Blackmail

On Main St in Vancouver, BC, we now have so many coffee shops. Some blocks have 3 coffee places, but where to go when you want the right coffee? Some people want organic coffee, some people want "fair-trade" coffee, some people, like me, want good coffee, that means not burnt because it's was packed it to hard.

Yesterday, I had coffee with Danny, a friend. He had problems with a customer. The original "deal" was a photo shoot, 3 hours, including 2 outfits changes making a total 3 outfits with 20 8x10 photo prints and 5 11x14 photo prints for $1250. Half paid upfront and the other half to be paid on delivery. The photo shoot went well, Danny met with the customer, and she liked the photos but... Halfway through she said that she didn't want the 20 8x10 photo prints, but 30 8x10 photo prints, 10 11x14 print and 1 16x20 print. So Danny took his calculator out. She interrupted to say that she wanted these extra prints for the same price or she wouldn't pay. It was almost like blackmail. Danny left the presentation saying that he would think about it, and now was asking for my advice.

It's amazing how much easier it is to give advice when one's not involved in the situation. After hashing it out with Danny, we came to the conclusion that:

1. She will never use Danny's services again, or
2. Danny will never do a photo shoot with her.
3. She will never refer her friends to Danny or if she did refer them, it would not be worthwhile for Danny.

My suggestions were:

• Stay polite and calm while telling her no. "We agreed that..."
• If she still wants these extras prints, then offer them at a discount.
• If she refuses, walk away since he already broke even.

Comment from Matt [30-Jan-2009]

From the sideline, it's easy to say cancel the shoot on the spot. Assuming he's already got signed model release, the images are still his to use. He's already made $600 on the shoot, and he doesn't have the hassle of printing. As he was packing gear, hopefully she would come to her senses and decide to play fair...if not - it's like you said, nothing lost. It seems like the model had been scheming this and waited for the exact moment to spring it on him. Mean people suck.

** Reply from Syv **

1. Actually the "blackmail" happened during the review to choose the prints.
2. Very possible that she had been scheming this and waited for the exact moment to spring it on him, but I think that she was advised to pull that "blackmail". What she didn't realize is that her name will soon go around. I know her name, and Danny also spoke with a couple other photographers to see that already happened to them.