Should i be worried about this email from client

S

sadude

Active member
i had a client that just asked me if he can have his friend phone me and ask if i can teach them about what i do. I seem to remember this happpening before and it always leads to me loosing the client to someone else
 
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Sound like this client wants you to train up his photo guy so he can be the, "Two birds with one stone" photo/video guy. I would talk to the guy, and try to find out what is up with the client.
 
so far im thinking my reply will go something like this:

yes i will be glad to help him out. Shame this can be a tough business we need more people who know absolutely nothing about video production to come into the scene and start pouching clients with cheap rubbish, that they shot on there new HD mini recorder. I can suggest lots of editing programs for him to use, but you know those are so expensive and sooo over rated. you should tell him to try to shoot the program in such a way that he won't need to edit. Yes this is actually a very well known technique, its called noedit filming. We professionals use it all the time.
 
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I have a friend who was the office manager for a company that she just worked for and about a month ago her boss said, "I'm sorry, due to the economy, I need to let you go. But, before I do, can you spend the next two weeks training my wife first?". :huh:
 
Rick Meyer said:
"[...] can you spend the next two weeks training my wife first?".
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To do what?

---



Sadude,
Cool, finally you'll be able to bill at your "training" rate, instead of that much lower rate you charge for your regular services.

Or, if you have a good working relationship with this client (as I hope you do), simply (professionally) let him know that you wouldn't feel comfortable training another professional as your apprentice.
Or simply reply with some links to some (expensive) training courses that you'd recommend - if he's going to learn video, he might as well learn it correctly, right? Also be sure to recommend the various training materials offered for sale here on DVXuser :)


- Mikko
 
mikkowilson said:
To do what?
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She was an office manager of a mid-sized privately owned Electric Company. She had a lot of responsibilities. From marketing to hiring and firing, running jobs, doing payroll, managing several drivers, electricians, etc.

By asking her to take 10 days to train this person who hadn't worked in 20 years, let alone in an office manager position, and had no desire to even be there is a pretty swift kick to the ego. And to add insult to the situation, the wife would come in late, not show up other days, take long personal phone calls, would need to be re-taught things over and over again because she wasn't really paying attention, etc. Basically, it was like training the worse employee in the UNIVERSE to take your job.



Sadude-

As you know, videography is pretty tricky to do successfully. So, odds are, this photographer might not even wind up being your competition. Though, it does take b*lls for your client to even suggest that you teach someone how to take your job. However, give an enthusiastic "sure!" and hope he never calls. If he/she does, give pleasantries and point them in the direction (dvinfo, dvxuser, etc) where they can get some decent, hands-on, information.

Rick
 
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I AGREE


Something like this?
"We'll pay this time, but you need to show us so we can do this in-house next time.":)
 
GottaBeTheJuice said:
IMPORTANT NOTICE: No media files are hosted on these forums. By clicking the link below you agree to view content from an external website. We can not be held responsible for the suitability or legality of this material. If the video does not play, wait a minute or try again later.
I AGREE


Something like this?
"We'll pay this time, but you need to show us so we can do this in-house next time.":)
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AWESOME! :grin: :grin: LOVE IT!


I need a streamlined way to present this to "those clients" when it comes up. I think I may be attaching the link to some e-mails in the future.


- Mikko
 
To OP, start by valueing yourself then your clients might start to.

A couple of responses could be:

You know I am always happy to assist in anyway I can,

however

1/ my schedule is hot at the moment. I've been getting a lot of word of mouth recommendations lately which has increased my workload. I would be more than happy to talk with him and make some suggestions.

2/ I am not familiar with the entry level options, though more than happy to point him to some people that could assist.


My own personal response would be similar but slightly more direct.

You know I am always happy to assist you wherever I can, however my schedule just doesnt allow the time. Unfortunately I am booked solid by clients to reshoot a lot of jobs they tried to do very cheaply due to the economic downturn.
 
Noel Evans said:
You know I am always happy to assist you wherever I can, however my schedule just doesnt allow the time. Unfortunately I am booked solid by clients to reshoot a lot of jobs they tried to do very cheaply due to the economic downturn.
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Ding, Ding! We have a winner....excellent! Well done Noel.
 
Noel Evans said:
My own personal response would be similar but slightly more direct.

You know I am always happy to assist you wherever I can, however my schedule just doesnt allow the time. Unfortunately I am booked solid by clients to reshoot a lot of jobs they tried to do very cheaply due to the economic downturn.
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That is pure gold.
 
Tell 'em sure, you'll be happy to get paid for 'consulting' the other person, but you won't do it for free.
 
sadude said:
i just got this email from a client should i be worried? here it is:

"oh... my official photographer just got a new camera that shoots high res video and needs some advice from someone about software and kak... is it cool if he contacts you with any questions? not sure exactly what he wants to know but when he saw the promo vids, he asked who did them and if you'd mind helping him out. think he just wants to know about software. he does a lot of social documentary photography, which is pretty much what you do as well so it's quite a nice contact to have..."

end of message:

i love this, business clients are so open about there intentions lol
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Hey, I'm the "official photographer" in question. Do any of you boys know how to shoot video with a 7D? :dankk2: Thanks in advance.
 
Yeah just point the camera in the general direction you want and press the button. Any button. The camera knows what you want to do.

Heck, it will correct the script and poor direction too.
 
Something like this?
"We'll pay this time, but you need to show us so we can do this in-house next time.":)
Click to expand...

yes this video is exactly what i had in mind. So funny, i saw that a few days ago, which is why i have now have a built in warning sysytem
 
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