Complain about your stupid clients here!

[Optodexine]

I get it, photography is a competitive field, and these days when every mobile phone has a camera, clients sometimes think photography is much easier than it is. I am sure all of us have had client asking/demanding totally unreasonable and sometimes downright stupid things.

Let me start this thread off with one of mine.

I was recently approached by an old client. Her family used to run a night club and I used to help them out with party club shots. It has been a few years and she was asking me to help her out with a new client. Apparently she was not in the party scene any more and was helping a client build a website and needed jewellery shots done. Here was the conversation via whatsapp

Client: I need some jewellery photos for my client. Are you still doing photography?

Me: Yes I still do.

Client: I just need some simple ones will do. About 20-30 photos. I think 2 hours should be enough to finish.

Me: (I know 2 hours is ridiculous for so many pieces but before I start asking for more money, I wanted to know what her expectation was. Maybe it is a blogshop for costume jewllery) ok is this the kind of photo you want?


Client: No not must have diamonds also.

Me: Like this?


Client: No not enough effect.

Me: Effect?

Client: Must see the diamond bling. That one no effect

Me: U mean like this?


Client: Yes like that very nice

Me: ok this will be $1000 per piece. (honestly I was not interested in taking up this job in the first place at this point of time, I knew she thought this was super easy to do and thought I could do it in like 5 minutes per photo)

Client: Why so expensive!

Me: Because it is very hard to do. It takes at least 1 hour to shoot each piece and still needs a lot of graphic design and layout. If you want I can do for discount, $15,000 for 20 pieces. This is super hard to do. Very few photographers in Singapore can do this professionally. I need to hire a specialist to help you do this. And there is a lot of specialised equipment that need to use to do this job. And we also need to do graphic design for all the pieces. (this is the truth)

Client: What is the market rate?

Me: $1000 per photo

Client: How about the basic one?

Me: This kind I can do. I can do 20 pieces for $1800


Client: What is your best price

Me: $1800 Cash before delivery

END

 

[Kit]

This happens all the time and I think most folks here would agree that it's not worth mentioning anymore. You were not talking to the right audience. Move on.

 

[Kit]

and starting a bitch fest about clients online can be bad for business. you never know who will read these.

 

[Agetan]

There is no bad client and only those who don't understand what we do. Just because if you have explain it a million time, it doesn't mean you stop explaining it to 1 millionth and 1 client.

Price isn't always the deciding factor so make sure you understand what they need rather then want.

How you put things across isn't showing that you are interested to help client to get the right shots. You are not even interested with the usage nor the purpose of the images being taken.

Furthermore, not every one ask for quote that come in would become a client. Just different people, different need both in quality and pricing.

Complain about client just to show how we as a business don't understand the need of customers. So I won't bother with it.

If you can't manage client, work with company who can and you concentrate on your photography. It isn't right to bitch about clients, online or off-line.

Regards,

Hart

 

[JasonB]

Nothing wrong to complain about clients and let off some steam. Sometimes you need to let in some fresh air.

It also helps to inform others too.

Oh, there are definitely bad clients. Lets not kid ourselves in the real world. Just don't mistaken uninformed, or inexperienced clients as bad, many have potential to become good long lastign clients. Its good to convert these clients to good clients.

 

[Optodexine]

and starting a bitch fest about clients online can be bad for business. you never know who will read these.

Sorry I think I need to qualify my post:

1- Although I do this for a living and I do not mind if my "client" sees this. I have enough work to keep me busy. Thanks for the concern.
2- My post is done in humour and fun, not to seek advice or sympathy. I did not start this to shame anyone, as you noticed, there was no names mentioned. I just think it is funny. I just thought it will be fun to hear each other's bad experiences, in a more humorous light.

Why so serious!
Cheers!

 

[Kit]

If you had qualified that in the beginning, I wouldn't have bothered responding. Oh well...

 

[Agetan]

wah... I have to give it to you if you think this is funny. Good that you have enough work to keep you busy.

