Amen, my one bad review was from a discounted project where I shot past the allotted time, over delivered, client didn't care for my edits and wasn't going to pay for overtime. I reached out, redid the edits and she still refused to pay for the overtime. Sometimes, you have to simply walk away and let it go. I felt like she was steamrolling me so I simply stood up for myself and will live with the one bad review in my thirty year career.
"Being difficult to work with" but still want great photography... its why I left the non-commercial end because those clients don't put quality first, but commercial clients, bigger brands take the quality absolutely more seriously in my experience. What normally gets clients or potential clients upset in my experience is telling them to not edit my photos without my approval, or using photos without proper licensing, or if I charge a client travel fee, etc.. The clients that want things easy and cheap tend to be most attracted to me, and I don't get along with them at times when I have all these don'ts do stuff.
Thanks for the advice. I have a day job I despise and it makes me really really sour. Getting past that and being even relatively fun and good to work with is the hardest thing for me todo.
This was interesting about the trade show (great to hear about the positive experience) and I completely agree about the sentiments. My reputation is everything and the #1 thing that has gotten me repeat, loyal business over the years. Kindness, collaboration, and trust is key. My next steps are building my brand and doing marketing (got your course and excited to start it) to grow my business past just networking and word of mouth.
VERY interesting… Someday soon you’re probably gonna get another unsolicited phone call from your’s truly to pick your brain about this in more detail. I never would have considered it! But by your BTS photos and your remarks, I can see how it was a good move. And yeah, we all hear about personality and good nature as being more important than quality of work, but never more clearly than here. Thanks for yet another very helpful and interesting video!
I’ve worked a lot of 20 something’s and I’m in my early 40s. I just want to add that ageism is unfortunately a very real thing. No matter how kind I am it’s never good enough. The referrals I get are from people my age and never anyone younger…never.
I am nice to everyone always. But I have some strict policies to protect my own sanity and profitabiliry. When clients test the boundaries they find them firm and they stop being clients. It is important to keep losing clients so that you can replacing them with better ones. Not all clients are made equal.
love this. My Dad always told me "Relationships over connections" and I have built my entire business around that! Great video.
Amen, my one bad review was from a discounted project where I shot past the allotted time, over delivered, client didn't care for my edits and wasn't going to pay for overtime. I reached out, redid the edits and she still refused to pay for the overtime. Sometimes, you have to simply walk away and let it go. I felt like she was steamrolling me so I simply stood up for myself and will live with the one bad review in my thirty year career.
The trouble is with our human brain, no matter how many good reviews you get, they won't erase the hurt of the bad one.
love it!
they say it's all about who you know,
but it's really all about how you make them feel
Thanks for the advice! Just started a photography business, glad I have this in the back of my mind from the get go. Also.. made it to the end😊
"Being difficult to work with" but still want great photography... its why I left the non-commercial end because those clients don't put quality first, but commercial clients, bigger brands take the quality absolutely more seriously in my experience.
What normally gets clients or potential clients upset in my experience is telling them to not edit my photos without my approval, or using photos without proper licensing, or if I charge a client travel fee, etc.. The clients that want things easy and cheap tend to be most attracted to me, and I don't get along with them at times when I have all these don'ts do stuff.
totally agree.. so needed to find strategies out of our photo technical obsessions. So well said, congratulations Matthew.
Thanks for the advice. I have a day job I despise and it makes me really really sour. Getting past that and being even relatively fun and good to work with is the hardest thing for me todo.
This was interesting about the trade show (great to hear about the positive experience) and I completely agree about the sentiments. My reputation is everything and the #1 thing that has gotten me repeat, loyal business over the years. Kindness, collaboration, and trust is key. My next steps are building my brand and doing marketing (got your course and excited to start it) to grow my business past just networking and word of mouth.
Thank you for this video. Good tips and nicely setup booth.
Great advice! The booth looked great.
Matthew...great information! Would love to see you do a video on the design and build out of your booth.
Yeah not a bad idea 🤔
Great info! And definitely keep the mustache growing!
VERY interesting…
Someday soon you’re probably gonna get another unsolicited phone call from your’s truly to pick your brain about this in more detail. I never would have considered it! But by your BTS photos and your remarks, I can see how it was a good move.
And yeah, we all hear about personality and good nature as being more important than quality of work, but never more clearly than here. Thanks for yet another very helpful and interesting video!
do you use that RYOBI as a hotlight?
Yes! Great video - thanks for this 👍
It’s a two way street too. Some clients can be a nightmare too.
Great job! Wish I could have been there!
Another great video. Reputation is essential
I’ve worked a lot of 20 something’s and I’m in my early 40s. I just want to add that ageism is unfortunately a very real thing. No matter how kind I am it’s never good enough. The referrals I get are from people my age and never anyone younger…never.
I am nice to everyone always. But I have some strict policies to protect my own sanity and profitabiliry. When clients test the boundaries they find them firm and they stop being clients. It is important to keep losing clients so that you can replacing them with better ones. Not all clients are made equal.
So:
A. How many jobs did you book from the trade show?
B. You didn’t let me know you were in New York? 😂
Unexpected, non-technical advice (and no L-series tilt shift). Point taken.
😁 Promo`SM
Poor client relations/courtesties will kill ANY business. EVERYTHING else is second to that. Every client is your BOSS!
I agree 100%
Hahahaha so many photographers don’t realize this