I've honestly never gotten this request. I don't know what I do, what I say or how I present myself, but 95% of all my clients tell me "I trust your judgement, do whatever you think is best". 90% of my wedding albums are "print as is" when I pre-design...and at most they just make 2 photo swaps.
MarcAnthony wrote:
I'm cringing at the thought of doing this. A bride contacted me wanting me to do two photos with selective coloring at a size of 20x30 for each one. I am half tempted to tell her that I will have to put a disclaimer at the bottom of the photo stating this effect was done with the photographers disapproval. Doesn't she know that every time a photographer does selective coloring babies in heaven cry?
Dont let you ego get in the way. I can't f'n stand when a bride wants this. I say I dont do it anymore but if she asks a second time I will do one for her. I will never post it on my site or in her gallery. but she is welcome to order a print with it. Especially if it is a 20x30. I will take her money.
I would do what the earlier poster said, give them one in selective color and another good print for when they get tired of the selective color fad.
Otherwise, I can almost guarantee, this is one of those situations. By trying to keep control, you end up losing control. You might as well make some extra money because it's not like it's going to overshadow or pollute your brand in reality. It's not a magazine cover or a billboard, it's a photo that's going on someone's wall inside their house.
What I mean is that -- even if (in theory) you said 'no, I refuse'. If they want the 30" selective color print on their wall, they'll figure out a way to get it. Even if that means making it themselves from a digital file or a scan. Saying no isn't going to change a thing if they want it enough.
And if they do it themselves, it will probably look pretty bad. And likely, you won't even know, other than being able to guess they did it because they asked you originally.
MarcAnthony wrote:
Seriously man? You think the way I run my business in any way relates to a request like this? Dude that's retarded. A bride asking for selective coloring has absolutely nothing to do with me being more discriminating or raising my rates. I work 60+ weddings a year because I want to not need to. All of my clients respect and love what I do and I book them because they all come from referrals. I have a lot of questions that I discuss with clients when I meet them but asking if they want selective coloring as an option is not one of them. That would go over really well. I say, "Hey, I had a great time meeting you but my final question is do you like it when everything is B&W except the flowers in color?" Bride says, "Yes, I do". I say "Sorry I can't do your wedding now. Something suddenly came up". I know $6000+ photographers that do this because they are asked to.
This is a great response and I will probably go this route in my response to her....Show more →
I too, think that Tony's response is good... it is essentially what I suggested on the first page. My question to Tony would be, have you ever had to send that email?
Personally, I've never had to answer that question. I've never been asked that question, either? why? my guess is that somewhere along the lines our brand and our conversations with couples during initial conversations is eliminating this type of client from our booking list.
Marc... perhaps being more discriminating wasn't the best way to put it... but rather, I meant that somewhere along the line your message is being lost. If delivering selective coloring images to clients truly makes your cringe... then you need to find a way to transmit that fact to your potential clients.
RichardLavigne wrote:
I too, think that Tony's response is good... it is essentially what I suggested on the first page. My question to Tony would be, have you ever had to send that email?
Not in a long, long time. If I have to send that email, to me that means that somewhere along the lines I failed in communicating my brand.
C'mon man. This isn't an everyday request. Nor would this type of request ever have anything to do with your "brand". You have no idea what goes through your clients head or what type of request you'll be asked to do. Who knows? I did this wedding a year ago. Maybe she saw this effect on someones photo and liked it. This topic will be asked of you at some point. I guarantee it. I have no samples of this effect on my website or in any albums yet it was still asked. My clients know what I do and how I process my images. My brand is strong and so is my reputation. I don't communicate the fact that this effect isn't classy because I am never asked to do it. Except this one time. So I wasn't sure if I should just do it because she's paying for me to or let her know that my work is WAY to great to perform such a cheese effect. Typically, my clients know me personally and I know them. Yet it was still asked if it would be something I would do for her. I responded along the lines of Tony's suggestion. Let's see where that goes.
Tony Hoffer wrote:
Not in a long, long time. If I have to send that email, to me that means that somewhere along the lines I failed in communicating my brand.
This exactly. And what Rich said. If you have a clear brand, where your client knows exactly what they are getting, then these questions shouldn't even be an issue. I've never had anyone ask me to edit a couple pictures with the "Instagram" look because that's not what I do and my clients know that. I have a certain style that my client expects when they receive their images.
