Client wants image cropped.

ishutteratthethought

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Hello Folks,
Just trying to get a feel on what your thoughts are on an issue I have with a client that wants to buy one of my prints.
The issue is that the client wants me to crop the image to their specifications.
During the capture, I was thinking and composed the image in square format. This client wants it cropped to a landscape type image taking out the foreground (and some of the subject) leaving more sky in the image and more of 4 x 8 type of look.
I am not overly offended, just a little perplexed and wondering if I should accommodate.
I do not want to lose a sale (and possibly a repeat client) but I have strong feelings that the image I created is what I had imagined when I took the photograph & printed it, hence what it is…is.:confused:
Your thoughts appreciated.
Thanks,
Steve
 

Ian Grant

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The client gets what he wants, if he (she) is paying and it's a commercial shoot, or being bought for commercial purposes.

If however the client just wants a print for his her wall, then it's up to you, they can get the framer to do the cropping later if they want, that's my take on it.

Ian
 

guyjr

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I still believe in "the customer is always right" both as a customer and as a professional. Crop it, sell it, then delete it.
 

bobwysiwyg

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guyjr said:
I still believe in "the customer is always right" both as a customer and as a professional. Crop it, sell it, then delete it.
Click to expand...

+1

At work we had two rules. Rule one was the customer is always right. Rule two was go back and read rule one.

If you were on the phone they couldn't see you gritting your teeth anyway.
 

dpurdy

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I am with Ian on this one. If it is a commercial client either paying for one time use or buying all the rights to the image, then consider it. If it was me and my art work and someone offered to buy a print if I cropped it their way, I would do it if the image was otherwise a failure to me, or if it was an image that I felt is successful I would tell them it is what it is and either buy it or don't.
Dennis
 

SuzanneR

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For commercial work... let them crop it, but if it's a fine art print, and they want you to print it again with their crop, I'm not sure I'd agree to that... well, depends on the money I suppose!!
 

Christopher Walrath

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Amen Suzanne. Reduce the price slightly and suggest that they can make whatever amends they so choose, IMHO.
 

cabbiinc

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If they are paying you for your services then you're almost obligated to givem what they paid for.

If they're just an admirer that's buying your art you can do whatever feels best. Sometimes you'll feel like the art stands the way it is, other times you'll feel better with a full belly and some paid bills.

I for one don't think there's a "wrong" answer.
 

Bruce Watson

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ishutteratthethought said:
The issue is that the client wants me to crop the image to their specifications.
Click to expand...

If it's an art print, and it sounds like it is from your description of how you framed and composed it, then it's just a question of how much your artistic integrity is worth to you. Standing by your artistic vision might cost you a sale. But what does abandoning your vision and letting someone else dictate your composition cost you?

Been there, done that...
 

Rick A

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Give them what they want, and charge the bejesus out of them. If they want "customized" one of a kind, make it worth your time.

Rick
 

RalphLambrecht

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Steve

I might be the only one, but I would not crop it, unless the customer paid you to take the shot. In other words, if this was an ordered print, the customer gets what he or she wants.

However, if you took this as an artist, and you feel strongly that the print turned out the way you wanted it, then you need to stay true to yourself. Your name is on it, right? Are you willing to have your name associated with the print? If yes, crop it, if no don't.

I'm stubborn enough, to dictate the whole print. It is my image, the cropping is part of the creative process. To me, so is the mount and (if I can) so is the frame. But that's just me.
 

Andy K

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If it is an art print I would refuse. If they want to buy a print cropped to their specifications then they can go make a photo to their own specs. Would they buy a painting and then cut it?
 

removed account4

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SuzanneR said:
For commercial work... let them crop it, but if it's a fine art print, and they want you to print it again with their crop, I'm not sure I'd agree to that... well, depends on the money I suppose!!
Click to expand...

exactly!

if it was you for hire, i would do it as they direct you
( crop the print ) but if it was an art-print no-go
 

Moopheus

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ralnphot said:
Give them what they want, and charge the bejesus out of them. If they want "customized" one of a kind, make it worth your time.

Rick
Click to expand...

Right. You can make the "custom" print charge so high that either they won't want to do it, or you will be paid enough to salve your conscience.
 

BrianShaw

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I must be lacking "artistic integrity" because I'd sell a print cropped just as fast as I'd sell the same image as I visualized it.
 

f/stopblues

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Maybe I'm some sort of a diva here, but if it's not commercial then there's no way I'd consider conforming my vision to the vision of the person with the checkbook. That's textbook selling out.. damn the man!
 
OP
OP

ishutteratthethought

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Thanks to all off you for your suggestions. APUG is awesome!
I am leaning more towards not cropping and lose the sale...stubborn, stupid some may say.
I already make enough to buy a Bentley or two & buy a house in Malibu by selling my art, however I do not rely on it for my bread and butter.

Thanks again!

Steve
 

bobwysiwyg

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Given your success, please ignore my earlier post. Tell'm to take a hike.
 

largeformat pat

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I would print as I composed. Let them cut it up. It seems to me that they really don't value your image for the way you want it. They way I think they are trying to recompose the shot. Even though they are the customer, (how many colours can I get it in, two only B/W) When they buy a product off the shelf you will help them with their decision and then off they go. If they want a specific image. re shoot to their spec and charge and then print.
 

dpurdy

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I guess call me pig headed but I get annoyed when I see people offering prints in 3 different sizes!
How about creating a fine art web site and telling people that everything is shot in super high resolution and if they see any image or any part of an image they want they can have it any size they want and cropped any way they want.
Dennis
 

tkamiya

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You've already said you want this sale for now and you expect more orders. Then, it really doesn't sound like you have much of a choice. Either you do what he wants and make money or lose this sale. Here, you are making decision as a businessman.

If you decide you want to make the sale, I would be reasonable in setting the price for the change for the same reason. You'd want to maintain a good customer relations or else the whole effort is for no use. In other words, I would not set price so high.

Only stipulation I'd make is that to make sure customer is aware, he is ordering a custom print. He own it at the moment he places an order. You'd accept no returns, exchanges, or refunds, if he finds the result wasn't exactly what he'd imagined. It is entirely possible - when the photograph is printed to his spec, it doesn't look right - to your eyes or his.

Your integrity as an artist and wanting to keep your vision intact is honorable. It all depends on which you value more. Your vision or your pocket. Only you can decide.
 

removed-user-1

Andy K said:
Would they buy a painting and then cut it?
Click to expand...

Precisely. Unless they commissioned the shot, it's your art and that makes it your call in my view. Of course once they have it, then they can crop it, frame it, etc however they want... :|
 
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