The parent of my client refused to pay me

[ArtyFP]

I agree with the other posters who suggested you start collecting your fees up front. I use an agreement that clearly spells out how and when money is to be paid and defines the circumstances under which I would refund my fees or redo the session, or not.

That said... consider this, if you had been paid up front and you had such an unhappy customer, wouldn't you be inclined to re-shoot the session anyway? So much of our business comes as a result of happy clients telling friends and family about our work, that it would seem like an economically sound decision to redo the pictures.

My two cents... best of luck,

--FTP

 

[Ranjan]

Before I reply,

I have not read the whole 5 pages only 1st page & I am not really a portrait photographer but I started my career with it & have a keen interest in it & do it occasionally.

To help you in this situation I need to be critical.

Photography business specially this kind of work is not about minting $$$ (sure u need it) but its about the trust your subject is able to have in you. The emotional bonding of the subject is so very important with you & your camera that it drives the whole shoot to its sucess or faliure.

The problem I see (not as a DAD) in this image is that the dress she wears does not go with the pose she is having & the way u cropped her at the knee is too distracting. Casual dressing with formal pose does not not work well, her emotions are out of sync, she does not appear to be in tune with the camera (I am sure u tried ur best to tune her) but her facial muscles tell a different story, so does her open hand hanging oddly.



This image is worst than the 1st one, her pose is quite suggestive but her expression is not in sync with that, bad cropping makes it further worse. Suggestive poses need that the model/subject should be in full control of her body language, which is completely missing in this case, you as a photographer have a role to play here & guide her in doing that.



3rd photo I don't need to comment you may now understand the issues.

In such situation forget the money & concentrate on the images you can create out of her & even if you have to shoot 4 times free go for it, it will help you build you skills in ur guiding subjects to pose well & that's priceless.

A women can be full clothed & look distaste full & be fully nude & look much more desirable & tasteful.....................................its all in the eyes of the ...........................................photographer. So train your eyes & learn to see things beyond the subject.

Emotional connectivity is missing from all your shots & its hard for untrained parents to tell u all this but they do not like images bcoz of the raesons I mentioned above.

Hope this helps you understand the issues.

--
Ranjan Sharma
http://www.lightzoneindia.com