One of the WORST costumers I every HAD

[shnupita]

Hi guys.. today I`ve had the worst costumer I ever had... and.. IS FAMILY!!!!!!

She wants 100 cards... with a lot of stuff on it and dont want to pay what I asked her... alse... she bothered me so much with the quality of the paper...and that paper I cant print it in my printer...

Im so pissed off I cant even tell you...

Hope you´re all doing fine!!

[nkeevers]

Oh, oh, I think someone's going to have to be counting to 10, or is it 100!:eek:

[kimi_boo]

Don't you just hate it when they know more than you do and won't listen to a thing you try to say. :eek:
If she knows what she wants... she should do it herself. ;)
Hope things get better.

[shnupita]

and whats worse...??? I was planning to leave tomorrow to the beach.... already postponed until sat!!! :(

[NMarti]

Shnupita
The number one rule of running a business - NO FAMILY as customers. :D They expect the best and pay the least - if at all and are always the MOST critical of your work. :twisted: I would tell her sorry but I need at least 1 week lead time for any order.

[mom to 4]

Tell her to ........ well, never mind, just go to the beach!!!!

[Robyn]

Sounds like you have picked a bad one from life's box of chocolates. Go to the beach and tell her you will look at it when you get back!!

[shnupita]

I wish I could do that.. she needs them finished by tuesday

[Byron Gale]

You say they:
- don't want to pay your price.
- want paper you can't print on.
- have an deadline which conflicts with your previous plans.
- require numerous features.

Sounds to me like plenty of reasons for you to suggest they shop for someone who is a better "fit" with their expectations. Why should you deprive yourself of your get-away just to leap through flaming hoops for their benefit?

Oh... Family... *sigh*

[Ric Cisson]

Family or not, if you have a standard of quality and the pricing to support that quality, then it is time refer them to someone else, and walk away. Their deadline is their problem, don't let it become your headache. I would and have walked away from many "family" demands in dealing with my profession. At first it was difficult and it did not go over easy. But retained my self respect and earned theirs in the long run. (Incidently, I also did not lose any sleep over the matter either.) Good luck and as the others before me have suggested, go enjoy the beach and don't worry about thier problem. Don't let their problem become yours. Leave their problem with them. Hope this helps.:cool:

[quillabee9]

A long time ago I came to a firm policy for me: Never, never, never,... never get involved in a money/business dealing with family. A real poteential lose-lose situation. If, for some reason, I do; then the deal will only be done on my terms. Except of course if it's a grandkid. :) One of the hardest words in the English language (probably other languages too) to say is "NO". That, of course, does you no good in your current dilemna. Sometimes when I'm in one of those short-fuse, high pressure situations I say to myself, "Get on with it, it will be done by such and such a time." Then I get into the "zone" and do it; often with a lot of midnight and later oil being burned. When it's done I deliver it and give myself a gift of something; like a trip to the beach, where I allow limited contact until my batteries are recharged. Good luck. Know that ther're a lot of us rooting for you.:D

[Wendy]

Hi Shnupita ...

Oh my sounds like they are giving you a bad time ... :(

Do hope that you manage to sort it out OK ...

Wendy

[kevq]

Shnupita,
it's very difficult when dealing with family. I show mine a sample and if they like it then they can have one print.
With this family member just say, Lo siento pero ---.
Go to the beach and have a nice time.
Kev:)

[Punkinsmom]

I agree with Byron, tell her to take a hike and you go to the beach!

[BrendaC]

Go to the beach and have fun!!! Brenda

[freezeframe]

Draw your lines CLEARLY or else you will be "expected" to do the same next year or whenever they have another "project/idea" for you. YOU DO HAVE A CHOICE - never think you don't! and be careful to not hold resentment because it hurts YOU much more than it does the other person! - that's my sermon for the day :)

[Pauline]

I certainly wouldn't put off my plans for someone else, especially if they aren't willing to pay the price. FORGET IT!! You are being taken advantage of. You might want to check into a local printer and their specifications, and hand your family the item on cd and say, 'here you go.....take it to the printers". Don't forget to charge for your art work though. I hate when people try to take advantage and then to be demanding on top of it, is just plain rude and inconsiderate. Their deadline is not YOUR problem. If there was such a tight deadline this person should have dealt with it much sooner and not left it as your problem.

Go to the beach and have fun!!

[LeeOtsubo]

...Their deadline is not YOUR problem. If there was such a tight deadline this person should have dealt with it much sooner and not left it as your problem...

