How do you guys say no to a client?

Walk, Walk, Walk. You really do need to WALK on this one. Any experienced photographer will tell you to do same. I learn't the hard way, only wish I had someone as experienced as I am now to advise me. Yes - be honest, it's good for the soul. Walk, Walk, Walk Walk x 100 000 000!!!

I had a couple at a wedding fayre and after 5-10 minutes of discussing their requirements, venue etc. the guy started being quite aggressive with me, leaning right into my space (face about 12-18 inches away from mine) and TELLING me that I should give him a "Thursday discount" (for obvious reasons). When he did this, the bride to be started smirking, as if this is a normal action for him and she expected me to change my price because of it. At that, I apologised for my error and told him that I had, in fact given him a wrong price - both of them started smiling at each other as I started banging some figures on my phone's calculator. When I showed them my revised price (almost 3 times my original) he replied "You're having a f@@king laugh?" I smiled and politely told him that I love and enjoy my job, will not be intimidated by an overgrown adolescent and that the new figure was exactly what I would want if I were to spend 8 hours with them both. His reply, as they walked away, was almost as literate as his "having a laugh" comment.
Be polite, be professional and don't be afraid to say 'No'.

KSG Photography wrote in post #15358150
I had a couple at a wedding fayre and after 5-10 minutes of discussing their requirements, venue etc. the guy started being quite aggressive with me, leaning right into my space (face about 12-18 inches away from mine) and TELLING me that I should give him a "Thursday discount" (for obvious reasons). When he did this, the bride to be started smirking, as if this is a normal action for him and she expected me to change my price because of it. At that, I apologised for my error and told him that I had, in fact given him a wrong price - both of them started smiling at each other as I started banging some figures on my phone's calculator. When I showed them my revised price (almost 3 times my original) he replied "You're having a f@@king laugh?" I smiled and politely told him that I love and enjoy my job, will not be intimidated by an overgrown adolescent and that the new figure was exactly what I would want if I were to spend 8 hours with them both. His reply, as they walked away, was almost as literate as his "having a laugh" comment.
Be polite, be professional and don't be afraid to say 'No'.

hahaha that was brassy bro!! Wish I had the big ones for that!

5W0L3 wrote in post #15355575
"this other guy gave me $xxx quote and he's experienced.. and he's got very nice images, can you match that price"

"I'm sorry but my pricing is set and will not be changing. I'm happy you've found someone that can work with your budget. I wish you the best of luck on your wedding day."

Numenorean wrote in post #15358749
"I'm sorry but my pricing is set and will not be changing. I'm happy you've found someone that can work with your budget. I wish you the best of luck on your wedding day."

This^

Thanks for the help guys. I told him that I can't change my price (politely) and I won't be able to match the price of the other photographer. He said he will call me back if he decides to hire me (or something along those lines).

Perfect

5W0L3 wrote in post #15358947
Thanks for the help guys. I told him that I can't change my price (politely) and I won't be able to match the price of the other photographer. He said he will call me back if he decides to hire me (or something along those lines).

Lets hope you don't hear then....

I had one was local, liked my style, liked my PP etc but didn't want to pay nowhere near the price it seemed. He tried cutting on hours, tried asking for the unedited RAW's to save me charging for editing time [^^ did you just read the bit about liking my PP/style?!? ] & by then I'd decided I wasn't going to take it on & then recieved an email saying he'd found someone to shoot his wedding for £150

LeeRatters wrote in post #15359137
Lets hope you don't hear then....

I had one was local, liked my style, liked my PP etc but didn't want to pay nowhere near the price it seemed. He tried cutting on hours, tried asking for the unedited RAW's to save me charging for editing time [^^ did you just read the bit about liking my PP/style?!? ] & by then I'd decided I wasn't going to take it on & then recieved an email saying he'd found someone to shoot his wedding for £150

LOL a lot of amateurs do shoot for ridiculously low price.. and don't edit the pictures.. i once saw a "wedding photographer" who was shooting with a 550 or 600D.. but with the built in camera flash (not even a hot shoe flash)..

