I need some help in dealing with a difficult client

[Rahul]

They all are good portraits. I didn't go through all the 3 pages of this thread to see what other folks are suggesting but do not release the rights.

And about the pixelation of pic #33, tell them that it's not pixels that you see, it's the freckles silly.

[Ensleygirl]

It just keeps getting better and better.... NOT!! Without going into all the gory details, I have offered her two options and then I AM DONE!!

Option 1: Accept the reprints that I ordered that we agreed to (adjusted white balance and decreased saturation).

Option 2: She can return the two prints to me that she is so unhappy with and I will give her a $30 refund (my a la carte price for two 8x10s).

Either way, I am mailing her the canvas and either the prints or refund because I am not meeting with her. I made that explicitly clear in my email. I also stressed that I felt like I was being professional and accommodating to her and that I wanted her to be happy with my work.

Hope this is over soon...

Thanks so much for all the feedback you all have given me. I appreciate the support, encouragement, and constructive criticism very very much!!

[mandyatm]

Good for you! I am glad I read this because I just recently started charging and was wondering what to do if I got a client like this. It was good to see all of the clauses that should be put in a contract. Other than a model release form, I have not even made a contract, eek!

As far as your pictures go, I think they look great. I love how the yellow leaves go with with their yellow shirts, and I love composition on all of them! On my laptop, the colors look perfect (that is probably what she was viewing them on), but on my CRT monitor, they look a little saturated/red, but not too bad. Like another poster said, if that was her problem, she would have said that about all of them. Also, if you saw the prints yourself, I am sure they looked great too.

I can't believe she began by saying she only wanted the pictures to put on facebook! Why does she think she is so entitled!? She wasn't getting charged a session fee and didn't have to buy anything, so why in the WORLD is she complaining? If she didn't like them, she didn't have to spend $360!

My guess is that she DID love them and knew they were better than the ones from her own camera, then decided she spent too much money so she tried to complain to get some of it back. I would give her the money back for the 2 she doesn't like if the reprints don't work out. I really hope she doesn't complain about the canvas print, that would be even more difficult to deal with as they are more expensive. Good luck to you!

[Trisha_C]

I think your photos are very good.I would be more than happy with them.I think this lady may be trying to take advantage of you.

[Saralonde]

Well, hopefully it all ends soon for you. I think you offered the best final option you could to her.

At least you dealt with a difficult client early on and learned a great deal from it.

[Satirist]

I won't make the same comments others have made. I don't disagree, I just don't want to repeat. What I would like to say though is ALWAYS charge a session fee. If you don't charge a session fee you could end up wasting time and not getting paid if they choose not to buy anything. The time you spend shooting, post processing, etc., not to mention your unique talent, is worth money just as much as if it were a tangible item.

[secheese]

Compositionally, the images are pretty good. However, the color saturation is punched too high; back that off some, and you'll have fine results. FYI... I'm looking at these on a calibrated system.

Regards.

[Evening]

Clearly her own photos were inadequate - she obviously doesn't want to use them even for facebook. How on earth did she coerce a teenager to wear the same clothes as a small child? The colours were nice - but mother sounds a bit domineering. Good luck with getting shot of her as soon as possible.

Re the other photographer - going to tweak your photos! Why doesn't he tweak hers instead! As everyone comments - she must pulling a fast one as she clearly likes most of the photographs. Lovely series of pictures. Oh and I forgot the most obvious thing - if he's so damned good - why didn't she commision him to do them?

It's been very interesting to read all the posts - reinforces what a wonderful resource DPS is the the aspiring and professional photographer. I am an unconfident 'lurker' - enjoying, learning but too scared in the field to apply what I've read.

[Ensleygirl]

Originally Posted by Evening

Oh and I forgot the most obvious thing - if he's so damned good - why didn't she commision him to do them?

.

AMEN!!!!! That's what I've been asking myself for 4 days.

[Ensleygirl]

Originally Posted by secheese

Compositionally, the images are pretty good. However, the color saturation is punched too high; back that off some, and you'll have fine results. FYI... I'm looking at these on a calibrated system.

Regards.

Thank you for the feedback. I have reworked the ones she complained about and reordered. Of course, she is still pitching a fit. She left me a message today that she is "sickened that all of these photos of my children are lost. I have nothing to display." I am so confused by that because she only told me about problems with two pictures. I have refused to speak with her by phone, choosing instead to communicate by email so that I will have a written record. I have had it...