Reminds me of a sign we had when I was in the military, "Lack of planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part!". :D I think that about said it all...

[mom to 4]

Lee:

I thought the exact same thing!!!!!! I aways liked that quote!

[Wendy]

However .... when its family its not quite the same as anybody else.

Wendy :)

[Shari]

Lee - that reminds me of the bumper sticker I always wanted to get printed when I was driving to work each day - Don't honk at me - I'm not late!!!
Shnupita - I have always been very careful in explaining to people that this is my hobby and when it comes to expectations and deadlines it takes the fun out of it - so it is not a hobby anymore. I have done some work I was paid for but said I needed plenty of lead time. I even got a little ticked off this Christmas when some who received my edited images framed said "Oh I love that - I must get whatever programme you are using so I can do that". Little do they realize I have spent hours on this site and have a two inch binder filled with my own notes. I just have to remember that this is MY hobby and enjoy it. You should too.
Shari

[mom to 4]

Shari:

You are absolutely right!!!! Absolutely!!

[Fstop]

Reminds me of a proverb I once read. " If the problem is solvable, don't worry about it, if the problem isn't solvable, don't worry about it"
Either way, it's not your problem, quit worrying about it and go have fun at the beach.

Steve

[LeeOtsubo]

Lee - that reminds me of the bumper sticker I always wanted to get printed when I was driving to work each day - Don't honk at me - I'm not late!!!


Shari, I love that one! I'm gonna have to see about getting those printed.

When I used to manage large groups of people (herding cats), one of my favorites when people started to tell us how to do our job was, "Those of you who think you know everything are beginning to annoy those of us who do." :D My people used to call that my "nuclear option", when I got to that point, they knew I was ready to go ballistic.

[shnupita]

Hi guys..

Thanx for the advice...

I just went to a place and print them.. and when I come back from the beach.. I would finish them...

I learned a lot from this.. and sure.. you and my husband have all the reason...

Lee.. your completely right... Im the kind of the person that I do EVERYTHING in advanced... when I was pregnant with leah... I could have given birth 1 month before.. I had everything set up.... and one of my friends that gave birth exactly 2 months before.. didnt have neither the crib.. nor everything...

I did my best, and Im going to the beach..

I had to finish because I gave my word and was my grandfather once told me.... a word is the most valuable thing you had, even more than money...

But I really have to learn how to say.. SORRY I CANT...

I will try it next time I see myself in this kind of mess...

Thanx for your advice...

[Pauline]

My neice was married Aug. 6 and I took lots of pictures. She wasn't overly happy with the ones her friend took (who she paid) and asked if I could rush the cd to her so she could pick one for the thank you cards. I spent a good 3 days working on them to make sure they were perfect......removing any red eye from the few indoor candid shots, editing out distracting things, etc, because I would not send her a cd full of unedited pictures. I then rushed them by priority post so that she would get them the following day. It's almost January now and to date the thank you cards haven't been done. It was months before her new husband even saw the pictures as they don't have a computer at home. All the rush was put on me and that's where it ended. From now on I will work on MY time frame and no one else's.

Relatives or not, expectations should be realistic and relative should not take advantage.

[Shari]

Pauline, I don't think kids these days are taught to show appreciation the way we were. (now don't get down on me everyone - I don't have kids of my own - but I do hear of it a lot) My favorite gift to give ended up being the spur of the moment photo I framed for my neice taken while we were on the Christmas train. Even her Mom said - Wow it is sooo hard to get a good photo of the whole family. Her Mom took the surprise gift to her on Christmas eve and I have yet to receive a phone call. Now I know she has two small kids under 5 and is very active in everyday activities - but I am getting to the point where I want to phone to see if she got it - but I don't want to appear like the busy-body aunt!! I blame my brother and his wife because their three kids have never been good at thanking - but then again my brother's wife had a tough and unloving upbringing soooo, etc. etc. But it would be nice to get a thank-you.
Shari
PS Pauline - I bet when your neice shows the photos to her friends she very proudly says her aunt did them - it is just that you don't hear that part of it.

[Pauline]

Shari, don't get me wrong, she loved the photos and was raving about them......what I was complaining about was the fact that she wanted them NOW so she could pick out one for her thank you card and still hasn't got the cards done. She actually told me I did a better job than the guy she paid, as he seemed to just leave the camera in burst mode and has about 20 of every shot! I did her an album of about 15 collages,which she loves. This was all her wedding present.

