Nightmare Photo Shoot Rant

[stephens_photography]

I get a job to shoot a family portrait at the family house. I show up and get told I have a half hour to get all the shots. Way to put the pressure. I scramble to get the best shots I can. The father doesn't smile in a single picture, he has this slack jawed stare into space look, the adult son looks like he climbed out of bed and didn't comb his hair, the son in law won't move out from behind his wife it's like he's playing peek-a-boo from behind her head. I could go on. I put together the best of the shots I took and they complain that they don't look good in the pictures. I'm a photographer not a miracle worker!! I feel like I should have walked out before even starting.

[tremer]

First let me say show us the photos!

Second, this is the exact reason I can not be bothered shooting for money. People are tough to work with, specially when there is a group.

[jstuedle]

I shoot for profit, but prefer kids and critters. I shoot bands too, but they could be classified as either kids or critters as well. I do like senior portraits and engagemet shoots, but not weddings. I also like model theme based work. I resist doing location groups for Stephens reason. I also reserve the right to just say "No" and pack it up, turn around and leave. There are some jobs you just don't want/need.

[TX_Gulf_Coast]

Welcome to the world of what professional photographers deal with on a daily basis. This is normal and you just have to learn how to deal with it and please the most picky client.

[Richard A Busch]

Well I did School photos and to tell you how old and long ago it was... Amy Carter was one I did when Her Dad was in the White House and it was his last year then he went back to peanuts I guess. So anywhere from schools of k-6 or even k-12 in one school from MD, PA, VA,WV,DC and DEl. we did and from about 150 to 500 kids and teachers. FUN FUN FUN. Oh yes and Men in Black Suits w/ guns it was the best protected school in DC

Richard

[wideopen]

Dont take this the wrong way I am not trying to be combative. But from my understanding it is the photographers job to take control of the people. Of course I understand you can not FORCE people to do something. But maybe you kind find small ways to get what you want out of them without getting to frustrated?

[stephens_photography]

Trust me I did the best I could with what I had to work with. I was pleasant the whole shoot and got the best pictures I could in the 30 minutes they gave me. I actually got some good ones. I learned a lesson that day. I just wanted to post my rant.

[demarco3670]

i had a 9 hour shoot with a model thru her agency...needless to say she wasn't happy with one pic taken.the agency was there and reviewed the pics(2500) and said there was nothing wrong with the pics or anything they loved the work i did...the dismissed the model on the spot and fired her...i still got paid for the shoot....life went on...

i don't deal with the small stuff i go into the shoot with that in mind, but if you explain to the client first that if you rush me you get what you pay for they tend to back off a bit...i had a couple like that and they are glad they took the time to wait and let me do my job...i still get paid no matter what. it is in the contract...they have to sign for the job befoire i even shoot it...when your paying anywhere from 300 on up for a shoot you see the difference in people.

if somebody tell me they have fifty bucks i tell them ok well for fifty you get this...if they complain i tell them look if you can get somebody else to take them you are more welcome to do that...i hope to see you again soon...people like that never come back...only maybe 2 percent..most don't complain an pay the fifty they get a great set of pics and call me next month for a bigger set of shots...

you just have to know how to handle people...the way home is when i rant and rave singing my favorite metallica song or megadeath song...even eminem works.lol!!!

[Adaptive]

You think family shoots are a pain in the ass, try shooting weddings... hehe