 

[Turbonetics]

I get it, photography is a competitive field, and these days when every mobile phone has a camera, clients sometimes think photography is much easier than it is. I am sure all of us have had client asking/demanding totally unreasonable and sometimes downright stupid things.

Let me start this thread off with one of mine.

I was recently approached by an old client. Her family used to run a night club and I used to help them out with party club shots. It has been a few years and she was asking me to help her out with a new client. Apparently she was not in the party scene any more and was helping a client build a website and needed jewellery shots done. Here was the conversation via whatsapp

Client: I need some jewellery photos for my client. Are you still doing photography?

Me: Yes I still do.

Client: I just need some simple ones will do. About 20-30 photos. I think 2 hours should be enough to finish.

Me: (I know 2 hours is ridiculous for so many pieces but before I start asking for more money, I wanted to know what her expectation was. Maybe it is a blogshop for costume jewllery) ok is this the kind of photo you want?
View attachment 7573

Client: No not must have diamonds also.

Me: Like this?
View attachment 7571

Client: No not enough effect.

Me: Effect?

Client: Must see the diamond bling. That one no effect

Me: U mean like this?
View attachment 7572

Client: Yes like that very nice

Me: ok this will be $1000 per piece. (honestly I was not interested in taking up this job in the first place at this point of time, I knew she thought this was super easy to do and thought I could do it in like 5 minutes per photo)

Client: Why so expensive!

Me: Because it is very hard to do. It takes at least 1 hour to shoot each piece and still needs a lot of graphic design and layout. If you want I can do for discount, $15,000 for 20 pieces. This is super hard to do. Very few photographers in Singapore can do this professionally. I need to hire a specialist to help you do this. And there is a lot of specialised equipment that need to use to do this job. And we also need to do graphic design for all the pieces. (this is the truth)

Client: What is the market rate?

Me: $1000 per photo

Client: How about the basic one?

Me: This kind I can do. I can do 20 pieces for $1800
View attachment 7573

Client: What is your best price

Me: $1800 Cash before delivery

END

hmmm...your attitude based on your thread title shows your EQ level.
maybe u look highly upon yourself that u might have too many clients for u to handle that u think u can call clients "stupid" and choose your clients selectively.and from this thread,I can say u aren't any smarter.
u mentioned that at that point of time u weren't keen to take up the job in the first place,so I would guess u purposely offer a daylight robbery quote. It is common for clients to negotiate and probably your business is too good that u don't listen to them.
U are not being professional in handling clients in my opinion.
while many photographers are complaining about poor business being affected by "hit and run" or freelance photographers offering low rates and u are here choosing and calling customers stupid. U should not be too proud and should reflect on your own attitude before calling others stupid.

 

[Turbonetics]

Sorry I think I need to qualify my post:

1- Although I do this for a living and I do not mind if my "client" sees this. I have enough work to keep me busy. Thanks for the concern.
2- My post is done in humour and fun, not to seek advice or sympathy. I did not start this to shame anyone, as you noticed, there was no names mentioned. I just think it is funny. I just thought it will be fun to hear each other's bad experiences, in a more humorous light.

Why so serious!
Cheers!

so calling your clients stupid is funny and humorous? I do not find any pinch of humour in your thread at all, more like complain to put your clients "down" and you "up".
how about list down your company name since you think so highly of yourself that u aren't afraid your "client" to see and we shall see who is the laughing stock? by the way your EQ level is already very funny to start off with...lol

 

[Turbonetics]

There is no bad client and only those who don't understand what we do. Just because if you have explain it a million time, it doesn't mean you stop explaining it to 1 millionth and 1 client.

Price isn't always the deciding factor so make sure you understand what they need rather then want.

How you put things across isn't showing that you are interested to help client to get the right shots. You are not even interested with the usage nor the purpose of the images being taken.

Furthermore, not every one ask for quote that come in would become a client. Just different people, different need both in quality and pricing.

Complain about client just to show how we as a business don't understand the need of customers. So I won't bother with it.

If you can't manage client, work with company who can and you concentrate on your photography. It isn't right to bitch about clients, online or off-line.

