Turning down potential clients

I was wondering what everyone's thoughts are on turning down potential clients? My partner is convinced that a couple who wants to hire us just isn't our "style" (I kind of agree) and she wants to politely decline their inquiry.

Turn them down if they're asking you to change your style, but not because you think they aren't your style. If people are coming to you for what you do, it's because they are your style or want to be for their time with you.

Go with your gut and turn them down. If you don't feel comfortable with the client on a creative level your going to have a hard time and if it turns out they start trying to get you to adapt to their style it will get messy.

Listen to cdi-he talks sense.


Mostly.

There's been times where I felt like I should turn down someone, and didn't, and everything turned out to be amazing... you can't judge a book by its cover...
There's been other times when I wish I would have followed my instinct and turned someone down, but then I just label it as a learning experience...

Only time I turn someone down is on ridiculously low pricing after I've given them a killer deal!

beegeeboy wrote in post #13694000
Listen to cdi-he talks sense.


Mostly.

+1.

SamHunter wrote in post #13693039
I was wondering what everyone's thoughts are on turning down potential clients? My partner is convinced that a couple who wants to hire us just isn't our "style" (I kind of agree) and she wants to politely decline their inquiry.

Are you saying you don't like the clients for a pesonal reason, or you don't like the way the clients want you to work?

If they like the way you work and have come to you to "do them" the way you have done others, then I'd say as professionals performing a retail service to the public you ought to get over personal biases and do the job.

If they want you to work differently from the way you normally work, you may be able to sway them over to your methodology, but if not, then you can tell them you can't help them.

SMP_Homer wrote in post #13697342
There's been times where I felt like I should turn down someone, and didn't, and everything turned out to be amazing... you can't judge a book by its cover...
There's been other times when I wish I would have followed my instinct and turned someone down, but then I just label it as a learning experience...

Ain't that the truth. This can happen in any business.

I think you need to explain a bit better. You say the couple isn't "your style".....what exactly does that mean? Do they want you to work differently or do something you wouldn't normally do? If that's the case, simply apologize and explain to them that you are unable to help them with what they want....maybe even give them a referal to another photographer who can help them (assuming you know one).

First, you need to define style? You did not say their style, but rather your style, which leads one to believe it would be personal preference not "style." Are they too highbrow, low brow, wrong race, sexual orientation? None of those should play a factor unless you feel that you will not get along with them and cannot successfully collaborate on a shoot. I do not care for country music and most rap, but I have met some of the nicest people by working with them on a shoot. If they will pay and seek me out, they know what I bring to the shoot and if they are paying, I will at least have an initial consultation to see if it would be a good collaboration. Please note I am not in any way stating that you are discriminating against anyone, just trying to clarify what you mean when you say that they are not your "style."

Style difference would be if you shot edgy dark themed portraits, and they want you to shoot them and their puppies running through a field of daisies.

Now if by what you mean that they will be challenging to work with due to conflicting personalities, that is a different story. If I even get a whiff that someone, or group, will be a pain to deal with, I will politely decline and refer them to someone I feel is more suited for their needs. I have enough on my plate that I do not have time to deal with challenging people. However, if you NEED the business, you have to make the choice.