Do you expect to get the entire pizza when you buy a single slice?
Would you ask the waiter for the rest of the bottle after you’ve bought one glass of wine?
Do you stay and watch every movie at the cineplex when you’ve bought a ticket?
Some customers hire a photographer and then expect (or demand) every picture that was shot.
The Customer
Why might a customer ask for every picture?
— Another photographer once gave the customer every picture and now that customer (incorrectly) thinks this is the normal practice.
— The customer thinks the photographer didn’t choose the best images and they’re worried that they’re missing out on something (i.e. FOMO).
— The customer feels they didn’t get their money’s worth with the delivered pictures. So they (incorrectly) think that having all the pictures will make things better.
— The customer is not happy with the delivered pictures. With some diplomatic and tactful questions, the photographer might be able to understand the underlying issue.
— The company lawyer told them to get every picture that was shot. The only time this might be valid is when a company’s prototype, proprietary process or other “company secret” was photographed.
— The business is not sure how it will use the requested pictures, so it now wants every photo to cover every future possibility.
— The customer (incorrectly) thinks that since they hired the photographer, they automatically own all the pictures.
— The customer (incorrectly) thinks that the photographer will sell the undelivered pictures to a competitor or post them on an unsavoury web site.
When a customer hires a photographer, they are paying to licence a certain number of pictures. As the number of licensed pictures goes up, so does the price. If the customer wants more, they have to pay more. This is exactly how every business in the world operates.
The Photographer
Why might a photographer give away every picture?
— The photographer doesn’t know how to edit or they simply don’t want to. If this is the case, then the customer hired the wrong photographer.
— The photographer sees no value in their work.
— They don’t understand their business.
— The photographer didn’t tell the customer what they’re paying for.
To avoid confusion about what is being delivered, a photographer must inform the customer ahead of time. For example:
— A business portrait is $450 and that includes up to two choices. Each additional choice is $125.
— Event coverage is $1600 per eight-hour day. Photographer-selected proofs will be posted online. Client may choose up to 30 pictures. Each additional photo is $40.
—Photographer will use his best judgment to select pictures that meet his professional and artistic standards. Client understands and agrees that only these pictures will be delivered.
There’s no reason for a photographer to freely give away the store. Quantity is never quality.
