Perceived Value & Reflecting Respect

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Archive 2010 · Perceived Value & Reflecting Respect

Draper
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p.1 #1 · Perceived Value & Reflecting Respect

thanks for the input you all

it looks like this needs a rewrite as the goal was to differentiate the effects of discounting on perceived value. it apoears all most got was that i was arrogant! lol in need of a major overhaul and i'm back to the drawing board. i appreciate all who took their time to comment, it was helpful

Edited on Sep 09, 2010 at 03:48 PM · View previous versions

Sep 09, 2010 at 05:20 AM

Kittyk
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p.1 #2 · Perceived Value & Reflecting Respect

do not cancel your promise to customer ever. even not yet signed.
IMO...

i am with customer here and unless she would be delaying retainer, i would no way turn back on her

Sep 09, 2010 at 05:35 AM

Inku Yo
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p.1 #3 · Perceived Value & Reflecting Respect

So... the point of this is that you "accepted" a low-ball offer, then decided your time wasn't worth it and would rather spend it with "family" instead?

Hmm... I see the point you're trying to make, but the examples you use actually make you look bad. I'd probably not be putting it on your blog.

Sep 09, 2010 at 05:45 AM

CarminaF
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p.1 #4 · Perceived Value & Reflecting Respect

Great post

Sep 09, 2010 at 05:48 AM

ksmahgrts
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p.1 #5 · Perceived Value & Reflecting Respect

aaron - while i agree with and appreciate your thoughts on perceived value, don't you think you might have avoided some animosity by simply picking up the phone and having a conversation with this client?

as we all are aware, the tone of an email can be wildly misconstrued - and when handling a situation as delicate as turning down a client to whom you've already made a commitment (no matter how initial or unsigned) i would think that an email is a quick path to exactly what you experienced: shock, hurt feelings, resentment, anger and backlash. perhaps this client would have escalated the situation regardless of your means of communication - but in my experience, likely not.

take care and thanks for sharing your thoughts

Sep 09, 2010 at 05:50 AM

TRReichman
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p.1 #6 · Perceived Value & Reflecting Respect

My sincerest advice would be to remove this from your blog ASAP. You never win this type of argument in the court of public opinion and trying to be "right" in customer service rarely wins you the respect you wish it would. Also, continually referencing how expensive you are or how many people can't afford you doesn't seem productive. What do you stand to gain from this and how will it affect the perception of you in the public eye?

- trr

Sep 09, 2010 at 05:51 AM

ksmahgrts
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p.1 #7 · Perceived Value & Reflecting Respect

TRReichman wrote:
My sincerest advice would be to remove this from your blog ASAP. You never win this type of argument in the court of public opinion and trying to be "right" in customer service rarely wins you the respect you wish it would. Also, continually referencing how expensive you are or how many people can't afford you doesn't seem productive. What do you stand to gain from this and how will it affect the perception of you in the public eye?

- trr

excellent advice. and to piggyback - is your blog for photographers or clients? i can't imagine how committing to a date, canceling for whatever reason, then blogging about it could possibly be a healthy marketing tool. it may win you 'attaboys from your photog pals, but i doubt brides will be impressed. sure it's great that you love your mom - admirable - but from a bride-to-be perspective, your personal life shouldn't play a role in her special day.

oh and comments like, "I'll let my mother know that you don't think I'm professional." as a response to her initial reply (no matter how bitchy) don't help your situation - kind of makes you sound like a smug jerk and not a big-hearted family man.

Sep 09, 2010 at 05:54 AM

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p.1 #8 · Perceived Value & Reflecting Respect

I got a lot from the OP, thanks.
I agree you might not want to put the post out there for customers to see though, I think it's useful for other photographers and small business owners.

Sep 09, 2010 at 06:07 AM

elin05
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p.1 #9 · Perceived Value & Reflecting Respect

That was a great read, and I completely agree. What is your opinion on clients who are friends or acquaintances? What if they ask for friend discounts - would you see that any differently than if a stranger were to ask for discounts?

Sep 09, 2010 at 06:24 AM

scott shoemake
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p.1 #10 · Perceived Value & Reflecting Respect

Aaron, I feel your sentiment my friend. To be honest, I've heard the same "budget rhetoric" that you have, being in the same area. I realized in my first couple of years of business that I was going to have to "rise above my market" in order to be on top of it. I knew what my vision was (refined, artistic, sophisticated yet contemporary) but I also knew that our market did not support that vision and the compensation that I deemed fit. I hope you're still following.
I've really tried to push my work outside of my local market (and I think it has worked to a certain extent 80% of my work this year is outside of my general area) and in doing so, it has helped me find clients within my area that appreciate and are willing to pay the price for my work. It blows my mind a little bit to have potential clients walk in and we both know that I'm $2k+ more than the highest "other guy" in town but they're willing to book, based on solidarity of work, references and my price "speaking value" to them.
Really, I'm not trying to toot my own horn or boast...just giving a personal testimony from someone in your locale that is trying to stick to their guns and has seen it work. Do I get a ton of inquiries expecting me to be as cheap as the shmuck who is working weddings for minimum wage? Yes. Does it bug me that our area is full of people ready and willing to shoot for all day, give a disc, an album, prints, etc. for $1500...ooooh yeah! But I've honestly tried my best to educate potential clients, stand out in my art and price myself at the place where I deem fit and I think it is working. I feel your pain though dude, this area is pretty whack, but you'll get through. Just keep doing what works: do great work and be kind to people.