KSG Photography wrote in post #15358150
I had a couple at a wedding fayre and after 5-10 minutes of discussing their requirements, venue etc. the guy started being quite aggressive with me, leaning right into my space (face about 12-18 inches away from mine) and TELLING me that I should give him a "Thursday discount" (for obvious reasons). When he did this, the bride to be started smirking, as if this is a normal action for him and she expected me to change my price because of it. At that, I apologised for my error and told him that I had, in fact given him a wrong price - both of them started smiling at each other as I started banging some figures on my phone's calculator. When I showed them my revised price (almost 3 times my original) he replied "You're having a f@@king laugh?" I smiled and politely told him that I love and enjoy my job, will not be intimidated by an overgrown adolescent and that the new figure was exactly what I would want if I were to spend 8 hours with them both. His reply, as they walked away, was almost as literate as his "having a laugh" comment.
Be polite, be professional and don't be afraid to say 'No'.

^^ Seasoned Business owner and confident about it too!^^

OK this may not be politically correct but...
I have found certain ethnicity's are just culturally taught to negotiate. Its just what they do.
In their homeland, they go into a store to buy a soda, price is marked $2.00 so they negotiate back and forth, to save face, 15 minutes later they get the soda for $1.50 and its warm.
Americans only expect to negotiate on home purchases and automobiles.
I have found the Indians(not native americans), the orientals and arabs are the worst.
I learned I can still get the job from these ethnicity's. What I do now is add money to what I want for a job, and expect the beat down. Then I can drop my price and they save face, and I get the job.

Im not a cultural person and don't go overseas much, but learning this has gotten me jobs that I normally would have lost.

Fester wrote in post #15359229
^^ Seasoned Business owner and confident about it too!^^

OK this may not be politically correct but...
I have found certain ethnicity's are just culturally taught to negotiate. Its just what they do.
In their homeland, they go into a store to buy a soda, price is marked $2.00 so they negotiate back and forth, to save face, 15 minutes later they get the soda for $1.50 and its warm.
Americans only expect to negotiate on home purchases and automobiles.
I have found the Indians(not native americans), the orientals and arabs are the worst.
I learned I can still get the job from these ethnicity's. What I do now is add money to what I want for a job, and expect the beat down. Then I can drop my price and they save face, and I get the job.

Im not a cultural person and don't go overseas much, but learning this has gotten me jobs that I normally would have lost.

Sounds fair.. i'm indian and i can tell you this is correct.. almost every indian gig I've done they've tried to negotiate lol

however my question is.. how do you know someone is indian / arab etc. if you talk to them on the phone and not face to face and they ask you for a price?

I've a feeling they will hire you even if you say your pricing is set and can't be lowered. This is a classic case of "brinkmanship"

If you don't want to do it regardless of pay, just tell them that you are now booked. Be civil and professional about it.

Just say "No Thank You"

Andrushka wrote in post #15358689
hahaha that was brassy bro!! Wish I had the big ones for that!

Not sure if it was brassy or not, but by hiking my price up so much it showed him that his playground tactics don't work on big boys. To be honest, it put me in a win-win situation. He decides to walk away - I'm good. He gets more aggressive and takes a swing - "It was self defence, your honour". He accepts the new price - happy days (not to mention the fact that his smirking bride to be realises how silly he really looks when he can't back down a lowly photographer - suddenly, her smile is gone too... )

KSG Photography wrote in post #15358150
I had a couple at a wedding fayre and after 5-10 minutes of discussing their requirements, venue etc. the guy started being quite aggressive with me, leaning right into my space (face about 12-18 inches away from mine) and TELLING me that I should give him a "Thursday discount" (for obvious reasons). When he did this, the bride to be started smirking, as if this is a normal action for him and she expected me to change my price because of it. At that, I apologised for my error and told him that I had, in fact given him a wrong price - both of them started smiling at each other as I started banging some figures on my phone's calculator. When I showed them my revised price (almost 3 times my original) he replied "You're having a f@@king laugh?" I smiled and politely told him that I love and enjoy my job, will not be intimidated by an overgrown adolescent and that the new figure was exactly what I would want if I were to spend 8 hours with them both. His reply, as they walked away, was almost as literate as his "having a laugh" comment.
Be polite, be professional and don't be afraid to say 'No'.

Brilliant