p.5 #2 · Stupid Ken Rockwell may cost me a customer!
UPDATE: ****
I spoke to her and her fiance this morning. I was a 5 min conversation that went 15 min.
I explained to her that since the engagement shoot was going to be a sunset session, light gathering ability is paramount for a camera, and I would prefer to use my D700s as they are far superior in this condition than the D7000s. But if she really wanted me to use the D7000, I will but she would be responsible for the rental of the equipment.
She blew a lid here! Her exact words: "Wow! So you have old equipment, and you want me to pay you for renting new equipment? Do you ask this for all your clients?"
To this I responded that none of my clients have ever questioned my equipment, as the D700 was just replaced 2 years ago, and is still used professionally by many working professionals. In the end, I could take great pictures with either cameras. Those were her options. Pay for renting, or end up with great images anyway from my D700s.
She said that now that she knows about photography, she would have done more research about my equipment before hiring me. And that these pictures would be something she wants to cherish, and want the latest gear used. Then goes off about computer advancements every year and relating that back to photography equipment.
I cut her off before she got nasty and flat out said, I'll refund her the money and she can hire whoever she wants, and good luck.
She agreed - but man, if she wasn't a client, and if I didn't care about my reputation, I would have really liked to school her in the art of photography and equipment. I had to bite my tongue several times.
p.5 #4 · Stupid Ken Rockwell may cost me a customer!
Hahaha, "old equipment."
There's no help for this one. If anything, tell her about a Phase One IQ280 or Hasselblad H5D-60 and tell her if she wants nothing but the best, go for those.
p.5 #6 · Stupid Ken Rockwell may cost me a customer!
Mataz426 wrote:
I think you should be thanking Ken Rockwell
Yep, Ken Rockwell saved your ass.
Now since you have nothing to lose at this point, send her a 'breaking news' email to let her know Nikon is about to come out with the D9300, which is a much better camera than even the D7000. Include a link to the Nikon Rumor writeup as proof. Let her know that if she can postpone the engagement by only a few short months, you will have the truly latest-best equipment to photograph it with, giving her even better images to cherish forever and ever..
p.5 #7 · Stupid Ken Rockwell may cost me a customer!
Elan II wrote:
Yep, Ken Rockwell saved your ass.
Now since you have nothing to lose at this point, send her a 'breaking news' email to let her know Nikon is about to come out with the D9300, which is a much better camera than even the D7000. Include a link to the Nikon Rumor writeup as proof. Let her know that if she can postpone the engagement by only a few short months, you will have the truly latest-best equipment to photograph it with, giving her even better images to cherish forever and ever..
In the old days, sure. In the Facebook, and Twitter era, you have to be very careful what you say to a client - even if it is an ex-client. I took the high road and politely broke the contract.
p.5 #10 · Stupid Ken Rockwell may cost me a customer!
I think you are overreacting a bit. I am not a pro photographer, but I am a consultant and work with all sorts of clients. Some are easy and some are not so easy. That is business. Now, if you have so much business you can afford to be picky, then by all means pass on this client. Otherwise, do a great job and earn her trust and her concerns will go away.
p.5 #11 · Stupid Ken Rockwell may cost me a customer!
Dave McGaughey wrote:
Ugh. She sounds like trouble. Shoot the engagement session and leave it at that. You can point out that the tools really don't matter - does she ask the carpenter what kind of hammer they use? Does it matter what kind of pots and knives the chef is using?
^^^^This
She should understand that quality pictures come from the photographer's mind / eye for composition and technical soundness not simply from a specific model of camera -- uninspiring / boring pictures can be taken with a 1DX, D4S, PhaseOne.....
But yes, run after this job is done and don't look back.
p.5 #13 · Stupid Ken Rockwell may cost me a customer!
RSHPhotography wrote:
She said that now that she knows about photography...
Running away from this stupid bitch is probably the smartest thing you've done this week. Congrats.
p.5 #14 · Stupid Ken Rockwell may cost me a customer!
runamuck wrote:
Why are you complaining here? Let KR know about it.
KR would only laugh. Literally.
runamuck wrote:
KR has quite a following because he writes on the level of soccer moms and football dads.
My blog is written more for soccer moms, etc. His is written to drive traffic. He's the Rush of the photography world - good at stirring things up to his own benefit and little else of value.
The idea to rent a D7K is a pretty good one, but I seriously doubt that will end issues with this customer. She sounds like the kind you lose money on no matter how hard you try or what you do.
Barring missing mortgage payments, I'd probably respond to this customer with "I have every confidence you'll be pleased, but it sounds like I'm not the photographer for you - best wishes for your shoot and your upcoming nuptials!"
Here's how I'd respond if you want this business at all. If she doesn't get it after this, walk away knowing you dodged a bullet:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Dear [Insert Bridezilla Name]:
I understand that you want the best photography for your engagement and wedding. In your place, I certainly would too. I've been in this business for XX years and have many, many happy customers. You've seen my work, and I can assure you I'll produce results just as good for you.
Equipment is a key tool in my business, and I hope you understand that I've made significant investments in the camera and lenes I'll use for your photo shoot. The camera alone lists for $2700 and the lenses I'll use were double that. These are professional tools, not ones you can walk into Best Buy and purchase.
Many, many wedding photographers use the D700 today. I think you'll have a hard time finding very many wedding photographers who use the D7000. That isn't to say it is a bad camera, but the D700 and similar products are superior. Otherwise, I'd have the D7000 in my bag.
If you'd like an independent, capability and specs-based comparison and rating of the two cameras, please check out this link at SnapSort, which is a website that compares cameras: http://snapsort.com/compare/Nikon_D700-vs-Nikon_D7000
The decision is up to you. I'm confident you'll be pleased, but I am not going to shoot with inferior equipment because of the opinion of one man. Please let me know either way. Cheers!
p.5 #16 · Stupid Ken Rockwell may cost me a customer!
You dodged a bullet on this one. She would have had you processing and re-processing the pictures over and over and probably in the end refused to pay.
Someone should suggest to Ken Rockwell that he quickly create a dating relationship site. It just might save her fiance from making the worst decision of his life.
p.5 #19 · Stupid Ken Rockwell may cost me a customer!
There's no point. What was happening here is a character flaw that isn't going to be corrected by pointing to a website. She liked his work and paid him for it, but then somehow though her results would be terrible using the same equipment that created the work she liked. She's stupid and arrogant and while you can work with one or the other, you can't work with both.
p.5 #20 · Stupid Ken Rockwell may cost me a customer!
cm71td wrote:
You dodged a bullet on this one. She would have had you processing and re-processing the pictures over and over and probably in the end refused to pay.
Someone should suggest to Ken Rockwell that he quickly create a dating relationship site. It just might save her fiance from making the worst decision of his life.
