How do you tell clients to shove it - nicely

[lonni]

I come from a commercial photography background, and have not had to deal with the client watching me work and offering suggestions.

I recently had a family shoot where the father kept telling me where to place the family for the best background, just happened to be shocking - lots of light posts to stick out of peoples heads and a hole in the greenery where parked and moving cars could be seen, no matter how i placed the people. Although he was not thh first to offer suggestions he was the only one who insisted, even after i explaind why i did not want to do it.

I also have people telling me how to edit my photos, they want heavy vignetting, black and white wih selected colour, heavy textures, that sweet vintage colour tone etc - all of which are not my style.

As a graphic designer i got so used to doing whatever the customer wanted, no matter how crap it was that i am having a little trouble just saying no. But my photography is different, its not just a job, its art (yes i know i sound prenentious)

I start by explaining why i dont think ther suggestions are a good idea, without making them feel dumb for suggesting it.

If they persist i try to explain that they saw my work ad hored me cause they liked my style.

If that fails i usually end up caving in and doing what they suggest, but not using the images, if they ask about it i will show them one of teh images to show how crap it turned out.

i figured this would be pretty common so what do yoiu guys do with the really persistant ones?

Do you stop the shoot?

[Jim Poor]

For the processing bits, make it clear UP FRONT that you have a particular style and you don't deviate from it much.

For the "helpful" clients, I usually shoot what they want AND what I want. My choices are usually what sells.

If they get too out of hand, you have to choose whether to continue, to speak up or just let it go. "Too out of hand" is a line only you can define, but there have been times where I've said "I'm sorry, I can't help you," or "I've done this for a while, but if you want a light pole growing out of your head, that's up to you."

Then there is the more mild "If I shoot it here, it will cost you $75 per hour, per photo with a one hour minimum per photo to remove the light pole that will look like it is sprouting out of your head."

[Niresangwa]

There was a similar string to this recently...

I don't think this is peculiar to photography, and is just generally related to working with people. If you assert yourself with sufficient strength and authority early enough, it should prevent the inevitable escalation if you don't.

I don't think a photographer should ever have to show what they're doing on the LCD or really explain themselves too much. You're not hired to hold a fancy camera and press the shutter, just the same as you don't hire a chef just to turn on the stove and stir the saucepan. You hire them select the ingredients and seasoning and also to use their tools effectively.

That's a trite example, but hopefully conveys to you what you should convey to the client. I thin kthat your conduct and confidence in terms of ordering the shoot around goes a long way to preventing these people from horning in on the production.

I've rarely had this happen to me, but when it does I simply redirect and move forward quickly...

"Can we take one infront of that tree?"

"That's probably not going to work that well for X-Y-Z reason, but I do want to move over to that wall right over here, and I'm going to need you guys to blah blah snore" and start heading over to where I want to go...

[scootermcq]

I told a mother of the bride that I had the power of photoshop on my side and I could be nice with my edits or add wrinkles and weight if she kept going.

[Jim Bryant]

About 30 years ago while taking pictures of my best friends wedding I handed the mother of the bride my camera and said, "It's apparently you know what you want, so take your own pictures." Before the wedding she produced a wedding album and asked if I could take pictures like this?" They were the most awful photos I've ever seen taken and felt like asking how much she paid and boy did she get screwed. Man was the royal pain in the butt before, during and after the wedding. No small wonder I didn't take any weddings up until 1997.

[lonni]

Originally Posted by scootermcq

I told a mother of the bride that I had the power of photoshop on my side and I could be nice with my edits or add wrinkles and weight if she kept going.

Lol, i think i will have to use that one.