Customer WTF?

[Fenster]

I was paid in full, in advance, for a customer to do a full photoshoot for her and her family in a park. I completed the shoot, uploaded my proof gallery and my own (4) processed samples. As best I can tell the customer then stole the four processed images and blocked my email address and phone number as all attempts to contact her have failed. However, I have seen her update her Facebook page with my processed images.

The images are unprintable (clearly watermarked). She's actually saved me time and money because I haven't needed to further process any photographs or create prints (which she paid for!). And a simple DMCA request will take care of the images she's taken.

So is this normal? She obviously feels that she is being incredibly clever. Do I just let it be?

[wickerprints]

Well, if you can't contact her to tell her that her payment included prints...what can you do?

Raise your prices LOL. People are thinking they're getting a steal from you. Literally.

[samueli]

Clever indeed, lol.

[kenwood33]

america's cleverest customers

[Lightworks Imaging]

I'm not quite sure what the problem is here. The customer is using images that were from a paid in full photoshoot, for her personal use and not for commercial purposes. My "limited personal use release" clearly states that limited non-commercial use including electronic media is permitted. If the images are watermarked on her site, thank Providence for the free advertising. She sounds like she's not exactly too bright. Basically, she's shortchanging herself. Or, am I missing something here?

[Moppie]

Or, am I missing something here?


Yeah, someone has paid him for a complete package that includes prints, and then run off with low res water marked photos that are only a tiny part of the complete package they paid for :lol::lol:

[wickerprints]

I suppose this customer is also the kind of person to walk into a doctor's office and "steal" the informational brochures about how to avoid STDs and stop smoking, thinking that they're coming out ahead. :p

[Karl Johnston]

This is kind of like the guy who goes to the restaurant, asks for the soup and then proceeds to use the jam rack to build tiny cracker-sandwiches (creative, yes, clever, yes...but then he leaves smug thinking he 'beat the system').

Clients that screw me loose the privledge to have their work done by me..if someone does not pay me, they lose their ability to come to me again.

Stop doing favors. These people are not your friends they are your clients (granted some people become friends, but that's out of the equation..business and friends don't mix). Pitch higher and hit harder (find better clients that will pay your price). Don't deal directly on-line..or rely on the web for your biz..of all the people I've read about doing this, the more successful pros out there are off the web completely.

If you want you can take this issue to small claims...though i'd just forget about it personally, let her enjoy those 105 kb snapshots on facebook..or if you were feeling particularly vengeful you could always write to facebook and claim copyright infringement - they will close their account indefinitely

[Rock Photo Star]

This is kind of like the guy who goes to the restaurant, asks for the soup and then proceeds to use the jam rack to build tiny cracker-sandwiches (creative, yes, clever, yes...but then he leaves smug thinking he 'beat the system').

Clients that screw me loose the privledge to have their work done by me..if someone does not pay me, they lose their ability to come to me again.

Stop doing favors. These people are not your friends they are your clients (granted some people become friends, but that's out of the equation..business and friends don't mix). Pitch higher and hit harder (find better clients that will pay your price). Don't deal directly on-line..or rely on the web for your biz..of all the people I've read about doing this, the more successful pros out there are off the web completely.

If you want you can take this issue to small claims...though i'd just forget about it personally, let her enjoy those 105 kb snapshots on facebook..or if you were feeling particularly vengeful you could always write to facebook and claim copyright infringement - they will close their account indefinitely


He's already paid in full, so there is nothing really to sue over, except maybe use of the thumbnails on her facebook. For that, he could have Facebook take them down but as another pointed out, why bother, they have his watermark so its advertising for him. Hopefully she will refer others who will pay full package prices to get three 105 kb watermarked thumbnails.

[Moppie]

If you want you can take this issue to small claims...though i'd just forget about it personally, let her enjoy those 105 kb snapshots on facebook..or if you were feeling particularly vengeful you could always write to facebook and claim copyright infringement - they will close their account indefinitely


Take her to small claims and force her to take her money back, or accept the prints? :lol::lol::lol::lol:


I leave the facebook photos up, if they are watermarked its free advertising :cool:

[ClickHappy]

The only downside I can see is because she doesn't realize she already paid for prints, she may think she's gotten a bad deal because she paid $XXX for the package and would have to pay more for prints, and may be giving you bad reviews to friends and family.

[hkhorn10]

This is funny stuff. "Here you go, Honey, here's your sign."

[photoguy6405]

I'm failing to see any problem here, also. She paid for more than what she got, and her own shortsightedness convinces her that she got away with something. Sometimes people are so clever that they're their own worst enemy, and this lady fits that category.

I do note that the OP doesn't specifically label this as a "problem", just weird.

[joayne]

Thanks to the OP for sharing an incredibly stupid customer story.. Made my morning..

[Karl Johnston]

Oops, I misread :o sorry

I'm used to reading too much of the "customer stole my work online without paying" threads :D

[woodsters]

can you give their contact info, we got some photos to sell them...lol

[Tom Reichner]

Thanks to the OP for sharing an incredibly stupid customer story.. Made my morning..

