Andrew Welsh wrote:
My policy has always been to tell clients at the initial consult that someone may book ahead of them; that if an inquiry comes in I will inform both parties as a courtesy. I am also truthful and let them know I have no open queries at the moment. If they also have an offbeat wedding (off season, Friday/Sunday) I tell them that it is unlikely someone else will inquire.
Excellent approach. That's along the lines of what I was suggesting...
Its not a matter of prospect A being a "non-customer" but treating both as valued potential customers over the short and long term (if you do more than just weddings) and maintaining their respect. Even when you don't get their business today, they will remember you are a class act and honest if they need photography in the future.
cgardner wrote:
Excellent approach. That's along the lines of what I was suggesting...
Its not a matter of prospect A being a "non-customer" but treating both as valued potential customers over the short and long term (if you do more than just weddings) and maintaining their respect. Even when you don't get their business today, they will remember you are a class act and honest if they need photography in the future.
Nuf said...
chuck!
Please post some of the high-end wedding images you've shot! I only usually get to see your technical photos, it would be great to see how you applied it to your wedding work.
I have had this situation happen a few times and now I stress (politely) that I do not hold dates without a signed contract and payment for the retainer. I've had several people ask me if I would "pencil them in" and I put on my happy face and explain why I cannot hold dates, especially during the busy wedding season. There are only 52 Saturdays in a year and although I've shot weddings on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, those are very rare.
I did do some customer service work at a former employer and learned more than a few valuable lessons. When the client or potential client is complaining, I need to focus all my attention on what they are saying and try to see things from their viewpoint. While this may allow me to 'fix' the problem or avoid the same problem in the future, sometimes it means nothing more than being a verbal punching bag.
I never tell people that someone else is asking about the same date because they perceive it as a sales technique to pressure them into buying. I suspected this until several plainly stated that to me. I would never call client A to tell them that client B is asking about the same date. If someone wants to run their business that way that is fine, but most of us are a one man/woman show and we get to make the big decisions and get any and all blame that comes our way.
Best,
Andy
dmacmillan wrote:
5 tips for Empathetic Listening:
1. Provide the speaker with your undivided attention.This is one time “multi-tasking” or “rapid refocus” will get you in trouble.
2. Be non-judgemental. Don’t minimize or trivialize the speakers issue.
3. Read the speaker. Observe the emotions behind the words. Is the speaker angry, afraid, frustrated or resentful. Respond to the emotion as well as the words.
4. Be Quiet. Don’t feel you must have an immediate reply. Often if you allow for some quiet after the speaker has vented, they themselves will break the silence and offer a solution.
5. Assure your understanding. Ask clarifying questions and restate what you perceive the speaker to be saying.
I'd like to add a sixth: Don't take someone else's situation as an opportunity to work on your ego project. ...Show more →
...OR...
Be a chick, and then all this junk apparently comes naturally to you and you don't have to do Zen-like meditation techniques to stop yourself from saying "Why don't you just..."
On balance I think this kinda cancels out with the whole pissing standing up and not needing makeup to look as amazing as I do
Be a chick, and then all this junk apparently comes naturally to you and you don't have to do Zen-like meditation techniques to stop yourself from saying "Why don't you just..."
On balance I think this kinda cancels out with the whole pissing standing up and not needing makeup to look as amazing as I do
I think it's a little late for me to be a chick, but point well taken.
Q: Why is food better than a man?
A: You don't have to wait an hour for seconds.
Scientists have discovered a food that diminishes a women's sex drive by 90 percent.... Wedding cake!!!
An English professor wrote the words, "woman without her man is nothing" on the blackboard and directed the students to punctuate it correctly.
The men wrote: "Woman, without her man, is nothing."
The women wrote: "Woman! Without her, man is nothing."
Unjust treatment. A classic cause of human anger. Try taking like 10 steps back and viewing your situation from a mile up. Just allow client A to have their personality flaws. There are millions of people in the world who have created a ingrained habit of only thinking about themselves, or self indulgence - and it seems to be getting worse. Nothing you can do about it. Your goal in life is to be a good person, not to force everybody into treating you with integrity.
Perhaps if you were to recommend to client A a photogrpher whom you trust, it would mitigate the emotional manifestion of client A's self-centeredness, and show your desire that you hope things work out for them.
And one more thing: As any wedding photographer knows; Marriages for some people are very intense situations that bring out the best, and worst in us.
MichelleL wrote:
" In ALL of my correspondence I repeatedly said "no dates are held without contract and deposit, time is of the essence when booking, as dates book quickly."
That's fairy clear to me...
Client A probably heard/read this from all of the vendors involved and thought it was a sales pitch and missed out on their date. Maybe that's why you got the "YELL'N".
Well, you get that on the big jobs....
Yes, give client a call (and an email as well so it's written down) to let them know that their date is about to be gazumped but that sounds like a sales pitch too.
Let client B know that there is a previous query for their date so they need to sign and pay elquicko to confirm the booking. (that sounds like a sales pitch too)
Client A, please let me know you want your date by paying and signing in 2 days as Client B has cash in hand. The nice thing to do.
Client B, please wait for 2 days while I confirm if the other client wants the date. The nice thing to do.
Go bankrupt waiting for clients to commit to their commitment ceremony. Not a nice thing to do.
Paul Bottomley wrote:
There is some very great advice in this thread. I would like to provide some as a business person, not a photographer. Early in my sales career I was taught a very simple rule by a great sales professional who had tremendous respect from his customers and peers and I am very grateful for it.
Unless you are someone who is consistently beating customers away with a stick because you are soooo good then you ALWAYS take the sale you can sign today because you might end up not signing anything if you don’t. It’s not about courtesy, it’s not about being greedy and it’s not about compromising your morals or ethics. It’s about signing the deal and getting paid for helping a customer who has made a YES decision.
You are a photographer but you are also in sales at the same time. These people aren’t your friends or family, they are customers, just like the other people who have contacted you. You have explained that you need a deposit to hold the date. It’s very straightforward. Good intentions don't pay your bills or put food in your stomach so you meet with every qualified prospect until someone signs on the dotted line. ...Show more →
