My friend hears that this couple is looking for a photographer for their daughter's Quince, so he recommends me...


They call me, and I give them my rates and costs as well as details of coverage (which is to cover 1-2 hours before the quince as well as the quince itself, until it ends). We meet up, look at me, and they give me the same look I've seen too many times, the look that says, "Oh, another grubby kid with a camera that thinks he's a professional". They turn me down albeit politely before even looking at my portfolio or shots from other Quince's/Weddings I've shot.

It turns out they go with this older photographer, who's been shooting for 1000+ years, owns his own studio, is the hottest thing since bubble gum, etc. Who charges them almost $200 more and offers them very little prints. They didn't read the contract, which also said he only covers part of the quince.

So the big day comes along, and Mr. Johnny Shoots Good shows up, only covers about 2 hours of the quince, and leaves while the Quince is still going. Gets his film developed (strangely quick I might add), and comes back to the party, throws all the small samples on the table, and starts telling them how much each print will cost + Duplicates. And, had they of read the contract that Mr. Johnny Shoots Good wrote up, they would have seen the fine print saying, they must purchase an additional amount of prints to get the prints that he talked about before.

Needless to say, they were caught very unprepared, and having put so much cash towards the quince, they just couldn't afford what was now being charged.
So he told them, fine, and he would destroy the shots (which in my opinion is just, pardon me, Dick)


And the sad part of the story, they had already put down the sum of money for the photographer (that they thought would of covered everything), and didn't get a single picture.



Moral of the story, feel free to take a chance sometimes. But no matter what you do, read the contract, read the fine print, reread it a few more times, and THEN sign.