Do you ever turn down customers?

[Life in Motion]

I have a question. Do any of you ever turn down a customer because you feel they are not within your style of photography? Also this may seem really rude but i really don't mean it rude...just simply an observation...have you ever been afraid to photograph certain people because of being extremely overweight...like a family of 4 all overweight people? I just am afraid i won't choose poses that make them look their best etc...i haven't delt with overweight families yet, and i'm nervous to take on the challenge. for fear they won't like the way the look in the images...

anyone else have these type of issues when taking on customers?

[Niresangwa]

Originally Posted by Life in Motion

I have a question. Do any of you ever turn down a customer because you feel they are not within your style of photography? Also this may seem really rude but i really don't mean it rude...just simply an observation...have you ever been afraid to photograph certain people because of being extremely overweight...like a family of 4 all overweight people? I just am afraid i won't choose poses that make them look their best etc...i haven't delt with overweight families yet, and i'm nervous to take on the challenge. for fear they won't like the way the look in the images...

anyone else have these type of issues when taking on customers?

Yes. It doesnt leave a good taste in my mouth, but the bottom line is if i'm not comfortable doing the job, I'm likely going to be unhappy with the results, even if they would be absolutely delighted. Financially I'm not in a position where I need to do it, neither do I need extra work for my portfolio. Ultimately I end up saying I can't take the job due to a conflict and suggest two or three other photographers I refer to, quietly curse myself and move on.

I freely admit it's not the PC thing to do, but if the subject isn't going to be commensurate with the image that drives the business, and I don't need the money, I'm not going to go for it unfortunately. While you have just as much of a chance of gaining referrals from any job, you also run the risk of losing potential clients anonymously viewing your work if it doesn't fit with your image. Even writing this makes my skin crawl, and though its rarely a factor, when it does rear it's head it's absolutely the worst part of the whole thing.

While I'm sure that someone will chime in saying if you use the right poses and angles you can diminish the perceived issues, and certainly to an extent you can, but its a lot of effort for a small reduction which won't disguise the issue. Its not just an overweight thing, there have been other reasons I've declined jobs.

Its definitely an uncomfortable situation, but it's a business decision, and we all know that those can be unsettling on a moral level. Contrary to how this comes off, I'm not a shallow individual so its definitely a hard pill to swallow, and perhaps the wrong decision...

Nice question though.

Now i'm off to hate myself for half an hour, and second guess posting this honest response.

[Life in Motion]

Thank you soooooo much for your honesty!!!!!!!!!!!! it makes me feel a lot better that i was feeling this way....i guess we can both hate ourself for a half an hour!

I agree that if i don't feel comfortable the images will show that. i'm thinking about just saying i'm booked that month or something. but i admit it does get to me morally to make that up to avoid an uncomfortable situation!

Thanks again for your honest reply........you have no idea how much that helped me put my mind at ease

[WooD]

I've turned down several shoots. Weddings, and baby pictures are at the top of my no thanks list.

If it's not something I like shooting it seems too much like work.

[Life in Motion]

Originally Posted by WooD

I've turned down several shoots. Weddings, and baby pictures are at the top of my no thanks list.

If it's not something I like shooting it seems too much like work.

i love that answer! thanks for your comment I'm starting out and just now learning there are certain areas i like and certain areas i DISLIKE to photograph. the shoots i dislike i end up getting soooo worked up and an absolute nervous wreck over them it hardly seems worth the effort in the end. I may have to start sayin i won't do certain types of photography in the near future. In my head before i started persuing this hobby more serious...i was sooo neive in thinking it would/should be as fun to photograph any area of photography.......boy i was wrong lol. just now learning what my own "no thanks list" is!

thanks again for the comment!

[lputman]

I wouldn't necessarily turn down a customer based upon their weight, that could get ugly and be considered discrimination and it just takes the wrong person that got turned down to turn that into something ugly....

I would welcome the opportunity to be able to hone my skills to allow myself to take the best photographs of whomever it is.

[Life in Motion]

Originally Posted by lputman

I wouldn't necessarily turn down a customer based upon their weight, that could get ugly and be considered discrimination and it just takes the wrong person that got turned down to turn that into something ugly....

I would welcome the opportunity to be able to hone my skills to allow myself to take the best photographs of whomever it is.

I'm just on then fence about if i can do a good job for them if i feel uncomfortable with them, I'm afraid it will be an uncomfortable situation for both sides. I really am not that shallow of a person, I just for see it going badly .

I took some snapshots at a family gathering this past spring...of family visiting etc. before i started persuing photography as more than just a hobbiest bystander. and i had to remove some images from my site on facebook because one person said I made them look "old and fat" in the pictures (i felt terrible about that situation!). When i actually thought they looked better in the images than in person. I guess that might be part of making me nervous about the whole family being overweight. **sigh** just really not wanting hurt feelings on either end. I guess that is what makes me think about just saying i'm booked and avoiding the situation...

[SusanH1970]

Originally Posted by lputman

I wouldn't necessarily turn down a customer based upon their weight, that could get ugly and be considered discrimination and it just takes the wrong person that got turned down to turn that into something ugly....

I would welcome the opportunity to be able to hone my skills to allow myself to take the best photographs of whomever it is.

I agree with Lori. I've had some overweight clients and researched posing and lighting before photographing them. This helped: Slimming Posing Techniques (by popular demand) - Canon Digital Photography Forums

The only clients I've turned down were people inquiring about weddings which I don't do, and some nutball who wanted me to photograph her new litter of puppies and give her the copyright (for free, mind you) so she could claim she took the photos in a contest. Seriously.

[Life in Motion]

Originally Posted by SusanH1970

I agree with Lori. I've had some overweight clients and researched posing and lighting before photographing them. This helped: Slimming Posing Techniques (by popular demand) - Canon Digital Photography Forums

The only clients I've turned down were people inquiring about weddings which I don't do, and some nutball who wanted me to photograph her new litter of puppies and give her the copyright (for free, mind you) so she could claim she took the photos in a contest. Seriously.

Thanks for the link...i'm going to look at it and hopefully get more confidence to attempt the family shoot. i don't think there is ever a way of knowing how people see theirselves ahead of time. but hopefully i can find ways to choose the best techniques to highlight them better........

going over it in my head i just can't come up with any poses i'd like to try though...setting down is a big no i'd say for the middle area, but there are just so many shots you can take from standing and a high angle i think. Maybe I just need to do more reading up on this type of issue i guess.

Thanks for Everyone's input so far ....although i think i'm still very torn

[private]

I totally agree with Lori, BUT you can be 100% honest with them. When I took photos of a blind girl and a boy with DS and autism, I was 100% upfront. That I never did it b4 I would do my best - blah blah blah. I asked questions.

If the WHOLE familiy is overweight - they know it. Its better to be upfront. Ask them if they have a better side, tell them about clothing choice, Ask WHERE they want the photos taken - I have not seen the family, but is your backdrop large enough - I really cannot do more than a family of 4 with my paper backdrops... Talk about the space where the photos will be taken...

Its more than posing, its baout making them comfortable - posing is right up there tho