Access wrote:
I would do what the earlier poster said, give them one in selective color and another good print for when they get tired of the selective color fad.
Another post where everyone rails against selective color because... well... it's bad, isn't it? I mean, anybody that's ANYBODY will tell you selective color just blows asteroid-sized chunks, right?
I know all the problems one can get into with selective coloring, but actually, it has its place when you know what you are doing and avoid the usual pitfalls. Primarily, if the shot is about what you are selectively coloring, and you have an otherwise solid exposure and composition, it will work.
OTOH, Steven Spielberg could just be another putz for that selective color stunt he pulled in Schindler's list.
As for not doing what your client wants: if you're making a killing at wedding photography, by all means be selective in what client requests (and ultimately what clients) you accept. The rest of us might want to draw the line at what makes business sense that isn't illegal, immoral or unethical.
"In the essentials unity; in non-essentials liberty; in all things grace." -- St. Augustine
TomHarmon wrote:
This exactly. And what Rich said. If you have a clear brand, where your client knows exactly what they are getting, then these questions shouldn't even be an issue. I've never had anyone ask me to edit a couple pictures with the "Instagram" look because that's not what I do and my clients know that. I have a certain style that my client expects when they receive their images.
Don't kid yourself in thinking it won't be asked. In fact, I'd bet $20 it already has.
Would do it but not post on website/blog. With that said, I haven't had this request yet. Knock on wood.
Slightly off-topic, I went to a wedding expo with a friend who is getting married (they don't want me working the wedding so I can enjoy it), and saw so many selective coloring work on albums Cringefest.
Oh God. You are all full of sh*t. Seriously. This is the only request I've gotten but if I can get it you all can or have and won't admit it for some stupid reason.
RichardLavigne wrote:
Alle... I suggest you venture to a higher level steakhouse then... I've seen them tell a friend that they do not have ketchup.
Not to turn this into the ketchup wars but i suspect that they lied to your friend. I've been to a couple really high end steakhouses down here in sofla (and we're not exactly the boonies or anything) ... places I would NEVER choose to afford but I have relatives who I guess have large enough means to pay for a steak what I would in theory pay for a cow ... anyway... yeah rich people on occasion have children, and I'm guessing when you're catering to only a very tiny percent of the population you don't want to alienate the hyphenated crowd by telling them they can't bring "X Y-Z The Third" along. So yeah they have fries and chicken fingers and ... THE HORROR... Ketchup.
But I suppose your area may feature high end steakhouses that target only the kidfree... that or northeast rich brats eat arugula and hummus rather than ketchup and tater tots
Tell the bride you have some concern she won't like the photos in 10 years because the spotcolor is somewhat of a passing fad. Also tell her that you would be happy to do the spot color if she's sure that's what she wants.
Back in my earlier years I had a bride that wanted 6 sepia 8x10s in her album with the flowers spot colored (pink). Yup they were heinous. I tried telling her that hi-gloss BW would be more timeless, but she was having none of that. Wonder how she likes the photos 8 years later?
MarcAnthony wrote:
C'mon man. This isn't an everyday request. Nor would this type of request ever have anything to do with your "brand". You have no idea what goes through your clients head or what type of request you'll be asked to do
A week ago I saw a FEKKIN Bentley with neon lights underneath it. And extra chrome.
trillium wrote:
Tell the bride you have some concern she won't like the photos in 10 years because the spotcolor is somewhat of a passing fad. Also tell her that you would be happy to do the spot color if she's sure that's what she wants.
Back in my earlier years I had a bride that wanted 6 sepia 8x10s in her album with the flowers spot colored (pink). Yup they were heinous. I tried telling her that hi-gloss BW would be more timeless, but she was having none of that. Wonder how she likes the photos 8 years later?
About the same as folks are going to like the tilt, flare & desat, and tilt-shift effect that is being delivered today.
Cringefest.
... anyway... yeah rich people on occasion have children, and I'm guessing when you're catering to only a very tiny percent of the population you don't want to alienate the hyphenated crowd by telling them they can't bring "X Y-Z The Third" along. So yeah they have fries and chicken fingers and ... THE HORROR... Ketchup. 