If you hear someone say that photographers and their clients are in opposition, run. That kind of old thinking will ruin your business today.
For example, click-through copyright notices on your website might give you a teeny bit of additional legal protection (I think of it as just one piece of paper in a file folder full), but buyers hate them. Also, those who are going to steal from you are going to steal from you–they won’t even read the notice. Still, some people insist photographers need to have them and say that buyers should get over it.
Horse hockey, as my father would say. You don’t need to do anything that alienates your targets and your targets don’t need to get over anything.
Instead, you need to find a way to balance your interests and your targets’ interests. Working together is the best way to achieve this. Listen to what they say to you–especially their complaints and worries, and work towards solutions.
That means doing things like finding pricing structures that work for both of you–that is, usage-based pricing “packaged” in a way that your targets will like. It also means being flexible on contract terms (flexible–not “bend over and just take whatever they want”). And while you need to protect your copyright, you can do that without sounding like a paranoid, jealous boyfriend–that is, constantly telling your targets about your rights under copyright is like saying “Did you look at my girlfriend? I’ll kick your ass!”
The most successful photographers I know–the ones who work consistently and who really are enjoying their professional lives–are the ones who work with their clients the most. They never see clients as the enemy. They’re never greedy nor are they milquetoasts. And on those very rare occasions that they get a new client who is a jerk, they can choose never to work with that person again because they have plenty of business. They have fun in their work, focus on the creativity, and make good money.
On the other hand, the photographers I know who are the least happy in their professional lives are the ones who are the most us-versus-them-ish. Coincidence? I think not.
Great thoughts here Leslie. Sometimes it comes down to having a empathy for a client and the position they are put in when negotiating terms as a middle man. I want my clients to be able to go to theirs with a reasonable outcome so that everyone looks good and the vibes stay positive. and knowing when and when not to let go, for instance, i recently got a assignment to shoot a hand model holding packaging for a major consumer product for a BtoB hand out for a sales team and a brochure. This is the type of packaging that changes every 6 months with a addition of a new thing they’ll add a graphic or a starburst call out or something. This type of project isn’t one to lean on the rights thing too much so i included 5 years instead of 2. it made me look good and i know that he package will be obsolete in 2 years. also how many other people in this world can pull off a hand shot holding a box. this also is factored into the value when pricing out rights. for instance i wouldn’t as protective with this type of image as opposed to something more conceptual and inventive. Some of my projects i feel no different than a tech person like a printer that brings dots to a page. don’t get me wrong i always put my own twist to things but you know what i am driving at. right?
Leslie,
Clients for sure are our priority and honestly treating them like a challenging relationship is key. That said the industry has shifted and the client has also.
Found this text on the photo industry and its impact on the photographer. http://www.macuser.co.uk/2499-the-tragic-demise-of-the-professional-photographer