Sep 09, 2010 at 06:37 AM

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p.1 #11 · Perceived Value & Reflecting Respect

I echo others, I would remove this from your blog ASAP. It will do nothing but hurt in the long run. There is no reason, in my mind, why any perspective client needs or wants to read this.

Sep 09, 2010 at 07:07 AM

Micky Bill
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p.1 #12 · Perceived Value & Reflecting Respect

sboerup wrote:
I echo others, I would remove this from your blog ASAP. It will do nothing but hurt in the long run. There is no reason, in my mind, why any perspective client needs or wants to read this.

Exactly, this is the kind of thing that you talk to a friend about over a couple of cocktails, not post on a blog for all to see.

Sep 09, 2010 at 07:10 AM

William Wilson
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p.1 #13 · Perceived Value & Reflecting Respect

From a purely business point you raise some interesting points but this is not a winner in promoting you or your business to prospective clients.

Sep 09, 2010 at 07:24 AM

jdben622
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p.1 #14 · Perceived Value & Reflecting Respect

Amazing that you'd have this on your blog.

After...

"Sorry Amy. But family needs to come before work. I'm sorry you feel that way."

...much of what you wrote looked unprofessional, sarcastic, and combative. I can't imagine with any kind of afterthought why (a) you'd have that kind of exchange with a client in the first place and (b) you'd have the insanity to post it on your site.

Sep 09, 2010 at 08:30 AM

JazzyMac
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p.1 #15 · Perceived Value & Reflecting Respect

Once again, the customer is last. When will "we" ever learn?

Sep 09, 2010 at 10:14 AM

dcphoto
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p.1 #16 · Perceived Value & Reflecting Respect

Draper, I agree with the masses here, allI could think while reading this was "Oh dear, he put this one his BLOG?"
And then I read your blog...and you have 2 other articles preaching about public perception of photographers and pros'vs'amateurs etc... I know you have talent, your photos show this. But I say this only out of advice and not a SLAM against you... I would sit back and re-evaluate this insecurity you have. Look at it as a client reading your blog, what would YOU think of you coming across as someone high and mighty?
I know the intentions, and we all agree on many levels...but there are better ways to educate your clients.
No-one wants to hear someone whining about how they're the best. They just want to know you're the best.

Sep 09, 2010 at 11:20 AM

lisy78
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p.1 #17 · Perceived Value & Reflecting Respect

I wonder if I'm the only one who actually clicked your WWW to see if you were joking about having that on the blog.

For those who are too lazy to go through the exercise yup the article is there.

Hum... so what's the article for next week in the "candid talk to hurt my business" series? "How I sometimes pleasured myself in private during my high school years... and heck I often still do today"

Seriously dude.... delete, delete, delete. You got it off your chest with us... we all agree with or at least understand (most of) the sentiment... now go clean up that blog of yours before google indexes you under the keyword "douche photographer"

Sep 09, 2010 at 11:57 AM

maxwell1295
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p.1 #18 · Perceived Value & Reflecting Respect

Wow...

Sep 09, 2010 at 12:01 PM

ExtendedPuppet
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p.1 #19 · Perceived Value & Reflecting Respect

haha, just start a new anonymous blog for other photographers, your clients don't want/need to see this

Sep 09, 2010 at 12:21 PM

lisy78
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p.1 #20 · Perceived Value & Reflecting Respect

Ok this time without any of the gratuitous humor.

Dude... I checked a few more posts on your blog... It's like there are two people in your business ... one is a talented photographer who takes some pretty darn good images that ware likely to win you business. The other is the dude who writes the blog, who appears to be somewhat disgruntled and almost overtly attempting to drive business away.

You really should rethink what your audience is. Case in point.. you have a post with an underwater maternity session. The photo is pretty awesome... especially if a blown-up version would hae her recognizeable (I think she would be... her facial features look fairly sharp) but the text makes it sound like you couldn't figure out how to match flash and ambient and that's how basically by accident you came up with this.

If the intended audience of your blog is prospective clients I'd say that the bit that reads: "(I was struggling with my ambient/flash light balance)" is:

A. Confusing (they won't know what it means)

B. Indicating that you are not really able to deal with whatever situation is thrown at you (a prospective client might not want sonogram-looking maternity pics and might fear that if she books you ... she may be turned into some sort of impressionistic painting if you can't figure out how to get the shot the *right* way"

Anyway... again, unless you purposely intend to antagonize your clients... you know like the wedding planners who act as if they're doing you a favor by meeting with you... I'd spend some time reviewing my blog and trying to avoid the negative attitude sentences and posts altogether in the future

Sep 09, 2010 at 12:25 PM

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