Comments on: Clients Will Choose Trust Over Talent Every Time http://rising.blackstar.com/clients-will-choose-trust-over-talent-every-time.html Professional Photography Blog Fri, 10 Feb 2012 23:56:37 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: MeridianSagehttp://rising.blackstar.com/clients-will-choose-trust-over-talent-every-time.html/comment-page-1#comment-13238 MeridianSage Fri, 19 Mar 2010 16:28:31 +0000 http://rising.blackstar.com/?p=10847#comment-13238 The people that worked with me when my technical skill was limited are still working with me today. I have clients that have worked with me for so long that I was around to document the beginnings of their relationship, then their child and now their wedding. The thing is they know and love other photographers but continue to come to me. That says something about customer loyalty when they could easily go somewhere else and still don't. The people that worked with me when my technical skill was limited are still working with me today. I have clients that have worked with me for so long that I was around to document the beginnings of their relationship, then their child and now their wedding. The thing is they know and love other photographers but continue to come to me. That says something about customer loyalty when they could easily go somewhere else and still don't.

]]> By: Johnywhttp://rising.blackstar.com/clients-will-choose-trust-over-talent-every-time.html/comment-page-1#comment-13226 Johnyw Thu, 18 Mar 2010 17:13:13 +0000 http://rising.blackstar.com/?p=10847#comment-13226 Nice one Martin, but it is a knife with two cutting edges. I agree on most points especially: clients don’t have the eye to distinguish good work from great work! Thats for clients the perfect excuse to keep what (who) they got. If there is no apparent reason , no matter what you're branding is, our how much one differentiates in every way, even to their advantage, they wont hire you (me). Here in Belgium, there are a very limited number of magazines. As far as I know, they al have long term agreements with only a few photographers, maybe a dozen for the whole country. And all the work goes to them, because they build a "name" working for these magazines. On many occasions, I pointed out why certain images were no good, even unsharp. I proofed that I could do a lot better with the same budget, but no use, nothing happened. One time I was with the photography responsible ( don't know how this is called in English) and I showed him one of his own magazines, one from the actual date, and one from 10 years ago. The poses and the lighting were exactly the same over all those years. Models complained on numerous occasions that they had the feeling that it was all hush, hush. A quick make up, to the studio, the lighting was set ( I believe it is since 10 years) some quick shots and done.... They continue to work with the same photographer. Nice one Martin, but it is a knife with two cutting edges. I agree on most points especially: clients don’t have the eye to distinguish good work from great work!
Thats for clients the perfect excuse to keep what (who) they got. If there is no apparent reason , no matter what you're branding is, our how much one differentiates in every way, even to their advantage, they wont hire you (me).
Here in Belgium, there are a very limited number of magazines. As far as I know, they al have long term agreements with only a few photographers, maybe a dozen for the whole country. And all the work goes to them, because they build a "name" working for these magazines.
On many occasions, I pointed out why certain images were no good, even unsharp. I proofed that I could do a lot better with the same budget, but no use, nothing happened. One time I was with the photography responsible ( don't know how this is called in English) and I showed him one of his own magazines, one from the actual date, and one from 10 years ago. The poses and the lighting were exactly the same over all those years. Models complained on numerous occasions that they had the feeling that it was all hush, hush. A quick make up, to the studio, the lighting was set ( I believe it is since 10 years) some quick shots and done....
They continue to work with the same photographer.

]]> By: Zida Borcichhttp://rising.blackstar.com/clients-will-choose-trust-over-talent-every-time.html/comment-page-1#comment-13215 Zida Borcich Thu, 18 Mar 2010 03:49:04 +0000 http://rising.blackstar.com/?p=10847#comment-13215 I just read your article and feel it is quite good. I do a lot of graphic design and letterpress printing for photographers and I like to build flexibility into any logo design I do. It has to work in color or in B&W, in horizontal situations and vertical ones, on a billboard or on a business card. For me, branding is a tool, like a tripod or a screwdriver, that has to do a job for you and the job is to delineate you from the competition and to speak powerfully about the quality of your work when you are not there in person. A business card is an ambassador. It has to be persuasive and attention-getting when you leave it in a potential client's hand. I like what you say about incorporating trust into the design. I will remember that. Best Zida Borcich Studio Z Mendocino studio-z.com http://studiozmendocino.wordpress.com I just read your article and feel it is quite good. I do a lot of graphic design and letterpress printing for photographers and I like to build flexibility into any logo design I do. It has to work in color or in B&W, in horizontal situations and vertical ones, on a billboard or on a business card. For me, branding is a tool, like a tripod or a screwdriver, that has to do a job for you and the job is to delineate you from the competition and to speak powerfully about the quality of your work when you are not there in person. A business card is an ambassador. It has to be persuasive and attention-getting when you leave it in a potential client's hand. I like what you say about incorporating trust into the design. I will remember that.
Best
Zida Borcich
Studio Z Mendocino
studio-z.com
http://studiozmendocino.wordpress.com

]]> By: William G Watsonhttp://rising.blackstar.com/clients-will-choose-trust-over-talent-every-time.html/comment-page-1#comment-13194 William G Watson Tue, 16 Mar 2010 21:58:51 +0000 http://rising.blackstar.com/?p=10847#comment-13194 Martin:Just an awesome, mind opening article. Thank you for posting !!wg Martin:

Just an awesome, mind opening article. Thank you for posting !!

wg

]]> By: Thomas Arne Strandhttp://rising.blackstar.com/clients-will-choose-trust-over-talent-every-time.html/comment-page-1#comment-13192 Thomas Arne Strand Tue, 16 Mar 2010 18:57:45 +0000 http://rising.blackstar.com/?p=10847#comment-13192 Great points, pertinent for anyone who like myself is thinking about their brand identity.As Mr Langer pointed out the "experience" is more important than the delivered product, "The Tipping Point" by Malcolm Gladwell expands on this concept. Great points, pertinent for anyone who like myself is thinking about their brand identity.

As Mr Langer pointed out the "experience" is more important than the delivered product, "The Tipping Point" by Malcolm Gladwell expands on this concept.

]]> By: Mike Langerhttp://rising.blackstar.com/clients-will-choose-trust-over-talent-every-time.html/comment-page-1#comment-13184 Mike Langer Tue, 16 Mar 2010 07:37:40 +0000 http://rising.blackstar.com/?p=10847#comment-13184 When a customer or client feels a certain level of trust, predictability, or comfort with an individual or organization, he or she is much more likely to return to that same provider for additional products and services. Study after study has confirmed that consumers put more emphasis on a positive "experience" than on the quality of the goods or services received from the provider. This holds true for all businesses, not only photographers and artists. Starbucks coffee is bitter and served less than hot, but customers keep going back because they know what they'll be getting every time (ie., quick, friendly service). Even in medical settings, a patient's overall experience is more important than clinical outcome when deciding whether to return to the same doctor or hospital. When a customer or client feels a certain level of trust, predictability, or comfort with an individual or organization, he or she is much more likely to return to that same provider for additional products and services. Study after study has confirmed that consumers put more emphasis on a positive "experience" than on the quality of the goods or services received from the provider. This holds true for all businesses, not only photographers and artists. Starbucks coffee is bitter and served less than hot, but customers keep going back because they know what they'll be getting every time (ie., quick, friendly service). Even in medical settings, a patient's overall experience is more important than clinical outcome when deciding whether to return to the same doctor or hospital.

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