I presume all here are into the biz (as per forum name suggests
)
Be careful with clients who ask for a specific number of shots. If they ask for it, then you better be able to deliver it. Last time while I was at the lower end of the pay scale I did encounter someone who argued that I was not value for money (in the forums) as I could not deliver as many pictures as his friends/sisters weddings. Nowadays its better as I have moved a bit up, they are alright if they ask and you say "it ranges from 450 - 800 depending on the events". Some want a "warranty" (they do not say penalty, but they will pull this out if anything happens). Quality vs Quantity does not work.
Other similar demands may include :
- Demand that payment is not on the day itself. I do not enforce this during AD as in reality they do forget or "misplace the angpow/envelope", but I do say during meetup and 95% are ok. Last 5% if they speak nicely, usually no issue if FT a few days after AD or during delivery of DVD (payment cleared esp for chqs before DVD receipt for them). When you cite non-payment of couples due to "incidents" like no $$$ in the acct, divorce etc.....they laugh it off and tell you that does not happen in reality, you are pulling a fast one on them.
- Demand that they see your very latest galleries and lots of them.
- To emphasize on the above point regarding latest galleries, are those galleries representative of your work, and also can you give a guarantee that this is what you can do for them as well? (I actually do not show ALL my best works of a whole gallery, just some glimpse of what I can do).
- Demand that to prove that you are reliable, you need verifiable testimonials from ex-clients.
- To emphasize on the above point, dictate penalties on what happens if equipment fails hence you miss shots (even though you have 2 or more cams), you are late even for just 10-15 mins, slideshow does not play properly due to incompatible player or missed deadlines for Express Highlights etc. Of course its our fault and I'm not shrinking responsibility in avoiding discounts or anything, but its all blown out of proportion (I had another 2nd PG who is doing the Express Highlights as I did not wanna do it due to copyright issues, end up could not produce for the night, they did not pay him at all AFAIK. This happens with any on-the-day-itself-deliverables). This happens all the time in one way or another due to Murphy's law.
Any more?
Probably more applicable for the lower-end market, but I don't know..... And naturally if you are shooting more and don't "select" your clients which I was not doing last time, then the probability is higher.