Regards,

Hart

this is professional and I highly believe he won't heed any of your advice based on how proud he is.
every business has their own fair shares of different types of customers(those he mentioned are just peanuts case), how we handle it shows our professionalism.
and indeed bitching away is the worst way to go about it because a rational person will not only read the complains blindly but also read the bitcher.

 

[Elocrixia]

Sorry but this is super unprofessional.

 

[nitewalk]

There will be all kinds of people and dealing with clients mean you are dealing with all kinds of people. In some cases, "difficult" clients could actually have a point with regards to your services or quality of work. Perhaps it will do your business some good to take some time and reflect upon your practices instead of coming into a photography forum to whine about your photography clients.

And yes, this is super unprofessional.

 

[zaren]

The client's questions and replies don't appear unreasonable or stupid to me. But telling her all that bogus pricing of $1000 per photo etc and then mocking her on this thread is uncalled for. Alternatively, ask her for her budget right up front and decide whether you are ok with it before accepting or declining the job.

Threads posted in jest are better suited for the kopitiam forum.

 

[daredevil123]

As mod zaren has pointed out, if you post this as a joke or as entertainment, then this thread does not belong here.

Thread moved to Kopitiam.

 

[Sion]

I get it, photography is a competitive field, and these days when every mobile phone has a camera, clients sometimes think photography is much easier than it is. I am sure all of us have had client asking/demanding totally unreasonable and sometimes downright stupid things.

Let me start this thread off with one of mine.

I was recently approached by an old client. Her family used to run a night club and I used to help them out with party club shots. It has been a few years and she was asking me to help her out with a new client. Apparently she was not in the party scene any more and was helping a client build a website and needed jewellery shots done. Here was the conversation via whatsapp

Client: I need some jewellery photos for my client. Are you still doing photography?

Me: Yes I still do.

Client: I just need some simple ones will do. About 20-30 photos. I think 2 hours should be enough to finish.

Me: (I know 2 hours is ridiculous for so many pieces but before I start asking for more money, I wanted to know what her expectation was. Maybe it is a blogshop for costume jewllery) ok is this the kind of photo you want?
View attachment 7573

Client: No not must have diamonds also.

Me: Like this?
View attachment 7571

Client: No not enough effect.

Me: Effect?

Client: Must see the diamond bling. That one no effect

Me: U mean like this?
View attachment 7572

Client: Yes like that very nice

Me: ok this will be $1000 per piece. (honestly I was not interested in taking up this job in the first place at this point of time, I knew she thought this was super easy to do and thought I could do it in like 5 minutes per photo)

Client: Why so expensive!

Me: Because it is very hard to do. It takes at least 1 hour to shoot each piece and still needs a lot of graphic design and layout. If you want I can do for discount, $15,000 for 20 pieces. This is super hard to do. Very few photographers in Singapore can do this professionally. I need to hire a specialist to help you do this. And there is a lot of specialised equipment that need to use to do this job. And we also need to do graphic design for all the pieces. (this is the truth)

Client: What is the market rate?

Me: $1000 per photo

Client: How about the basic one?

Me: This kind I can do. I can do 20 pieces for $1800
View attachment 7573

Client: What is your best price

Me: $1800 Cash before delivery

END

"Never waste a minute of your time on a client if you'e not interested to do the job." - 孔子.

This is the first thing they teach you in a photography school.

 

[Sion]

so calling your clients stupid is funny and humorous? I do not find any pinch of humour in your thread at all, more like complain to put your clients "down" and you "up".
how about list down your company name since you think so highly of yourself that u aren't afraid your "client" to see and we shall see who is the laughing stock? by the way your EQ level is already very funny to start off with...lol

I think we'll read another post from his client:

Re: Complain about your stupid photographers here!

:bsmilie:

 

[G-man]

I think we'll read another post from his client: Re: Complain about your stupid photographers here! :bsmilie:

Client too busy making money to whine about unprofessional photographers here.

 

[loath]

jeez,,never thought there are nasty/snobbish photographers out there.

 

[fotoudavid]

Not sure why got photographers like to complaint about clients in forum and social media.