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<blockquote data-quote="suprPHREAK" data-source="post: 41666" data-attributes="member: 1505"><p>Just some advice for anyone going into photo/video business:</p><p></p><p>Study contract law, and look up how some photographers have gotten royally screwed by customers. Never assume the customer will be understanding.</p><p></p><p>Seriously, just do a google search for "photographer sued", there are too many reports to count.</p><p></p><p>Some tips: </p><p></p><p>-explicitly define what your photo/video package will contain. Number of photos, number of copies, prints/burns, etc. If the client asks for more, bill accordingly.</p><p></p><p>-specify a timeline for delivery of the first draft, and time for each edit. Ie: wedding video will be delivered in a month, re-edits take a week each. This is good customer service, but also sets expectations. If the client thinks the video will be ready after a week, they may get angry.</p><p></p><p>-maximum number of re-edits, and fees for additional. If you make a video, show the client the best you can do first. They may have some requests for chabges, but they are not the expert, YOU are, that's why they hired you. Some clients will demand tiny tweak after tiny tweak, endlessly. The longer you spend doing the work, the less you are getting paid. Keep in mind many laypeople think digital means "click a button in Photoshop and it is fixed instantly". No, things take time to do right.</p><p></p><p>-for drone work, specify that it is contingent on local laws and weather. Obviously check for NFZ at the location before agreeing to anything, but TFRs and high wind isnt your fault. You should have alternate plans in the contract, such as an alternative date, or alternative service (ie: ground based video), or a refund. </p><p></p><p>-NEVER EVER EVER EVER show your raw footage!!!!!! Again, look up the cases where a photographer delivered on a wedding package, great photos, but also included the unedited digital negatives, including photos that didn't make the grade. Ended up getting sued for taking "unflattering photos". You are taking so many photos/minutes of video, there WILL be a few bad, maybe embarrassing ones. Dont release those. If they aren't good for public release, delete them even.</p><p></p><p>-most important: DO NOT GIVE UP YOUR COPYRIGHT. The images are yours, and you are licensing them to the client. Sure, tell the wedding couple they can do what they want with the photos, copy, share, etc, but you don't want to lose control of them. If you give up copyright, then they could then give that away. Next thing you know, YOUR photos are being displayed as someone else's work, to build THEIR business. Plus, you want to be able to use this work in your portfolio.</p><p></p><p>Now keep in mind, all of this is to protect you, and to keep you in control. There is nothing stopping you from delivering in a week instead of a month, or giving them 40 photos instead of the agreed 25. Also, don't let it discourage you, go for it! Just do so with your eyes open. If this is your first foray into this work, I strongly encourage you to over-deliver. Discount prices, or extras where you can. It helps build your rep, and happy clients are the best guarantee for more work.</p><p></p><p>Best of luck!</p><p></p><p>PS: Weddings are f**in nightmares to deliver on. For some reason, despite all the stress, the problems, the mistake that the wedding couple will have that day (and you will capture on video), they will for some strange reason remember and believe the day was as perfect and flawless as any Royal wedding. They will expect the video to reflect what's in their mind, not what really happened. There is no such thing as a flawless and perfect wedding.</p><p></p><p>Except mine. And there is no video to prove me wrong <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" /></p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="suprPHREAK, post: 41666, member: 1505"] Just some advice for anyone going into photo/video business: Study contract law, and look up how some photographers have gotten royally screwed by customers. Never assume the customer will be understanding. Seriously, just do a google search for "photographer sued", there are too many reports to count. Some tips: -explicitly define what your photo/video package will contain. Number of photos, number of copies, prints/burns, etc. If the client asks for more, bill accordingly. -specify a timeline for delivery of the first draft, and time for each edit. Ie: wedding video will be delivered in a month, re-edits take a week each. This is good customer service, but also sets expectations. If the client thinks the video will be ready after a week, they may get angry. -maximum number of re-edits, and fees for additional. If you make a video, show the client the best you can do first. They may have some requests for chabges, but they are not the expert, YOU are, that's why they hired you. Some clients will demand tiny tweak after tiny tweak, endlessly. The longer you spend doing the work, the less you are getting paid. Keep in mind many laypeople think digital means "click a button in Photoshop and it is fixed instantly". No, things take time to do right. -for drone work, specify that it is contingent on local laws and weather. Obviously check for NFZ at the location before agreeing to anything, but TFRs and high wind isnt your fault. You should have alternate plans in the contract, such as an alternative date, or alternative service (ie: ground based video), or a refund. -NEVER EVER EVER EVER show your raw footage!!!!!! Again, look up the cases where a photographer delivered on a wedding package, great photos, but also included the unedited digital negatives, including photos that didn't make the grade. Ended up getting sued for taking "unflattering photos". You are taking so many photos/minutes of video, there WILL be a few bad, maybe embarrassing ones. Dont release those. If they aren't good for public release, delete them even. -most important: DO NOT GIVE UP YOUR COPYRIGHT. The images are yours, and you are licensing them to the client. Sure, tell the wedding couple they can do what they want with the photos, copy, share, etc, but you don't want to lose control of them. If you give up copyright, then they could then give that away. Next thing you know, YOUR photos are being displayed as someone else's work, to build THEIR business. Plus, you want to be able to use this work in your portfolio. Now keep in mind, all of this is to protect you, and to keep you in control. There is nothing stopping you from delivering in a week instead of a month, or giving them 40 photos instead of the agreed 25. Also, don't let it discourage you, go for it! Just do so with your eyes open. If this is your first foray into this work, I strongly encourage you to over-deliver. Discount prices, or extras where you can. It helps build your rep, and happy clients are the best guarantee for more work. Best of luck! PS: Weddings are f**in nightmares to deliver on. For some reason, despite all the stress, the problems, the mistake that the wedding couple will have that day (and you will capture on video), they will for some strange reason remember and believe the day was as perfect and flawless as any Royal wedding. They will expect the video to reflect what's in their mind, not what really happened. There is no such thing as a flawless and perfect wedding. Except mine. And there is no video to prove me wrong :-) [/QUOTE]
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