How do you guys say no to a client?

Hypothetical scenario:

- You just talked to the client for the first time (or second/third time) and you are getting this vibe from them that this is going to be one of those hassling / hard to handle / over demanding client which may cause problems.. and you are not too keen to take on their wedding or work for them due to this reason.

- Assuming that you have already told them that you are free on that date (so this excuse won't work)


How would you tell them that you don't want to work for them without offending the client?

have they seen and signed a contract? if not, then you're free to do whatever you want.

-MasterChief- wrote in post #15355459
have they seen and signed a contract? if not, then you're free to do whatever you want.

Nah lets say no contract signed.. but still would you tell them "no, i don't think we are suitable to work together" on their face... would that offend them? would you care if that offended them?

I don't know the details of what 'vibes' you were picking up, but don't avoid a client just because they might actually make you work and push yourself. As wedding photographers we often see a lot of clients who are wishy washy and don't really have aesthetic senses and are generally easy to please. But I think we learn more working for those who perhaps are a little more picky, a little more difficult to please. All I'm saying is don't dismiss a client ONLY because of that.

Care to share what informed your vibe ?

an easy way to get out of it is to make a contract that they will refuse to sign.

^ the word 'soul' can possibly make an appearance somewhere in the contract ?

something like that!

this one always turns them off:

"If the photographs turn out like crap, i am not responsible!"

You have spoken to them 2 or 3 times over a period of time, no contract has been signed and they are obviously stuffing you around for you to get "that vibe". I would just call and say "sorry, somebody has just booked me for that date, when you did not commit I had to take the sure thing and I have signed them up". In other words so sad too bad (don't say that though haha). If they find out you are not booked just say the client pulled out and you did not call them because you thought they would have already contracted another photographer.

Basically I'm a new commer to wedding photography and I don't have that much experience... this client I talked to is continuously trying to push my price down (even though my price is already very low compared to the seasoned photographers in my area due to my lack of experience).. I know i can do a good job, but he keeps saying "this other guy gave me $xxx quote and he's experienced.. and he's got very nice images, can you match that price"... I mean even if there is such a photographer (i doubt it but still).. I can't really lower my price to a point where I'm working crazy amount of hours on editing and I'm still making a loss overall (in terms of the amount I have invested in the gear etc.)

I didn't really want to ask "can you show me the photographs of that photographer" because that comes out rude.. and decided that its probably best for me to not take this client because even if the client finally agrees on my price, he's always going to have something negative to say about what I deliver.. and hence he will never be happy.

Just say no, simple as that.
You don't have to justify them or anyone why you said no.
If you want to make up an excuse, just tell them that you've got a fairly big workload in the weeks leading up to and also after their date, so you've decided that you're not taking any bookings for that weekend because you want some time to yourself.

Call me crazy, but you don't need an excuse, you don't need to lie. Either you're willing to lower your price or you're not willing to do that. If you're not, all you have to do is say 'I'm sorry, I can't lower my price'. If pushed for explanation, you can add that if you reduce your price for a given date, it means precluding the possibility of working with another couple for your normal rates.

If there are no special circumstances here (special venue; you have little experience and need this wedding for portfolio purposes; wedding couple are particularly gorgeous, you are poor, etc.) then there's no need to take on the wedding.

One thing should be pointed out. Haggling is a prerequisite for doing business in some cultures--this may simply be a cultural issue.

You're looking for an excuse to say no? I think you have a valid reason to tell them that. If they don't like your prices then that's tough cookies for them isn't it?

Trust your instincts, if you don't want it then LIE to them.
Tell them your dog ate your schedule and you already booked that day
Tell them you on vacation that date, then if you get caught in town, lie again and say plans changed.
Don't tell them that they are PITAs

^ Why go out of your way to lie when all you have to say is 'sorry, these are my prices' ? I'm not an absolutist about truth telling, but I just don't get purposeless lies.