The Messy vs. Tidy Debate - The Virtual Desktop

I am listening to lbobi radio (Well done guys!) - and Brian is suggesting we share our virtual workspace - if you shared your physical one. An interesting discussion on whether they are both clean, both messy or one is the opposite. 

Mentorship

Hey Lbobi!

I'm writing this to try and get my second lbobi podcast shout out. 

Just kidding.

Maybe.

But on that note, Jeff, loved the "somewhere in Arkansas."  I agree, Arkadelphia isn't the easiest to remember for those who have never been here!


So here's the situation, and I'd like some feedback.  None of this, "yea, let's read the post and not say anything back."  I dont care if you think your response is going to be used, it'll be valued, and that should be enough to motivate you to type something back. 

I'm going to be skipping some details, because I dont know what I'm legally allowed to say, and what is best left unsaid, legal or not.  Long story short, through my "day job" in youth ministry, I've been asked to help mentor a student.  He's a 17 year old senior in a college prep high school in my area without a father figure or any respect for authorities or boundaries.  One school administrator has given him the ultimatum, "One more screw up and you're gone."

However, he has shown an interest in photography, and the administrator is hoping to use that as a means to give him some positive feedback, an outlet, and a bit of mentorship.  Skipping more details, I was asked to be the guy.

I've looked for a way to combine my passion for photography and my calling to ministry for a long time now (let's leave religious debate out, just take it for what it is if you don't agree. no harm, no foul).  I definitely see this as a great way to use my photography to give back.  Here's the question.  I dont know what to do.  I have 45 minutes with this kid each week for at least a semester.  I can't take him off campus, obviously.  I've never taken a single photography class, and I've never had a photographer mentor, so I feel like the blind leading the blind.

So far, I've given us a goal to take a picture a day and we're going to talk about them next week, but that's all i've got.  And even if that was enough for the "photography side," whether the student realizes it or not, that's not the end game, just the means. 


SO, you're in my situation, what do you do?

And for those of you waiting on it, here's my traditional video inclusion.

How far should the "the customer is always right" go?

Problem without a solution.

I am stuck here, at my desk, pondering whether or not to throw my hands in the air and say, "you're the customer/client, I will do whatever it takes to make you happy". Here is the deal, a beautiful family session, white dresses, bare feet, green grass and beautiful images... oops: mom doesn't like the face of one of the children in the awesome pose. She likes the other faces, but not this particular one. "So, can we do a head swap? Because I LOVE everything about this image except this face." I say, "of course". I explain what a head swap is and that I will not be doing it myself, it will be outsourced, etc... and sometimes it can look a little weird because it's a head swap, not the actual face in the original image. She's okay with this.

I outsource, using my awesome printing company, for the head swap. It comes back, only as a "face swap". The mom is not happy now. She notices the bow is the same in the "I don't like the face in this picture" image. So, I resend it {and ask if there was a head swap or face swap}. They claim they did the entire head. I order another image anyway, to make mom happy and I double check to make sure they do the entire head. They did the entire head and it's great. We get the new, beautiful image in, on canvas, and I think it looks fabulous!

I drop the image off to the mom and she sees it, doesn't say anything and then calls after she gets home. "They did NOT swap the entire head. The forehead looks too big, the bow is different but the hair still looks the same!" *Sigh* {head falling down} = me. I offered a reshoot- at no cost. She doesn't want that {she wants *them* to do the job they're supposed to do - photoshop the entire head}. I called to triple check that there was a head swap {there was and I trust what they're saying}. I want my clients to be 150% happy with what they purchase. My business is about customer service and giving the clients an experience they will never forget. Now what? When do you say, "it's either we re-shoot or you have to keep the canvas as is". It could mean an angry client but I will not be out hundreds of dollars... again.

At what point is the customer cut-off and told, this is the way it is, take it or leave it? At what point are WE right and they're wrong? Oy.

Much love, A.

Question from a lbobian: Should I advertise in the The Knot?

I'm thinking about advertising on The Knot. It's expensive for us. The goal would be to raise our percieved value and attract client having destination weddings in our area. Do you advertise on The Knot? Has anyone seen a great benefit for the cost?