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Quoth SnapAddict218
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Readings:
Snap: Needle not moving at all. Staying on "zero".
Brother: Needle climbing.......climbing......climbing.......Red Lining!! Red Lining!! (Due to the fact that he blamed Snap for the poor quality of the photos, instead of his wife. Give this guy an "I'm P-Whipped" T-Shirt.)
SIL: Needle shoots up immed.......BOOM!! Meter explodes!
So, now here I sit with a destroyed Suckiness Meter, and it's all your fault Snap, for having a Sucky SIL!
Seriously, it sounds like you may have the same problem that I do with assertiveness and/or confrontation. To save your own sanity, you'll need to have the ability to let clients, whether they are family, friends, or strangers know the best setting in which to take their photos. Because sadly, this won't be the last time you will be dealing with unreasonable rectal orifices.
Of course, explaining this to them will have to be done as diplomatically as possible, and trying not to insult their idea, but to just factually, and confidently, let them know the negatives (so to speak!) of their idea, ("No, sitting in front of your favorite living room window on a bright day does NOT a good photo make!") and why your suggestion, as a professional, will result in much better photos. If the customer refuses/declines your suggestions, it may be in your best interest to just say "I'm sorry, I just don't think this is going to work out", and just bow out. Again, diplomatically, without any hint of arrogance.
There will always be the Super Suckies that no matter how diplomatically you handle the situation, will try to bad-mouth your business. But, your reputation for taking quality photos in the proper setting, and the kudos from your satisfied customers will outweigh the negative (so to speak!).
I agree with the idea of having a contract written up. Perhaps even with wording in it that the customer, upon signing, agrees that you have stated any negative (so to....never mind!) aspects of their choice of location, and offered an alternative, and anything else that could result in bad photos, if the customer insists on a certain location.
I know it's easy for me to sit at a keyboard and type all of this, when I would have difficulty implementing myself, in reality, but hey, that's part of what CS is all about, helping each other out!
One final thing before I close this long post, you have my admiration
in taking this business on. My last job was with a Company where customers would drop off their 35MM color film at our little store, and we'd send them into our Lab, and the prints would be back in a day or two. Many was the occasion that the Sucky Customer would raise holy hell when the prints came out poorly and blame it on our processing, when most likely it was due to their inability and/or crappy camera.Mike
Actually, because of her, I've got little fear when it comes to what I do now. It's hard enough to try to make this work, I don't need shitty pictures and assy people in the mix.
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