Hey all, I need just a little help. I have a lady at my church that wants me to combine 3 photos into one. Two of the photos I took at church last year, different backgrounds and lighting. The third picture is of a family member who is away. I told her I could do it.
Fast forward nine months later which is two months ago she finally brings this third picture to me. I gave her a sweetheart deal of $50 she says ok. I scan the picture into my computer and tell her I'll get to it in about a month because I'm extremely busy right now, proms, graduations, weddings, family photos.
Every week for the next three weeks she asks me if I'm started or done yet, I say no still busy. Finally I tell her again, I don't do custom work without money changing hands. She says oh, I don't have it to start anyway, just wanted get them done .
Then in the same conversation she tells me that one of the photos I took of her son she sent out copies with his grad announcement. Originally she asked me to do them but she never made time to get them done. Then tells me she had some pictures at JC Penny's and Wally World and didn't like any of them. So now I'm standing there with my mouth open .
The following Sunday she says as soon as you get through with the picture I'm going to make copies and send them to friends and family. I said no, you buy copies from me. She said you'll try to beat me on the copies, I'll just make my own. I told her well your price just went up to full price $120.
This was about 3 weeks ago. Long story short Sunday while I was engaged with a family about some photos she gave me a check and said she would call me later, the check was for $50. Needless to say she hasn't called and I've called her to no avail. If I can't reach her to discuss full payment I'm going to return her check Wednesday night at church.
I guess what really gets to me is this lady is a clothing designer and has some very nice stuff she does. You would think that she would know better than to have such a callous disregard for someones work.
I feel like she's already cheated me and will copy the pictures anyway. I'm thinking of just saying no and tell her it's not worth my time. What would you folks do? How much do you charge for that kind of job
Stuff like that I've learned to keep my mouth shut and not offer. For me anyway, it always end up being way more trouble than it's worth. Especially those 'friend' deals that you end up spending hours upon hours on, only to have them partially satisfied with the final output.
Just return her check, tell you you're sorry it didn't work out and give her the old 'good luck'.
Jarvis, I agree with Nowhere Man. Chances are, no matter what you do and how little you charge her, she won't be satisfied. From your description of the events, it sounds like she is someone who has unrealistic expectations.
Just to offer a counterpoint, will reversing your decision cause any problems with respect to your reputation at the church? Such things can be more valuable than $120.
I find it hilarious that you expect her to pay you for extra copies of a work that she's (theoretically) paying you to make with her photos. IANAL, but I don't think copyright works that way.
Raising the price on her for no reason related to the length or difficulty of the job was simply unprofessional, IMO. Once she told you that she planned to make her own copies, you should either have honored your original agreement or informed her that you did not wish to do business with her.
The way I see it, your best option is to return the money and inform her that you won't be doing the work. Then you look a bit flaky, but it's the most honest thing to do. Or, you can finish the job, deposit the $50 check, and be grateful that it only cost you $70 to learn a lesson about offering discount services to numbskulls in your community. Or, you can hold out for the full $120, which will probably end just like backing out of the deal, except that you also get to look greedy and dishonest as well as flaky.
. 
.