catpartyletsgo
TPF Noob!
- Joined
- Jan 21, 2008
- Messages
- 2
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Hi,
I've been shooting portraits and pinups, mostly for art galleries and publications, for 8 years now. I rarely do commissioned work, but a woman came to me asking me to shoot 50s style pinups of her for her boyfriend for valentines day.
I've done this before for friends, so I've never charged them. After I met with this woman, I had a price in mind for a very simple shoot, and offered suggestions like putting her on the cover of a 'magazine.'
After talking for a while, she told me her budget was $150. I almost died! For the amount of work she wanted (at least 3-6 photographs to print, an entire disk of photos, printed photos and frame them, as well as creating a fake magazine in illustrator), I can't believe she was shocked when I told her that wouldn't cover much of the shoot.
So she proceeded to tell me that she doesn't want any retouching, so that should take time off the 'price' and it shouldn't be that much money.
I tried to explain for 10 minutes that the photos needed to be retouched, at least a little, even if for lighting and just a bit of skin softening, blemishes, etc.
She also told me that her friends thought her snapshots were very great and she was photogenic, so the shoot shouldn't take long and I wouldn't have to retouch such a photogenic person.
Yes I explained to her that even the most beautiful supermodels needed retouching, and I didn't mind cutting down my retouching, it still needs to be done.
She asked to see a before/after so she could understand why a photo needs retouching. Apparently her basic photoshop skills made her think that a 'couple of layers' should take care of everything.
Here is my question: honestly, ive never had a woman NOT want photoshopping! it's usually quite the opposite! How do I explain to her that all photos in every magazine are retouched, even though they don't look like they are? and how to I back up my prices? She came to me because of my artistic qualities, and non-commercial look, so she is paying for that aspect, not the minutes, but how do I get that across to a very stubborn client?
OR is this a lost cause, and I just tell her I can't help her out?
Sorry for the long post, I'm just really frustrated! She wants an example of an unretouched photo tomorrow, so I don't know where to go from here! (remember I don't shoot portraits, i usually deal with art galleries! I have no idea how to deal with clients!)
thanks for ANY help and advice! Also, what do you consider would be a respectable amount for all of those services? I was thinking at least $600, not counting the fake magazine cover.
I've been shooting portraits and pinups, mostly for art galleries and publications, for 8 years now. I rarely do commissioned work, but a woman came to me asking me to shoot 50s style pinups of her for her boyfriend for valentines day.
I've done this before for friends, so I've never charged them. After I met with this woman, I had a price in mind for a very simple shoot, and offered suggestions like putting her on the cover of a 'magazine.'
After talking for a while, she told me her budget was $150. I almost died! For the amount of work she wanted (at least 3-6 photographs to print, an entire disk of photos, printed photos and frame them, as well as creating a fake magazine in illustrator), I can't believe she was shocked when I told her that wouldn't cover much of the shoot.
So she proceeded to tell me that she doesn't want any retouching, so that should take time off the 'price' and it shouldn't be that much money.
I tried to explain for 10 minutes that the photos needed to be retouched, at least a little, even if for lighting and just a bit of skin softening, blemishes, etc.
She also told me that her friends thought her snapshots were very great and she was photogenic, so the shoot shouldn't take long and I wouldn't have to retouch such a photogenic person.
Yes I explained to her that even the most beautiful supermodels needed retouching, and I didn't mind cutting down my retouching, it still needs to be done.
She asked to see a before/after so she could understand why a photo needs retouching. Apparently her basic photoshop skills made her think that a 'couple of layers' should take care of everything.
Here is my question: honestly, ive never had a woman NOT want photoshopping! it's usually quite the opposite! How do I explain to her that all photos in every magazine are retouched, even though they don't look like they are? and how to I back up my prices? She came to me because of my artistic qualities, and non-commercial look, so she is paying for that aspect, not the minutes, but how do I get that across to a very stubborn client?
OR is this a lost cause, and I just tell her I can't help her out?
Sorry for the long post, I'm just really frustrated! She wants an example of an unretouched photo tomorrow, so I don't know where to go from here! (remember I don't shoot portraits, i usually deal with art galleries! I have no idea how to deal with clients!)
thanks for ANY help and advice! Also, what do you consider would be a respectable amount for all of those services? I was thinking at least $600, not counting the fake magazine cover.