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p.3 #15 · p.3 #15 · Rant - What's Wrong w/this Industry and it's sacchariny sweet photographers? | |
Chris Cooke wrote:
From my experience working in the wedding industry for the past 13 years(even though its been in a pretty local bubble) I have realized that Male shooters are more focused on the technical aspects of it. The right and wrong, the "rules" and everything being done the "right" way. Using the right gear, lighting it right, keeping to the technical way of doing things.
How many times have I gone on about this?
So many shooters ( male at least) are far more concerned about massaging their own egos than they are concerned about giving the clients what they want.
That said, I get on really well with all my clients but I NEVER suck up, crawl, lick their backsides or anything else. As I have also said many times, I believe in a factor of the opposite where they have to come to me in the deal so I have the power base and am in control.
I can only imagine what some of these other suck and crawl shooters get themselves into with client request and ridiculous complaints when they suck and crawl and pander the way they do.
I guess if you do suck and crawl and give endless meaningless platitudes, you will attract the soft of heart and head Clients. Obviously the people that don't live their life floating fairy floss and Pink unicorns are not going to be impressed with that. They will go to someone that does not insult their intelligence..... like me.
If I were to go on with this sickly sweet garbage, I can't think of a single client of mine that wouldn't run a mile. I can be very onboard with my brides and talk to them about things most other straight males couldn't because I understand what it really important to them, what they really want and are looking for and important, what their fears are and how to get them over that with genuine reassurance.
Rather than suck and crawl, more often than not I make fun of my clients to help them. I do it in a way that puts a realism on their worries, brings them out into the open and makes them look silly when they are not justified.
Where I am at least, platitudes really don't go very far. Making someone a little embarrassed and showing they are blowing things out of proportion or putting a different spin on them has a whole different effect in making them realise the truth and getting them over their fear or worry.
You can reassure people all you like but it's not till someone realises and comes to accept something themselves that they really get over something. Setting them up for a "Duuuh" moment with a bit of a laugh at their expense gets the message through real clear and while the opposite of suck and crawl, my clients do remember that and thank me for it a long time after because it sticks in their minds.
Like someone said, the suck and crawl and sugar coating wouldn't work for me even if I could do it. They would take one look at me and know it was all a crock of ship and they would dismiss me as not being genuine or trustworthy. Who the hell is going to book someone they don't trust or thinks is feeding them BS?
Geez, I cringe every time I read something that goes on about the most important or biggest day of their lives. If that's what you think, just wait till you grow up and see what's really important and what a big day really is.
I told a bride last Sunday when she came in to see me that I thought she was going to have a wonderful first wedding, several times. She laughed and I did get the booking.
As a bloke in this game I don't have to insult women with sugary sweet and sickeningly nice BS and garbage to get on side. I can talk to them about things they are concerned with in a polite and respectful way ( and not so much) and build a rapport from there. I work on honesty and trust.
I have no problems telling them, No, that is NOT a good idea, it sucks for these reasons but have you thought of..... MY clients appreciate that and I get a lot of cards and thank you letters telling me so. When they see you are not afraid to tell them something they don't want to hear for their own benefit, they know you are not just blowing sunshine and rainbows up their back side and they trust you. That builds a rapport and a very good working relationship.
It is the same with my glamour/ maternity work. Everyone out there is crapping on about the white and fluffy crap about having a baby. I say yeah we'll do a couple of shots of that for your mum and Aunties but enough about the baby, it's not here yet, how about we make you look look smoking hot like a pregnant sex Kitten? They laugh then when they come in tell me that I was the only one that thought about them and they were sick of the Oooh and Ahhh fluffy baby crap.
C'mon, Their hormones are raging, Their boobs have never been more upstanding and filled their Bras better, I know what they and the other half are really wanting some pictures of!
They wouldn't be coming to a shooter with a site full of naked women if they just wanted the typical hands on the Belly with the white shirt pics. Geez, is there a more overdone shot anywhere in photography?
I can only treat my clients the way I want to be treated and that is not with gushing platitudes and insincere compliments pulling the wool over their eyes the world is a picnic and everything is wonderful.
That makes me sick and to put it on others for business or any other reason is nothing short of scamming people in my book.
I respect people that tell me the truth and are honest with me and that's how I treat my clients.
It's worked perfect well for 30+ years and the day it doesn't is the day I'm going to have to retire from life let alone photography.
The clients that are so pathetic they need everything sugar coated can go take a running jump for all I care.
They won't want anything to do with me and that situation could not be more mutually agreeable.
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Oct 20, 2016 at 08:13 PM |
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