Loosing a job to someone that is willing to do it for free...

What do you say to a potential client that actually tells you that they are thinking about going with someone that will do a photo shoot for free. I want to tell them to be careful with things like that but I don't want to drive her completely away. On the other hand I don't want to do photos for her at all because price is obviously more important to her than quality.

Sometimes it's best to turn folks away.

Know who your client is.

In no way do I try to be everything to everyone. I shoot in a style that pleases me and my clients seek me out for that look. Price, though not unimportrant, is not why they hire me and they don't care about the CraigsLList photographers as those guys don't produce the look my clients sought me out for. Indeed, I have had not even one client in the past two years ask me if I can do something on price because price is not why they want to hire me in the first place.

If you're look or style is so generic that the free guys can reasonably compete, your problem isn't this client but your artisitic direction. If your work has a signature quality to it, then the only issue is that you were talking with a prospect who can't distinguish your look from anyone else's and she thereforw as never your target client in the first place.

Ernst-Ulrich Schafer wrote in post #11357643
Sometimes it's best to turn folks away.

+1.

she's looking for a coupon lol
she probably likes your stuff, but is trying to get you to reduce your price, hence the "other tog who will shoot for free"
let her go and dodge the bullet

You get what you pay for.

sarahashleyphotos wrote in post #11357635
What do you say to a potential client that actually tells you that they are thinking about going with someone that will do a photo shoot for free.

I'd say nothing except "Goodbye"

Bosscat wrote in post #11357951
I'd say nothing except "Goodbye"

please hide a camera... we want to see her face.. because you know she is trying to get you to reduce your price... saying goodbye isnt even calling her bluff.. she will be stumped

Are you still building a portfolio ? I'd say that's the only case in which you should be even thinking about competing over price against folks shooting for free. In all other cases, as Robert suggests, you need to recognize who your clients are and who they are not.

I have told her that I am not the right photographer for her. Apparently she has already set up a deal with the other photographer and likes her work more anyway so my question is why waste my time then. Oh well.

sarahashleyphotos wrote in post #11357635
What do you say to a potential client that actually tells you that they are thinking about going with someone that will do a photo shoot for free. I want to tell them to be careful with things like that but I don't want to drive her completely away. On the other hand I don't want to do photos for her at all because price is obviously more important to her than quality.

Why does this type of person appeal to you? It shouldn't.

The best response is genuine best wishes.

Take the high road. If she decides to go with the free photographer, tell her it's been a pleasure working with her and if in the future she needs your services, feel free to contact you

Christopher Steven b wrote in post #11358089
Are you still building a portfolio ? I'd say that's the only case in which you should be even thinking about competing over price against folks shooting for free. In all other cases, as Robert suggests, you need to recognize who your clients are and who they are not.

"Competing over price against folks shooting for free"? There is no price so there is no competing on that basis.

She basically wants two photographers to go to war over who will give her the most stuff.

Don't ride that bus, but be courteous about it.

Congratulate her on finding someone who will do it for free and whose work she likes.

sarahashleyphotos wrote in post #11358115
Apparently she has already set up a deal with the other photographer and likes her work more anyway so my question is why waste my time then. Oh well.

Of course she likes her work more, the price is right.

If I worked for free, everybody would take two copies of every photo I shot, even if it wasn't them in the photo.