Stood up for meeting now what?

[Lin-z]

I had someone contact me about 2 weeks ago looking for a photographer for a suprise birthday party. I gave her my quote and she was interested but said that she could not talk to me about it anymore before the party unless she called me because the party is a suprise for her husband.

The party is this weekend. She called me on Wensday to see if I could meet up with her at the party location Thursday, the night before the party so that she could pay me, show me where to park, and let me see the venue she rented for the party. We agreed over the phone that we would meet between 6:30 and 7:00 because she was going to be working at the place all night to get it decorated. She gave me her cell phone number and told me I could call that anytime after 5 because she would be away from her husband at that time.

So I show up last night at 6:30 at the loaction no one is there its totally dark. I called her and called her. I waited untill 7:30 called and called. Drove to the Burger King around the corner got a meal, sat and ate untill 8:30 and then gave up on her. I called her a few more times during that night and sent an email. I still have no responce. It was about a 30 min one way drive, from my home to meet with her and she knew that. I can't believe I got stood up. That has never happened to me before.

So now I don't know what to do. If I don't hear from her today, Do I still show up at the location at the time of the party tonight? Which by the way I don't know the official time of yet I just have just been told 7ish. Or do I just blow her off like she did me? I need the money for the job but I don't want to waste gas and time riding out there just to sit in a parking lot again.

What to do What to do???

[allanc]

I would not consider showing up unless she gets in touch with you.

[Gary_Evans]

Same here. I wouldnt waste my time on her anymore. If nothing else, she just plain rude.

[cdifoto]

She didn't meet up to pay so you're not her photographer. Plain and simple.

[ssim]

You have no obligation to her. I wouldn't bother showing up.


This world is full of weird people that just don't share the same values as the rest of us. Some wouldn't think twice about doing crap like this.

I have never been stood up for a meeting with a client and am sure that I would be upset too. You waited around alot longer than I would have.

[themirage]

She didn't meet up to pay so you're not her photographer. Plain and simple.
ditto

[StaticThought]

Agreed. Some thing may have fallen through and you could look a little silly. Would right this one off, for now at least.

[jhyslip]

Write it off but if you do end up going get your money in cash up front. If she will not return your call now she sure won't when it comes time to collect. Some people just do not respect others time like they should.

[Jon, The Elder]

It is simple....She changed her mind and doesn't have the guts to tell you so.

Think you learned anything about selling yourself as a "Pro"?

[takeyourpic]

I would not do anything unless she calls you and explains why she stood you up. People sometimes have situations that cause their minds to wander, however, there are also people who just do not value anyone else's time but their own.
Deposits are always a good thing in cases like this. :)

[Lin-z]

I might be doing the wrong thing here, but I am going to shoot the party. She called today and feed me an excuse, which still doesn't explain why she could not have called and rescheduled. She apologized and begged for me to come and I really need some cash so I am going to try to make the best of the party. I hope that she is nice tonight.

[Lin-z]

there are also people who just do not value anyone else's time but their own.
:)

Seems this was the case.

[krazziecliff]

It is simple....She changed her mind and doesn't have the guts to tell you so.

Think you learned anything about selling yourself as a "Pro"?

Yeah, pros dont have the time to go check out venues and **** for a birthday party. And if they do, they spend it here at POTN, always make your client believe that you are an important person and done have too much time, it works.

[Lin-z]

Well the party went well. It was not a big deal at all, only a few people. They had a DJ and everything and no one danced or really seemed that interested in being photographed. So I did the work and got out of there.

So are you saying that it is unprofessional to meet a client to check out a venue prior to doing work?

[krazziecliff]

No its not unprofessional at all, its just a tad too professional and it makes the client think your not the serious type. Anyway, i'm glad it happened for you...hope the money was good.

[LBaldwin]

No its not unprofessional at all, its just a tad too professional and it makes the client think your not the serious type. Anyway, i'm glad it happened for you...hope the money was good.

krazziecliff

Not sure where you got your "professionilism" but I always check out the area prior to the event. Always.

Also lin-z, get a good contract and use it everytime. Don;t start a job without one. Your chance of getting burned by a client are far greater without a written agreement in advance of your gig.

Take a deposit for the shoot to lock in the date, and stick to that too. Don.t promise or book a date without those two items. This way if you do get a cancellation or change you are not out all of the income. In the editoral arena they are called kill fees. But for wedding and even shooters they are really needed too because you cannot book another event for the same time frame.

That means a loss of income.

Les

[Lin-z]

Normally I would have done a contract, but the booking was kinda last minute, out of town, and the woman needed the event to be a secret. But I did learn my lesson here.

The money was not great, and the venue was kinda dumpy but there were good amount of young families there and I made sure to take plenty of shots of the kids playing, and let the parents know about my site and where they can see/order the photos. I hope that I can make a few new clients from the gig. I think that will be the real pay off there.

