mind XX number of days before the event part of their deposit/retainer is non-refundable. That way if I can't book another event at least I'm not completely out.

Congrats for sticking to your guns! You might get a reputation as someone who won't haggle, but in the end do you really want everyone trying to undercut you?

[toasted75]

or let go some services if the price was to high for him (less time shooting, retouching on less pictures, no cd of all the pictures)

I'm not sure how you phrased this exactly, but in any business it's rarely a good idea to highlight a negative... once you start talking about things you can do to lower the price, you start to highlight in their mind how expensive it is (even if it isn't).

I'd seriously consider taking that part out of your sales pitch - when they come back to you and start trying to cut the price by 50%, that's when you start dishing out that info "well, I could do something for that price if I reduce the time I'm there taking photos by X and cut down on some of the post processing work and not put time into creating cd's etc." and also point out the difference between what you're offering and just a point and shoot photo dump (starts to create a bit of doubt that if they can find someone who can do it cheaper, then they might not be getting the service they need).

[FormElement]

toasted75 has a good point. often a customer who lowballs actually does not know the product or service well enough to appreciate it. one way I negotiate deals where the customer comes back with a lowball is to say "sure I can do something for that price...". "something" being the key. beyond that, it's important to never provide lesser quality of at any price. reduce quantity to save money, never quality.

oh, and yes, walking away from a sketchy deal before it happens is one of the most important lessons is business sucess.

[Raoul Isidro]

Anybody who thinks you are worth only half as much as you are in value don't deserve to be the recepient of your fine talent. Shake off the dust from the soles of your Florsheim shoes and proceed to do service to the next waitng client...

[Clementine]

Thank you very much, this is so appreciated !

Toasted 75 :

You have a good point, I'll never do that again !

Quote:
or let go some services if the price was to high for him (less time shooting, retouching on less pictures, no cd of all the pictures)
I'm not sure how you phrased this exactly, but in any business it's rarely a good idea to highlight a negative... once you start talking about things you can do to lower the price, you start to highlight in their mind how expensive it is (even if it isn't).

The original email was in french, so I'll just resume that what i wrote was a one sentence long suggestion in a quite long email, explaining he could get more or less products just to say I could personalise the service.. but then, i should have used that nice word... "personalise"

...

And to all of you, your messages are so motivating !

[junglebear]

Originally Posted by Clementine

Just want to have your 5 cent on this.

I think you're overcharging, normally I just give my 2 cents

...I'll get my coat

Seriously though, I'm not a professional photographer or anything I was just reading out of curiosity, but imho someone who acts in that manner over business matters is not worth working with or for. Sounds like you made the right decision

[Jim Bryant]

Good for you. Wish there were more here on DPS with that attitude instead of selling a photo for a nationwide ad for $500.00 instead of the 12K or so.

[Clementine]

Originally Posted by Jim Bryant

Good for you. Wish there were more here on DPS with that attitude instead of selling a photo for a nationwide ad for $500.00 instead of the 12K or so.

I still have much to learn but this community and your articles helps a lot - learning the reasons not to be a contract whore and building the confidence to determine the right price on what i do, since i want to live of it.

Thank you.