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Question from Amy: “How do you tell a client no when they ask for a cheesy edit of their photo(s)? Like selective color or something just not your style”
Amanda: You tell them exactly that “Sorry, that is not my style of editing.” if they wanted cheesy they should have hired cheesy. *no offence to anyone who likes to edit like that. Occasionally I edit like that but for myself only.
Lee: Just say “Sorry I can only do the photos in full color or black & white” or something like that
Billie: I just tell them nicely that it is not my style of editing.
Michele: I just tell them I don’t do that.
Oona: OMGosh! A family member asked if my “cool camera” could do selective color… Smh.
Jess: Absolutely no selective coloring will come from me….
Kristin: I say I don’t do that sorry
Heather: It might not be my style either but if my client asked for a certain edit I would do at least one picture that way. That could just be me and the fact I want happy repeat clients.
Teresa: ^ don’t you love it when your camera takes such great photos… lol
Naomi: I guess I agree it’s tacky, but isn’t keeping a client more important? Say it’s not your style but for them you’ll do it to at least one photo and just tell them that next time you don’t do that. Keeping clients should be the number one priority. : )
Jen: I agree with what others have said, let the client know it’s not your style, but you’ll do 1 photo for them that way since they asked.
Loretta: The client is paying you. Therefore it should behoove you to do at least one.
Betsy: I have one repeat customer that always has a special request for the bloopers (ie weird faces, eyes closed, etc). I struggled with it at first, but figured they are paying so they should get what they want. If it’s something you can’t bring yourself to do and it really bothers you, then by all means, simply tell them you don’t edit that way. But personally, I would try to oblige.
Kristie: The client is always right. I unlike you guys love editing photos in various ways. I also edit them to look normal but at least the client gets something different.. Not cheesy. And if they ask for a selective color i try to do it in a non cheesy way but i show them what it looks like and they usually change their mind
Kristin: I tell them that I don’t do selective coloring. Period. If I do something that I don’t WANT to do for a client, and then that client shows 5 friends who then come to me … it’s just going to be a vicious circle. Explain to the client before they even book you what you will and will not do. You can certainly be polite when you tell them but just because they are the customer doesn’t mean that they can determine what you will do with your business. If they’d leave you over something like this … let them go. Do you (general) really want clients who are always going to be asking for it?
April: I remember having those questions when I first started and it was such a fad then. I found just being honest with them was best. No beating around the bush. I would say Some photographers offer selective color editing but it’s smtn you do not and tell why if u feel necessary. I rarely see one I like. Rarely! Lol
Jennifer: First of all what’s wrong with selective coloring? Lol I would do at least 1 or 2 even though its not your style, another way is to try color balancing as well, sort of the same thing but I find it has better tones then selective coloring.
Jenna: Heather, true. But what if that’s the one photo they decide to frame and then all their friends contact you asking about that same style? When I work with a client, I try to explain that I can’t guarantee any specific photo. But, they are hiring me for *my* creative vision.
Kristin: There are VERY few times a selective color treatment actually ADDS to a photo.
Stacy: I would at least try it for my client’s sake, but I would not post it publicly as representative of my work.
Amber: Even if you hate it they are paying. You want your client to love you and talk positive about you. So even doing something out of your comfort zone should be done.
Billie: I’ve never had a client see my work then ask me for selective color. If its not in your portfolio, then when they ask Id just explain its not my style of editing. If that is not a good answer for them then I would do one. But in no way is that my norm. And it’s a one time deal. I want happy clients yes. But I want clients that value my work as it is, not by doing something that so and so photography does.
Jenna: Think about it with another kind of art – such as painting…. If I hired a painter that specialized in oil painting and then requested that they do watercolor instead, would that be reasonable? No. As a photographer, I’d rather not build my client base on people that want something else other than what I want to provide. That doesn’t sound like a recipe for success or happiness to me.
Meagan: We are quite a few years of out the portraiture selective color fad. I would be hesitant to do something like that because it is so rare for people to want it these days, that you might be hurting your clientele by doing the selective color for one person, who then shows it to everyone they know because, odds are, they arent going to like it and then think it’s your style of photography. I have never had anyone ask for selective color after I showed them their prints, either…I don’t think you’ll run into the issue too much since it isn’t very popular anymore.
Chris: Remember… you are working for them. Give them what they want. To decrease the requests for services like this, modify the contract you use to state that specialized editing such as selective color will incur added cost to them.
Jen: Everyone has their opinion on what they like. My favorite picture of my daughter is from when she was about 10 months old in a tutu. It’s all black and white but the small flower in her hair is in color. If a client wants that there is really no reason you can’t oblige with one photo. I think people should be careful about thinking they are above certain things. It will come off snooty to clients. And by all means don’t say if you want cheesy hire a cheesy photographer. I guarantee you’ll lose clients that way.
Brittany: I have right in my contract what extent of editing I do. Once you see the finished product and want extra changes then its an extra fee per photo. Most people don’t want to pay the extra fee and are still more than happy with the original result. If they still want the extra change then you are at least getting compensated for your extra work and the client is happy.
Jaye: Yup, put it in the contract.
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