This past week, I turned down three jobs. :-(
Two jobs were turned down because their dates, six weeks from now, conflict with days that I’m holding for tentative assignments from another client. Two definite jobs turned down in favour of two possible jobs. What was that saying about “a bird in hand” ?
Perhaps photographers shouldn’t accept tentative jobs too far in the future, at least not without a deposit.
The third job was turned down because I didn’t think I could do high quality work given the circumstances:
It was just three days before the shoot date and all I knew was the where and when of the job and that maybe five models, some clothes, an ice rink and a gym were involved.
There were no layouts or any firm concept of what was required. Oh yeah, it might’ve been necessary to light that ice rink and gym.
Also, there were 24 to 40, or maybe more, product shots to be done on other day(s) in an undetermined location. No page layouts available. This was to be followed by an unknown number of days of computer work.
The client wasn’t sure of any details (warning bell #1), they were distracted and in a hurry (warning bell #2) and they wanted a price quote as fast as possible (warning bell #3).
Without knowing any details, it’s impossible to plan the photography, equipment and assistant(s). This also meant it was impossible – and foolish – to produce a rushed price quote.
A photographer will never lose by turning down the “wrong” job. Doing poor quality work, for whatever reason, is always the fault of the photographer not the client. A polite “no thanks” is always better than “it’s not my fault.”
