Learning from experience is a valuable lesson but it is also extremely painful at times. Part of the reason I began this blog was to help fellow photographers -
Most clients are wonderful people who are a joy to do business with....because of this we tend to lean toward believing or hoping that this will be true in all cases. For the rare case when it is not true. It is important that you protect yourself from being taken advantage of by practicing good business principles with ALL your clients....just in case.
So let me share with you some ways to avoid nightmares with your clients.
1. Be flexible.
In as much as your schedule allows be as accommodating and flexible as possible. This is just good customer service and shows them that they are important to you.
2. Get it in writing.
No matter how small the job, I am finding that it is critical to have the agreement in writing. At the very least an email that stipulates what you will do and for how much and when you should be paid. I will be writing up a general contact for all my clients to sign before I take one picture.
2a. Include fees for custom editing.
I am also finding that many people love the quick touch ups done by we photographers who know Photoshop well...but there are those rare few who want plastic surgery and while I am happy to do this for them...it takes a lot of time. I have spent an hour on a photo before only to have the client choose a different one in the end to purchase which leaves me feeling I did a bunch of work for nothing. So I have learned that I need to charge a fee for this kind of editing in order to place a value on it for the client.
3. Use a storefront such as exposure manager.
I use exposure manager for my storefront on the web. They process all prints and orders and mail them to the clients, in return I pay them a small fee for each transaction and yearly subscription fee. This is helpful because the client is required to purchase the prints before you spend your valuable time editing, cropping and uploading the images. It safeguards you from the client backing out of an order as well. Once they paid with their credit card it is a done deal. I learned this the hard way.
4. Deliver your orders in a timely manner.
There is nothing more aggravating than to wait months for pictures you want. Its one thing if your client waits months to order them...but if you wait months to process them...that is just bad business.
5. Be a good example.
If your client gets upset about a situation take the high road. Let them rant and rave all they want but stay focused on the business and the facts. If you made a mistake admit to it quickly and offer ways to make it up to them. If you must stand up for yourself then do so in a way that will not come back to haunt you. Be courteous, be polite but don't let clients railroad over you. (that is where the contract comes in nicely)
All of this is common sense but I know that many of us over look especially the contract when dealing with clients in favor of keeping things casual and loose. But people respect us when we have our ducks in a row. And that is all a contract ensures....respect.
Here are some links to web resources that help you with contracts and professional questions.
SAMPLE CONTRACT (very simple)
The link above will open a pdf but on the site there is also a version that you can open in word to change as needed to suit your business.
American Society of Media Photographers have some good tips for running your photography business.
There is also the professional organization WPPI that assist photographers in many ways. There are 5 different levels of membership from about $50 per year.
click here for the member benefits and make SURE you click through to the second and third pages where the really good benefits discounts on things like data recovery, insurance, equipment and software.
