We all agree that one of the nicest parts about being an established photographer with a (fairly) steady income, is that we can turn away shoots if we feel the need to. Of course we want to make as much money as possible, but sometimes it's better to trust your gut and just say no! We were inspired to record this episode after reading an article posted on Honeybook by Chrissie Arpie titled "4 Reasons to Say No to a Client." In this episode,  we'll chat about this article and explore a few other reasons to turn clients away! Key Takeaways:

1. They disrespect your time: Ashley dives into this a bit.. she's recently had two clients who haven't replied to her in a timely manner and who let their contracts expire. This put a bad taste in her mouth & she ended up telling the client she doesn't think they'll be a great fit. Our time is valuable and we can't waste it on clients who aren't going to appreciate it!
2. Budget issues: Nobody likes getting those emails where clients are asking for a discount. Sometimes it's a special situation where we offer a military, teacher, or other type of discount in which case we're totally okay with it. But sometimes a client approaches us and can't afford us. Don't be afraid to turn a client down for this reason! It can be tough to do, but we charge what we charge for a reason & it's important to stick to your guns!
3. Lack of expertise in an area: Sometimes it's okay to push your boundaries and step out of your comfort zone, but other times we can tell that a shoot is just not what we specialize in. Don't be afraid to refer a client out to another photographer you think will do a better job. This just causes unnecessary stress & pressure!
4. Overwhelming workload: There are definitely times of year where photographers are overwhelmed by the amount of shoots, editing, etc that they're dealing with! Instead of stressing yourself out (and risking taking on more than you can handle!), don't be afraid to turn clients away, or push them toward another time of year. If you can hire an associate photographer, that's AWESOME! But otherwise, don't overwhelm yourself... every other aspect of your business (and personal life!) will suffer.
5. You don't want to do it: Every now and then you'll get a shoot inquiry that you JUST don't want to do. Maybe it's a day you had something else planned, maybe it's a gigantic family shoot that seems overwhelming, or maybe you just get a weird feeling from their email or phone call. At the end of the day, you can run your business however you want to. Do you want to fill your summer with shoots that churn your stomach with anxiety beforehand or do you want to fill your schedule with shoots that make you excited and happy to be a photographer? It's completely up to you & don't be afraid to turn clients away if you have a bad feeling about the shoot!

  Related Links:

• 4 Reasons to Say No to a Client
• Chrissie Arpi's Blog
• Honeybook