nolaguy Offline Upload & Sell: Off
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · When a quote is low, and the client thinks it is high....how to respond. | |
You might tell him this:
"Dear Billy Bob,
I imagine your perspective is either 1) I genuinely can’t afford it; or 2) you gotta be kidding me, $2,400 for 50 snapshots?
If it’s the former, we have some history (which I value) so while I’d already taken that into account and quoted you a discounted rate, for you I’d be more than happy to do the work in two installments, $x,xxx now and the final payment of $xxx in x months when you’ve begun to see some return on your investment in exceptional images for your business. We’ve both seen how schlock photos can hurt rather than help companies like yours.
If your concern is the latter – how can 40 or 50 images cost so much?... man, I totally get it. It seems so simple to buy a nice camera, click a few images, send the files for a few hundred dollars and be done with it. Sort of like your cabin day rate of $135 and during off days when it’s vacant, someone wanting to rent it for $25 and not understanding why you simply can’t do that.
There are direct and indirect expenses in business most consumers can’t really fathom. Even if your potential $25 customer says “dude, down and dirty is fine, you don’t even need to clean the cabin for me” – your customer experience is your brand. Providing quick, shoddy accommodations isn’t acceptable to you.
Same here. If I’m going to do the job it’s going to include all my bells and whistles which includes sufficient post production work to make your accommodations look like the quality products/services they are, and my rates have to cover at least a portion of my overhead, just like your rates must cover your long term maintenance, liability insurance, etc.
Additionally, the photographer owns the copyright to the photos so projects like this typically involve licensing rights for the images defining how and for how long the shots can be used by the client. Given our history, neither you nor I want to mess with that so I haven't even addressed it. The images would be turned over to you with unlimited usage rights.
Anyway, my quote reflects my costs of doing business, our long term history and my appreciation of your interest. For you I’m comfortable offering the two installment payments if it helps you get what you want - and I hope you have an increasing awareness I’m not only not gouging you, but in my reduced quote, expressing my appreciation for our past collaborations and genuine eagerness to help make your business as successful as possible.
If we can work this out, rest assured I’ll rock your shots and the return on your investment will make you wonder why this was even a question.
Your bud,
gordorad"
Naturally, you have to assume you'll never see the second payment, but, this is one approach you might consider if it's worth it to you.
Regards,
Chuck
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