Comments on: Client Collaboration http://zachhodges.com/blog/2008/07/client-collaboration/ Temecula Wedding Photography Specialist Zach Hodges. Voted Best of by the knot.com. Also Available For Engagement photos, Special Events, Family Portraits, etc. In Temecula CA And Surrounding Areas. Sat, 28 Jan 2012 08:23:52 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 By: Rob http://zachhodges.com/blog/2008/07/client-collaboration/comment-page-1/#comment-160 Rob Fri, 11 Jul 2008 20:21:50 +0000 http://zachhodges.com/blog/?p=346#comment-160 I was just thinking the same thing over the last couple of days. I do now also get clients who want to design their own and to that end I offer my images as part of the package after 12 months, or for a premium after two. That helps to protect my profit margins as the print sales and album won't be included. If the client wants to get creative, then by all means they can; this album by your client is a great example of someone with a great eye and talent for good design. I also offer premium flush-mount albums that are a cut above the consumer offerings, but are of course substantially more. I make it known from the start that the ability for a consumer to go direct to one of these premium suppliers just isn't possible, but do direct them towards a good printer. It now looks like Blurb offers a better service - worth a look. At least here in Boston I've got most of my clients who are willing to pay for a great design and the premium album as it does take a lot of time and the consumer offerings are great but not outstanding. That all said, I'm with you on the spending more time shooting rather than album design. It takes up a huge chunk of time and if the clients are interested in doing it themselves that is fine with me. I think there's an opening for these premium album companies to open the gates to the clients via an approval with the photographer. That way everyone would get what they want. Love the photos btw - I never did buy the 35 1.4, but still dreaming of it or possibly the 85 1.2 ... I was just thinking the same thing over the last couple of days. I do now also get clients who want to design their own and to that end I offer my images as part of the package after 12 months, or for a premium after two. That helps to protect my profit margins as the print sales and album won’t be included.

If the client wants to get creative, then by all means they can; this album by your client is a great example of someone with a great eye and talent for good design.

I also offer premium flush-mount albums that are a cut above the consumer offerings, but are of course substantially more. I make it known from the start that the ability for a consumer to go direct to one of these premium suppliers just isn’t possible, but do direct them towards a good printer. It now looks like Blurb offers a better service – worth a look.

At least here in Boston I’ve got most of my clients who are willing to pay for a great design and the premium album as it does take a lot of time and the consumer offerings are great but not outstanding.

That all said, I’m with you on the spending more time shooting rather than album design. It takes up a huge chunk of time and if the clients are interested in doing it themselves that is fine with me. I think there’s an opening for these premium album companies to open the gates to the clients via an approval with the photographer. That way everyone would get what they want.

Love the photos btw – I never did buy the 35 1.4, but still dreaming of it or possibly the 85 1.2 …

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