Clients from hell

Email excerpt:

We’re really impressed with your portfolio. Really professional stuff! We’d love to have you photograph our new menu options. We can’t afford to pay you, but you can eat some of the food after you’re done shooting it.

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wow - maybe if the food is really good and they gave me coupons for free dinner or something.

wow. how do they run a business if they can't afford to pay people who work for them?

I think I might be affraid to eat there! What was your response?

Tell them you are not a venture capitalist you are a photographer and that you have absolutely no interest in start ups to begin with...and then raise the price!

Now that is thoughtful of them --- just tell them that you really like their food but have food allergies. Then tell them that the free part of your services is taking the pictures for clients. But it is final the prints that cost real money.

cnyram said:

What was your response?

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That it would be like someone eating at their restaurant and saying, "Wow, that was really good food! I can't afford to pay for it, but I'll let you clean my dishes."

^Win.

Even though I'm far from a professional, I still laugh when people ask me to do work for them for free but I can "use it to build my portfolio". Oh can I?! Thanks a bunch!

Ha wow that sux. You should make a deal with him so you can get free food whenever you want.

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As far as i'm concerned, if they dont have money, they aren't even a "client" lol. Love your response!

Wow, that took nerve to ask, but then again some people think everyone else is an "also ran"If they're that hard up & strapped for cash they should do the work themselves & get sick on their own damn food, they're probably looking for as many freebees as they can get & think that photographers just do this for extra cash which is none of their damn business anyway.
Any way Anthony Flip them the Bird.!!!

Anthony Hereld said:

you can eat some of the food after you’re done shooting it.

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Some of the food? Hell give me a box to go, I’m eating all of it. LOL

Unbelievable, that’s almost a slap in the face. Sad part is, they will find someone to do it.

You're right, they'll find someone to do it. I just know particular someone who won't be doing it.

I wouldnt eat it after shooting. How long is all of the food sitting there, during and after the shoot, until all shots are done. YUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The really high end places don't even use food at all, they hire artists who use modeling clay painted up to look like food.

Many years ago when I was assisting a company photographer shoot food, we never ate what we shot. Basically because as has been stated-- we never knew how long the food had been setting out. Especially if it was fish. Although the food was probably good, we were not going to take a chance. The food stylist was costing over $500 per day. Better safe than sorry.

I'm curious did you solicit them or did they solicit you? How did you get involved with these folks in the first place?

They solicited me. This is a local upscale kinda place, where a shirt and tie are required. I guess they figured that it was an honor to even be mentioned in the same sentence as them, so that was payment enough. They figured wrong.

I've seen parts of your portfolio and website...I don't think you need them at all...scumbags...

That's hilarious Anthony.

Maybe - assuming you even liked their food - if they let you eat free for a year instead of just one sitting.