Wow - she's both weird and stupid! Life will likely be a hard road for her, as "weird" and "stupid" are a tough combination to overcome.

[ToddR]

If she had completed the deal in a more normal manner, were you going to give her un-watermarked JPGs for Facebook, etc. use?

[dolfinack]

She got some crappy pics, ok.

Can I dare to state the obvious and suggest that the customer is still owed what she paid for? I feel a thousand POTN daggers hurtling towards me.... :confused:

[wickerprints]

She got some crappy pics, ok.

Can I dare to state the obvious and suggest that the customer is still owed what she paid for? I feel a thousand POTN daggers hurtling towards me.... :confused:

But if the photographer can't contact her (blocked emails and phone), how can he provide the services paid for? It's like going into a restaurant, ordering food and paying for it up front, and leaving before it's ready. What is the restaurant supposed to do? Send their crack team of private investigators to track you down and demand you eat what you paid for?

[charger912]

IMO, she is only owed the pics if she calls back to the OP to get them. I went to the grocery store the other day forgot my eggs in the bag at the register and left. Got home before I realized I had forgoten them. Should the store track me down to make sure I get my eggs that I paid for? If she's naive enough to not respond to the OP because she's trying to be sly, that's her problem.

Two daggers from me! Just kidding. ;)

[dolfinack]

But if the photographer can't contact her (blocked emails and phone), how can he provide the services paid for? It's like going into a restaurant, ordering food and paying for it up front, and leaving before it's ready. What is the restaurant supposed to do? Send their crack team of private investigators to track you down and demand you eat what you paid for?

A fair point sir. I have been filling in forms all day. Tired and half blinded by the boredom, I missed that one, even though I did look at all the words they managed not to fulfill their obligation of forming a sentence in my brain!!

[photoguy6405]

On the one hand the photog probably has her physical address, but even if he does I would think she's supposed to get back with him to give direction and comments on what to do, etc. Short of knocking on her front door, which I don;t think is expected on his part, I do not know what he's supposed to do.

[Stickman]

If she has blocked his number, there is no reason to go there in person. A letter registered mail would be the appropriate way to go, and I don't personally see a reason to waste the time.

[Mark1]

This is a funny situation for sure!

I might send her a letter if you have the address, and tell her that the time to claim the prints (that were included in the payment already paid) will run out in one week. Mail may take 1 to 3 days, so that leaves her like 3 days to respond. I doubt she will react that fast so you are in the clear, But you will make your point that she was being a but head, only to short change herself. If she does respond, you are not out anything as you have already been paid for the service. But the letter will help if in a while she decides she wants the prints and tries to sue to get them, in stead of just asking for them. No this will not totally CYA. But it will help.

[Fenster]

She got some crappy pics, ok.

Can I dare to state the obvious and suggest that the customer is still owed what she paid for? I feel a thousand POTN daggers hurtling towards me.... :confused:

That was exactly the point which bothered me as I am a painfully honest person.

[Drozz119]

However, I have seen her update her Facebook page with my processed images.


I'm assuming that you are on her 'friends' list on Facebook? (as most people with kids keep their settings to private, except for friends)

I would post on her 'wall': " I saw that you posted the photos from the other day. I would like to give you the same versions without the watermarks. Thank you for the opportunity to photograph your wonderful family!!"

* This would accomplish your goal of contacting her and finishing the session
* It would also allow her friends and family to have a direct link to you (Instead of..reading the watermark, typing into google, and trying to find you)

[pennypue]

Wow. People amaze me.

In the interest of your own business, I'd probably try sending her a private message on Facebook to remind her that she has prints with her package and to let her know that she needs to order them within a reasonable time period.

First, if she thinks that she's being tricky, imagine how surprised she'll be when she finds out she wasn't.
Second, anyone asking about you should get a decent referral. Heck, tell her that with each referral of a paid package she can get a free print from her prior shoot or something.

Find a way to turn this into a win for you.

[butcha27]

Can you please refer me to some customers like this! ;)

[CosmoKid]

I would print screen the Facebook pics she uploaded and keep records of the times you have contacted her.

She may be setting you up for a small claims to get her money back.

She figures she will wait a litle while, and then file a small claims saying she never got what she promised. She might think she now has all the photos she needs. She also may be putting a stop payment on the check or filing a claim with her credit card company.

May sound far fetched but nothing surprises me anymore and I would cover my ass.

[photoguy6405]

I would print screen the Facebook pics she uploaded and keep records of the times you have contacted her.

She may be setting you up for a small claims to get her money back.

She figures she will wait a litle while, and then file a small claims saying she never got what she promised. She might think she now has all the photos she needs. She also may be putting a stop payment on the check or filing a claim with her credit card company.

May sound far fetched but nothing surprises me anymore and I would cover my ass.
Actually, this could be a valid concern. Also keep sending e-mails. To establish a pattern of attempted contact, if for no other reason. Maybe even a certified letter or two if you have her address.

How do you know the e-mails are blocked? Do you get a return message saying so? If so, save those as well.