How do you tell someone?

[Ambrosia76]

That they may ruin their own photos.

I am not a pro, but I am trying to work on doing better portraits so I have offered free sessions to some friends.

Anyway,to the point. I am doing a session this sunday for a a friend,her boyfriend and his three kids. It is in a park,lots of spring flowers etc. Today she tells me that while she was wanting to do more casual photos he wants to get all dressed up. Her and the younger 2 kids had planned to wear light spring colored clothing, well older girl wants to wear a black dress(God knows why it will be 80 degrees) and dad is insistent that he is wearing black slacks and a red shirt.

First of all I don't think the dark warm colors will look right in the setting we chose,secondly, with half of them in dark clothes and the other half in light I think the group photos will look horrible.

I told her to maybe suggest they wear similar colors for the groups and bring a change of clothes for the individual, that way we can get some decent group photos but they can still get photos in the clothes they like.

Just wondered Do you give your clients suggestions as far as clothing color etc? If they just won't do as you suggest and do whatever do you still take the photo knowing it won't look right?

I know they aren't paying me but you think they would listen if they want good photos.

[Brian Mullins]

As a photographer, it really is up to you to dictate the final appearance of the photos. If you don't think it will match up then you need to, gently, share your vision. Flowers, springtime, fresh, new, etc... Send them a "portrait tips" sheet that goes over things like tanning, personal grooming, colors, clothing, makeup, etc. That will go over much better as its a laundry list and not a personal commentary on their choices.

As for them not listening to you, I will be a bit forward (I apologize in advance). What will they lose if they don't listen to you? You are not charging them so, honestly, they won't really listen as their is no "pain" associated if the photos don't come out well.

Funny thing about photography - the higher your prices are, the more your clients listen to you - simply because of how much they stand to lose if the photos don't come out good. Then again, you need to make sure your photos are really good to charge alot (not saying yours won't be, just a general statement).

[Ambrosia76]

I understand what you are saying. I am a dog groomer by profession, not to toot my on horn,but I am good. Good enough people drive 6 hrs for me to do their dog, so yeah I charge what I am worth and I don't take crap off people,and they listen to me.

I am not as confident about my photography,hence the free sessions, got to start somewhere. But I am also a perfectionist and don't want to see their photos come out like crap.

She said she was going to talk to him about it tonight, and if he won't listen to her,I will talk to him tomorrow. I think he may actually listen to me better,she works for me but I have actually known him since I was a kid.

By the way I have looked at your photos,sort of a self study trying to make myself better and I must say they are amazing.

[Brian Mullins]

Talking is a great first step but you may find you get a better return if you can couple that with something in writing. You may have better results then I have in the past, but when its not in writing, people tend to remember what they want. If it helps, I tell them why (like why wearing a red dress to a daytime wedding is bad). You have confidence in your knowledge, tap into that when talking with them. The confidence in your work will come, but don't let that keep you from setting yourself up for success.

Thank you so much for the compliment! Alot of the things I show are ones I shot for myself and not my clients. It just happens my clients love them as well.

[Ambrosia76]

I told friend I know this is georgia,and everyone is suppose to love the bulldogs but that doesn't mean I have to let him wear red and black in a spring photo. LOL

If he wears it anyway I am going to take at least one photo and change his shirt color to pink just for the hell of it...

[~AJ~]

It is really hard, but if you want to eventually start charging for your work, then you need to start acting like a professional - just like you do with your dog grooming. Even if they're friends of yours, think of who they'll be showing the photos to. Most people don't look at the quality of the photos, but how the people in them look. You don't want to get a "bad name" for yourself before you really get started if that makes sense?

I've just started charging a small amount for my work (basically just to cover costs at this point). People know that I'm studying photography and am still just learning about it all, so know they're not going to get images that someone charging big amounts will, but I still work as a professional and give them "guidelines" to follow to ensure our shoot goes well.

Maybe send an email with some links that talk about & have pictures of what they should wear (google "what to wear in family portraits). It might just help to get your point across. Also add other little hints in there, like to remember to bring lipstick for the girls, and tissues if there are small children (I always have to include this in my emails, as children dribble & all sorts of things LOL!).

Basically, if you act like a professional, they will (hopefully!) treat you like one & not as just a friend if you know what I mean?

I hope that helps - I'm in a bit of a rambling mood tonight apparently LOL!!!!!

[autofocus]

As a photographer, it really is up to you to dictate the final appearance of the photos.

Funny thing about photography - the higher your prices are, the more your clients listen to you - simply because of how much they stand to lose if the photos don't come out good.

All really good points that Brian is making here, and very true. Obviously, red is a very strong color in a photograph, and it will tend to draw your eye to it. It almost sounds like this is a guy who wants to control things, and to always be the center of interest. This may be a conscious, or unconscious move on his part. You sound like you know this guy pretty well, so you can be the judge of that.
We always will guide the folks on what to wear, and that uniformity in a group photo is a plus. They don't have to be dressed as clones of each other, but simple, and somewhat coordinated colors work best. Bottom line is you can suggest what's best, but some people will only do what they want to do, and you'll have to make the best of it. Unfortunately, if he and the daughter insist on dressing this way, it will look odd in the final results.

I've had lots of people say, "Oh I gotta have my car shot over here at this lake!!"

(Keep in mind, I'm still kind of an ass)

My response is typically, "that won't work and that's not gonna happen, we gotta go do (fill in the blank) location instead, trust me, it'll work a lot better."

Then I quote all the magazine editors who've told me that lakes and trees are stupid backgrounds.... that usually shuts them up pretty quick.

[Ambrosia76]

Yeah, I know him pretty good. I talked to him today and we came to a compromise. The thing is he isn't controlling I think it was that she was telling him and he was doing it to spite her. They have kind of a fire and water relationship. Funny thing is he is a lot like me and she is a a lot like my hubby.

[Jim Bryant]

Originally Posted by maxharvard

I've had lots of people say, "Oh I gotta have my car shot over here at this lake!!"

(Keep in mind, I'm still kind of an ass)

My response is typically, "that won't work and that's not gonna happen, we gotta go do (fill in the blank) location instead, trust me, it'll work a lot better."

Then I quote all the magazine editors who've told me that lakes and trees are stupid backgrounds.... that usually shuts them up pretty quick.

Yup......assholes think alike. Don't know how many times someone has called me that.