p.2 #1 · Ditching a slightly crazy potential client...
John Power wrote:
It is not difficult to verify the authenticity of a bonafide professional no matter what the profession...
You mean like Bernard Madoff.....He was authentic alright.
I don’t blame people for being skeptical these days. Just remember it is not personal, it’s business.
Always treat your clients in a professional, courteous manner. If it’s your policy not to book a date without a deposit (I agree with this policy) then just tell her so in a professional and courteous manner. You cannot control every client and situation, but if you handle every client and situation with professionalism, honesty and integrity your reputation will spread and your business will benefit.
p.2 #2 · Ditching a slightly crazy potential client...
The Madoff "victims" (and I use that word loosely) were all motivated by a common denominator, greed. People don't book photographers based on that characteristic so the comparison is faulty.
p.2 #3 · Ditching a slightly crazy potential client...
Are you sure she is the problem?
I went to your web site and I think she may have some valid concerns.
I can't see your photos on this computer. Your prices are low. If your work is nice, comparable to photographers charging more realistic rates, she will sense a disconnect. There are two possible explanations she may come up with. Either you're unaware of the worth of your work and the current market rates, or it really isn't your work, which has been known to happen.
Your website design is not very sophisticated or graphically pleasing. Customers judge you by all aspects of your endeavor, not just your photographs. Anything visual has to be top notch, including graphic design.
The verbage on your website leaves me with an overall negative vibe. You say "no" often, not only with the use of the word, but with your phrasing. I'll cite one example. In your FAQ, you discuss photographing only one wedding a day, but the question and your response are framed negatively. It starts with a negative scenario, that the date of interest is already booked. Then the very question is essentially "will you violate your own policies for me?". You start your response with "Unfortunately, no". The answer continues from essentially a "me" instead of "you" standpoint.
Consider a more neutral question: "How many weddings will you photograph on our wedding day?" Answer: "We are committed to giving you our total attention on your most special day. When you confirm the date with us, you have our time and talent exclusively. We our now free to concentrate all our efforts to providing you with wonderful memories of the day you've long dreamed about!"
Actually most, if not all of the questions on your FAQ should be answered face to face and only if brought up by the potential customer. Read your questions. They seem to be posed by a "doubting Thomas". I can hear potential customers thinking "Yeah, what about that Mr. Photographer!". I also see you raising questions that the average customer wouldn't even think of, for instance the discussion of DVD longevity. Most folks (and a lot of photographers) don't even know it's an issue. You're just planting more doubts and worries.
Here's what I recommend:
Raise your prices. At your price point, you're going to get marginal customers.
Redesign your web site. Make it more appealing in appearance. As part of the redesign, chuck your FAQ page.
Be positive! When I met with my potential brides, I tried to never say "no" or state things negatively. Even basing pricing on time is negative.
p.2 #4 · Ditching a slightly crazy potential client...
Doug finished where I left off.. since I didn't know how to word it.
If I get a quote for a new roof.. 4 vendors say $8000, and one says $1500, the first thing going through my head is, "What's wrong with this picture.. you cant do it for material cost alone.."
I don't know how people charge $500 and pay for the gas in the car. I'm surprised you haven't had more problems like this thus far. I did see some of your images, and they are worth more than a $500 gig. Unless the median income for your target area is $15,000, then you shouldn't be charging that low.. unless we are missing something.
Not trying to sound like a jerk here, but I'd be more inquisitive than she has been thus far. Simply say, I can't hold your date until I get a deposit. If you book someone else, she looses. Otherwise, I'd take her. And I'd recommend going over your finances.. I'm betting you're loosing money at this business.
p.2 #5 · Ditching a slightly crazy potential client...
I appreciate the website critique and such, and I KNOW I'm charging way too little. That said: this is a cheap market filled with cheap people. I'm in San Antonio, TX. I personally consider it a miracle I've found as many good clients as I have. I'm young and relatively inexperienced compared to most of my competition although that is changing as time goes on. I told myself I was going to raise my rates by 30% or so about 5 weddings ago but with the economy swirling the toilet I've held off. I probably should raise them, but I'm scared to lose what little business there is. I'm aware that my website design is simple but I'm proud that I did every single bit of it myself, I don't have the budget to have it done for me currently although it is certainly a future goal. I'm surprised that anyone can't view the pictures these days, I kinda figured flash was ubiquitous by now. I appreciate the critique on the FAQ page as well, I had never considered the negativity aspect of it. That said, I'm not surprised by your opinion...I hate fluffy feel good BS and obviously that came out. I'd have my wife write it but she's even more cynical than I am I'll work on changing that, originally the FAQ page was just put in there to help my google rankings by putting in more keywords. I should probably trash that since it's quite obvious I can't run an effective SEO campaign. Besides, from the questions that potential clients e-mail me, it's obvious that NONE of them read that silly page anyway!
My prices used to be about double what they are now and I didn't get a single booking despite dumping just as much into advertising. I halved them and basically filled my schedule for the next 4 months out, which was what I needed. I'm EXTREMELY worried that I'm as high priced as I can get in this market without moving up several notches in terms of advertising. I feel I would need to be on The Knot, in San Antonio Weddings (our big magazine for the area complete with nice website and ads on there too) and be a regular at the bridal shows. I would need a flashy website and MUCH better connections. This would mean multiplying my advertising budget by literally a factor of 10, which I just can't justify...I would have to go into debt just to advertise at that level.
I have been SERIOUSLY slacking off on updating our website and adding a bunch of newer and better pictures to it, I've also been slacking off on blog entries for oh...probably 4 months or so. You guys have inspired me to update the site, raise the prices, and clean house on useless/silly pages. Unfortunately that will have to wait until next week since I'll be fixing one of our two broken down non-running cars for the rest of THIS week. Then we'll only be halfway screwed!
Oh, and to stay somewhat on topic: I handled the lady and I think it will be just fine. I just re-iterated our policy, told her she may find a different photographer who could better meet her needs, and told her to feel free to e-mail me to see if the date was still available closer to when she wanted to meet (a month from now). I decided any response was better than none and to just move on and get past this one.
p.2 #6 · Ditching a slightly crazy potential client...
THANKS FOR YOU'RE INQURE.. BUT I'M BOOKED FOR THAT DAY.. I REFUSE SOME WORK AS IF I NEVER HAVE THE OPPERTUNITY.. SOMEONE ELSE WILL COME ALONG.. I FIND IT TO STRESSFUL. I HAD AN AQUANTANCE SAY TO ME.. MY SON DOESNT REALLY WANT HIS PICTURE TAKEN FOR HIS YEARBOOK AND THIS IS GOING TO BE A CHORE... I REPLIED.. MY SERVICES FOR SENIOR PICS ARE 3 TO 4 HRS. LONG. PERHAPS SOMEONE ELSE IS MORE GEARED TO YOUR NEEDS. IN A NICE WAY
p.2 #7 · Ditching a slightly crazy potential client...
Just give her a reply to the inference that you will talk to her in Feb. Wait and see how it goes. If she's that off in Feb, then tell her you have been booked.
I'll work on changing that, originally the FAQ page was just put in there to help my google rankings by putting in more keywords. I should probably trash that since it's quite obvious I can't run an effective SEO campaign. Besides, from the questions that potential clients e-mail me, it's obvious that NONE of them read that silly page anyway!