I am a horrible business person!

[mandyatm]

I don't know why I try to be too nice sometimes. For my sessions I charge a small deposit to hold the spot, which will go towards prints if they order within 2 weeks of receiving their gallery. The session fee is due on or before the session date. Should I just be asking for the whole amount upfront? I always hate bringing it up at the session when the client forgets.

I photographed a one-year old's birthday party yesterday. I was there for 2 hours, my normal session is one hour but I told her I would do 2 since this was a different type of session. When I went to leave, she didn't pay me so I asked her how she would like to pay for her session. She said she would send me paypal once the gallery was ready. Ummm, not how it works. I told her it was due at the session before I work on the pictures. She asked how she should pay, and I told her she could write a check. She all the sudden got this overwhelmed look and pointed back to her guests, insinuating that she was busy right now, and said she would send it by paypal later that evening. Of course she hasn't. I don't know why she was acting like it was inconveniencing to her to write a check that she should have already written out.

So I like to get the gallery to clients within 2 days, but I am not going to do any more work on these until I get paid. I am starting to think this is the start of a difficult situation, we haven't even got to ordering prints yet. She also informed that I was not to publish the pictures online, so I can't use them in my portfolio or blog.

So should I be asking for the session fee at the same time as the deposit?

[Keethjon]

Hi Mandy,

I used to do weddings a while back and found that taking money up front to cover your costs works fine. So it is good that you are taking a deposit. Make sure you get enough to cover any expenses and the use of your time. If you tell someone that they will need to pay a certain amount at a certain time or you will not be able to continue, you will be surprised how many people will come up with the money. Also, make sure they have very limited access to the images if they have not kept up their side of the deal. People hate leaving pictures behind, especially of their children. I hope you don't think dealing with people that way is harsh. It is just business. After all, they don't go to Walmart or Target and say I'll give you 10.00 now for this 40.00 pair of jeans and I'll pay the rest when I get a chance.
They shouldn't do it to you either.

Keith Jones
EasyBasicPhotography.com (still working on this website)

[mandyatm]

Thanks Keith. She hasn't even seen the images yet. I started working on them yesterday, but once she didn't pay me as promised, I stopped. I am kind of offended that she took time out of my Saturday and didn't make it a priority to pay me for my time. I know I shouldn't be scared to ask, I am just not good at that. I sent her a reminder email. The deposit was only $25, not worth my time spent so far.

[candleman]

i know how you feel..

so long as its clear to her that you will not hand over images until you are paid, then stick to your guns.
dont show her even one image until its paid.

i had a situation recently, i did 9 hours work, no session fee but sold prints after the event.

many people ordered through the event organiser, but didnt pay.
i phoned each person, told them that i'm processing the images as a batch and if they havnt paid by (insert reasonable timeframe) then i'm going to carry on without them.
2 days later, i checked who hadnt paid still, and sent a reminder e-mail with bank account details.
at the end of it all , i got all but one person to pay.
so it pays to chase people.

i also didnt edit any images for those individuals until they had paid. (because if the didnt pay then i just wasted my time)

Personally, i'd never do a portrait sitting /wedding unless i got the session fee up front, especially if they were as your client is and seemed not to care.

maybe all you needed was a hard lesson like this one.. next time, be firm that they must pay the session fee before the session. if you arent frm and upfront about it, then this will happen again.

my soft spot is contracts and friends, i hate making friends sign contracts.
but several lessons in being screwed over by so called friends when i thought i'd be nice and do it on a friendship basis..... i now do nothing woithout a signed contact and talking through all the conditions clearly.

did you get a signed contract?
in all my contracts i have a model release, saying that any image i take can be used for public display or advertising.

[Niresangwa]

try not to get your knickers in a twist JUST yet. It's only been a day, and we're all guilty of procrastination once in a while. It just sucks to be on the receiving end. One of the drawbacks with the traditional photography business model though.

I think you're right to hold the images until she stumps up, however. Try not to assume the worst though!

You don't have to be a b!tch about it, but people will understand you're a professional if you remain calm and stick by your own rules, and will hopefully respect you for it.

Now, her telling you that you cannot use the images? That's a different story.

[mandyatm]

That's where I don't quite understand my rights as a photographer, even after researching here. I read that I own the images and can use them as I wish, but then read that I have to have them sign a model release form. I DO always have them sign a release form at the session, but this client would not. I can't make her, and she is paying me so I will respect her wishes, but I do this part time and it is nice to be able to freshen up my portfolio and update my blog. Do most of you require that they sign one or you won't do the session? Or is that clause just built into your regular contract?

Also, do you have them sign the contract before the session day or the day of?


Thanks Niresangwa, I am trying not to get my "knickers in a twist," lol. I assume that she would like to see her pictures, so she will pay. I sent her a reminder email, so hopefully she will respond soon.

[kuvahmagh]

Originally Posted by mandyatm

Also, do you have them sign the contract before the session day or the day of?

I'm not an expert but they should sign the contract when you take the deposit IMO.

[mandyatm]

Thanks. They usually send the deposit via paypal because I am not always with them in person when they contact me to book a session. I don't know how to get around that.

[candleman]

Originally Posted by mandyatm

. Do most of you require that they sign one or you won't do the session? Or is that clause just built into your regular contract?

Also, do you have them sign the contract before the session day or the day of?
.

both
i have a statement in bold at the end of the contract, and a seperate model release form where each "subject" sign/write their name.
at a birthday you cant make all the guests sign, but its reasonable to get a release for the birthday girl/boy and the parents.

if she refuses to sign.. well,
i've never had anyone refuse to sign.
i would however tell them that without it the prices increase by 20% because it is costing you valuable word of mouth via your blog and costing your portfolio.
it makes you look "less busy" if you dont update your blog with everything you do.
too late for you.. you didnt say that so i wouldnt spring that one on this client.

dont over react, one email and one phonecall is more than enough IMHO.
give it the silent treatment as she may genuinley be very busy or be too embaassed to say she cant pay until she gets paid in "x" days time.
so give it time..
if you piss off the client before they order prints, dont expect to do very well.
remember, this is a positive relationship you re trying to keep. so dont bring the book down too hard to soon. all you wil do is frighten your customer away.

Originally Posted by mandyatm

Thanks. They usually send the deposit via paypal because I am not always with them in person when they contact me to book a session. I don't know how to get around that.

e-mail them the contract for them to read (in PDF), and tell them to make the deposit when they have read it, or they can contact you with questions.

offer them that they can print, sign, scan and return... or you will bring a copy of the contract for them to sign on the day.

[Jim Bryant]

Tell her you're not posting the gallery until the money is paid. You should have everyone sign a contract and pay at least 1/2 upfront at the same time.