[LBaldwin]

Normally I would have done a contract, but the booking was kinda last minute, out of town, and the woman needed the event to be a secret. But I did learn my lesson here.

The money was not great, and the venue was kinda dumpy but there were good amount of young families there and I made sure to take plenty of shots of the kids playing, and let the parents know about my site and where they can see/order the photos. I hope that I can make a few new clients from the gig. I think that will be the real pay off there.

Yea i know and I have taken those last min shoots too. Why does it seem that those are most often the PIA's in your world:confused:

Way to make omlettes from broken eggs,

Good job,

Les

[Fade2]

That's why I like 50% deposits ( non refundable...unless it's my fault) up front.
No deposit no pictures!
Plain and simple.

[MJPhotos24]

NOT checking out a location ahead of time is unprofessional....I have no clue where someone can honestly say that checking out the location before the shoot is unprofessional. That is just, IMO, stupid. All pro photogs know there location if possible in any way so that they can prepare.

A 50% deposit though is always good to get before checking out the local - last minute it's tough to do but try!

[Gary_Evans]

That's why I like 50% deposits ( non refundable...unless it's my fault) up front.
No deposit no pictures!
Plain and simple.


Be aware that in the UK all deposits are refundable, even if someone changes their mind. But a "Booking Fee" is not, so be careful what is asked for.

[krazziecliff]

I never said checking out the location was unprofessional, I said offering to check it out without taking any money, just on word of mouth was stupid. if your not bound by a legal agreement, or if there has been no transaction of money then you just dont offer to go check the venue out. It would send the wrong signal, signal that you are desperate for work. which most people will take full advantage of, your time wasnt valuable because you didnt place any value on it. I dont blame your client at all, offering to drive there to check it out was just plain, well...desperate

[plycon]

Lindsi,

I'm sorry that it happened to you - but like you've said - it was a learning experience.

I would have charged at your hourly rate for the time period that you were stood up though. She verbal contracted to meet you there at a certain time. She didn't show. She didn't contact you. She then offered lame excuses the next day. I would just add it on to the invoice for the job.

People are flakely around here if money is not on the table. Secure even a partial payment first. If they've pre-paid - it greatly cuts down on the flake level. ;-)

[Lin-z]

I never said checking out the location was unprofessional, I said offering to check it out without taking any money, just on word of mouth was stupid. if your not bound by a legal agreement, or if there has been no transaction of money then you just dont offer to go check the venue out. It would send the wrong signal, signal that you are desperate for work. which most people will take full advantage of, your time wasnt valuable because you didnt place any value on it. I dont blame your client at all, offering to drive there to check it out was just plain, well...desperate

I really don't understand what you are trying to say here.

You say it is NOT unprofessional to check out a location, but then you say that by offering to drive to the venue to meet the client accept a payment and check out the place makes me desperate for work and stupid. ????

I was not only going to check the venue. I was also going there to be paid in full BEFORE the event. How else am I supposed to take money from a client less than a week before an event without meeting them? I MIGHT have had time to come by mail, but probably would not have arrived until after the event. I am not set up to take credit card payments.

[DiscoLizard]

I think he was trying to say that if you give your customer too much credit (treat them like a reasonable person), they'll take advantage of you. If you treat them like you're doing them a favour by letting them hire you, they'll treat you well.

A little short-sighted IMO.

[krazziecliff]

There is a fine line between being friendly and being too friendly. If you look at photography as a business you will see exactly what I'm talking about. If its just a hobby and you do photoshoots to afford a new lens, then being friendly is an advantage. I'm not saying you shouldnt treat clients well, I'm just saying you have to have a sense of business ethics if you want to succeed. Sure being nice will get the word around and you "may" win a few admirers at the gig. But look at it from a wider perspective, the potential damage you have caused to established businesses. Next time she calls a Photog for any kind of work, shes gonna think its "alright" to leave them stranded at a coffee shop. In business it iust not acceptable. You could have asked her to come see you, make an advance payment (refundable or non refundable is complete your call)..and then offered to go check the venue. Sure you were pinched for time, but she should have been desperate to find a Photog on time, rather than you showing desperation to get the JOB
Short sighted...I dont think so.
You should also consider the damage you incurr on the business.
Too many hobbyists around who will do it for free, but if you consider yourself a professional. your a businessman first. try looking at it that way and you'll succeed. If you mission is to have as many people at your memorial (which is a noble way of living), by all means offer to be of service. But business is business. too many "artists" die hungry.

[Spoonford]

...But look at it from a wider perspective, the potential damage you have caused to established businesses. Next time she calls a Photog for any kind of work, shes gonna think its "alright" to leave them stranded at a coffee shop...

The OP most deffinitley has not caused any potential damage to any other buisness! What nonsense! Meeting a client prior to the event seems like good buisness sense to me. As is being nice to people and making them want to deal with you again. Repeat buisness is important too.