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04/09/2012 02:44:38 PM · #1 |
Okay, here is the situation... I got an email asking me if I would be interested in doing a family shoot with him and his family. He asked me how much I would make him pay for how many photos... I set a price but now he told me he wants me to do it for 50% less than what I said! How do I tell the guy no without being rude? I wouldn't mind doing the photoshoot if I get the money I asked for to begin with but I just can't do the amount of work for 50% less than normal. Especially not right now with the end of the semester going on. I have far more important things to do! It just wouldn't be worth the little pay...
Help?
ETA - typo
Message edited by author 2012-04-09 18:45:12. |
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04/09/2012 02:48:47 PM · #2 |
"Sorry, I am not able to do the job for that amount of money".
Be direct and to the point.
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04/09/2012 02:48:49 PM · #3 |
How about: "I would like to be able to, but I just can't afford to do the work for that price."
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04/09/2012 02:53:08 PM · #4 |
If he is playing poor mouth (I cant afford it) say how sorry you are to hear of his circumstances, and say you hope to work with him in better times.
If he is saying he cant afford your rate (You aren't worth what you think) send him a link to Craig's list creative gigs, or the worst phauxtographers you can find, and wish him the best of luck with a reminder of what the rates are for professional services. Remind him of the fixed costs of any profession and the costs of doing a professional job, and the hope that he might get lucky among the sea of people who work for close to free, if his standards are low enough. |
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04/09/2012 02:55:20 PM · #5 |
Alohadave is right.
Keep it simple.
Don't try to explain. You'll only get sucked into a hole.
Just say "I'm sorry we couldn't make it work."
That's it. |
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04/09/2012 02:57:18 PM · #6 |
I've never found it either profitable or rewarding to educate/debate/inform or otherwise engage lowballers on the issue of price. I give them my number, and if they give me a counteroffer I'm either good with that or not. So it's either "OK, you got a deal!" or "Not at that price, sorry." Anything else is excess verbiage and just leaves openings for later stress.
R.
ETA: Like Wendy said. And Dave.
Message edited by author 2012-04-09 18:57:51.
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04/09/2012 03:06:28 PM · #7 |
Thanks guys! I knew I could count on you all to make what I was thinking into words! :)
The message will be sent back to him before the end of the night. But for right now, homework is going to be the death of me! Lol.
Thanks again! :) |
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04/09/2012 05:09:41 PM · #8 |
just tell him, "HELL YEAH I'll do it at that price. I just finished learning how to shoot blindfolded and now I'm ready to get paid to do it."
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04/09/2012 07:47:07 PM · #9 |
| I have no problem telling people no when they don't want to pay my price. I know what my costs are, my time is worth, and my equipment depreciates everytime I click the shutter. Would you like me to tell him no for you? I have lots of practice dealing with parents who want top notch sports photography with rebel prices. :D |
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04/09/2012 08:06:14 PM · #10 |
I have nothing new or better to add that hasn't already been said. Meantime the old adage, 'You get what you pay for' springs to mind. As does the sadly now-defunct slogan from my favourite guilty pleasure site, YANAP - 'Just because you own a camera, You Are Not A Photographer. You can't buy talent.'
Matt, I would so love to be a fly on the wall when you deal with cheap parents...and let me make a wild guess..they're the ones driving the biggest SUVs and investing thousands in Li'l Darlings sport, aren't they? :-) |
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04/09/2012 08:15:35 PM · #11 |
| I've got a Rebel so I can do it fo free, I will travel aswell... For free cos I've got a Rebel;-p |
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04/09/2012 08:44:38 PM · #12 |
Tell them you will shoot it at half price for half of each photo.
Not really. It was just thinking out loud.
Ditto what Bear said.
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04/10/2012 01:14:13 AM · #13 |
I am in line with what  Bear_Music said, but might even be more succinct.
"NO" explains it all.
Ray |
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04/10/2012 07:33:32 AM · #14 |
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04/10/2012 08:02:33 AM · #15 |
Originally posted by snaffles:
Matt, I would so love to be a fly on the wall when you deal with cheap parents...and let me make a wild guess..they're the ones driving the biggest SUVs and investing thousands in Li'l Darlings sport, aren't they? :-) |
Usually it's pretty quick and painless. They tell me they can have it printed for $X at ABC retail, and I ask them if they will also take the photo for them at that price, because printing the photo is the inexpensive part of the cost, the expensive part is the equipment and person to take the photo.
And yes usually they are driving the jacked up Excursion with 36" tires and lots of bling, their kid usually has a newer and nicer car then me as well. They just don't have what I have, that is the digital file of their athlete doing their thing. :D |
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04/10/2012 01:22:27 PM · #16 |
Originally posted by MattO:
Originally posted by snaffles:
Matt, I would so love to be a fly on the wall when you deal with cheap parents...and let me make a wild guess..they're the ones driving the biggest SUVs and investing thousands in Li'l Darlings sport, aren't they? :-) |
Usually it's pretty quick and painless. They tell me they can have it printed for $X at ABC retail, and I ask them if they will also take the photo for them at that price, because printing the photo is the inexpensive part of the cost, the expensive part is the equipment and person to take the photo.
And yes usually they are driving the jacked up Excursion with 36" tires and lots of bling, their kid usually has a newer and nicer car then me as well. They just don't have what I have, that is the digital file of their athlete doing their thing. :D |
LOL!! Knew it! Rich people are the biggest PITAs, especially when it comes to services. When I was training horses, my best clients were middle-class people who never winced at paying me $25-$40/hr for my services, because they knew I was worth it.
But some rich woman - who was married to a very rich man and was wealthy in her own right, they had several homes between them, she was one of the first people to own a Lincoln Navigator - owned 30 Standardbred horses on a facility of her own, and paid board of approx $1500 per month for 6 high-end dressage horses, which btw she also shipped down to Florida each winter for the show season - was horrified that I was charging $25/hr to work with her youngest, craziest and most dangerous horse. She was sure that I was trying to rip her off!! Needless to say I only worked with this horse a few times. Pity, because apart from being a total piker, she was actually quite a nice person. *sigh*... |
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04/10/2012 05:07:51 PM · #17 |
"I have too much business that I turn away... to shoot for a discounted fee. But, I thank you for wanting me to shoot for you. I would love to do your shoot, but understand your situation."
This is the truth... even if you don't ever turn anyone away... IF you really don't want to shoot for his price.
Stand firm.
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04/26/2012 10:43:10 PM · #18 |
| This is my big problem I can't say no to anyone. You have posted a different different for this. So I will try it. Thanks for give your suggestions. |
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04/27/2012 06:32:02 AM · #19 |
An alternative is, "I'm sorry, but I am unable to do the shoot for this price. I do really appreciate you thinking of me, and asking me for pricing. Hopefully you will consider me for a future occasion."
Keeps it friendly, keeps the doer open for the future, but does communicate that his price is a non-starter.
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04/27/2012 08:10:38 AM · #20 |
Originally posted by mbrutus2009:
I set a price but now he told me he wants me to do it for 50% less than what I said! |
Honestly?
He lowballs you 50% right out of the gate, and you're worried about being rude?
I'd simply say no, and if he asks why, then ask him if he'd do his job for half price.
I just don't get how often people think that everything is negotiable.
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