I used to paint a Christmas ornament for my sister and her son every year and never so much as received a 'we got it' call or an thank you. I haven't bothered for the last two years. I figure if it's not worth a stamp or a phone call it's not worth my hours of painting and the postage.

[troush]

Oh, don't get me started on the non-thank-you's... My brother is especially bad about not letting me know they got something - I don't care if they like it or not, just let me know they got it. And the bad part is, the post office in their town is particularly bad about being slow and losing stuff. Doesn't take much to fire off an e-mail or pick up the phone just to let us know... Drives me bonkers!

But, I think part of it is my grandmother insisted on thank you's, and he got burned out on it.

Grrrr...

-Trish

[mom to 4]

I'm with you guys!!! It's awful. I sometimes think that all we do takes no time at all. Not sending a note or calling (at the very least) is thoughtless and insensitve. I have been on my kids all week about getting their Christmas thank you's done! Someone takes the time to do something for you, the least you can do is say thank you!

[Robyn]

Oh no.............don't get me started on this or I'll never get off my soapbox!! :mad:

I've got a sister (my only sibling) who arrives unannounced and uninvited nearly every Saturday night always just prior to meal time. She spends hours talking about herself, never asks about me or my family, never says thank you for the meal or that was nice and NEVER asks me to her place to repay the favour!

........and never ever helps do anything for our elderly mother!!

I've had my whine, I'll get off my soapbox now! :D

EDIT.........forgot to add.......this was the sister that told my mother that my daughter didn't deserve to have children if she couldn't have them 'naturally' (Sally and Andrew were both conceived through IVF)!

[mom to 4]

Robyn:

I have a sister that always arrives LATE for everything!!! Christmas, Easter, Weddings.... as a matter of fact I actually told my girlfriend that if my sister didn't arrive on time for my wedding I would like her to stand up for me, not my sister. My girlfriend understood perfectly, we had been friends for 35 years...she knows the way my sister is!

[Wendy]

Robyn ...

:eek: ... Oh my goodness. Sometimes I am grateful that I am an only one :D :D

Wendy

[Jodi Frye]

Oh what a lovely thread ...let me count the ways...but I wont...well maybe just once...

My sis in law sent me an email with a tiny image of her grown son attached that looked kind of bad...the mail only said ' Can you fix this and print it ' ...there wasn't even a 'hello' or a 'thank you' or a 'please'...or anything like that...oh and the ' can you fix this and print it ' was the subject matter of the mail..nothing else written inside the mail...just the image attached.
...Soooooo, I replied ' Well, I can if you send me a larger higher resolution image that I can actually do something with '...she replied back " I don't have anything better...these are just proofs I got from the Photographer " ....can you believe that ? So in other words....go get the proofs taken and then screw the photographer and not buy the photos... ya right...I would never be a part of that. I refused to do anything with the photo. BTW, this 'is' someone who takes advantage of me whenever possible with never a 'thank you '...or a red penny sent my way.

note..' sis in law '...' My breeding is totally different ' :D

[ChristineV]

Oh My Goodness Robyn! :eek: I had not been to this thread since the first posting. I have 3 brothers and .. well .. the story is way too long ;)

[NMarti]

Yep - my family is the king of non-thank you's but plenty of gimmes all the time. Like I mentioned in another thread somewhere - I printed a scrapbook for my mom for Christmas. She was very proud of it and showed it off to everyone. Several wanted a copy for themselves. No offer to pay, no please, no nothing. I told them where I posted it online and they could go order their own copy and pay for it themselves. I also had two brothers ask me to design them business cards after looking at the book and I said I work for $xx hour and I'd be happy to help them out. I've done them for free twice and my freebies are over after I overheard my brother tell someone he had his printer do his cards when someone commented on the last one I did for him. :eek: HIS PRINTER???? I don't recall receiving a dime for my time, ink and supplies and NO thank you either.:twisted:

[Robyn]

Yes Nancy.........aren't some family members just great! Even just a simple thank you would go a long way.

His PRINTER indeed!!!

............this thread seems to have acquired a life of its own!

[msbrad]

Yes this thread has taken a life of its own, and there is a lot things to think about here.
I've read, not addressed until now, and will start with, I had an adult beverage (ok 2) at dinner...., however...
>there is a lot of talent here.
>we all often do things for others (relatives or friends) because we enjoy and are proud of what we have accomplished, albeit as a gift or otherwise.
>Everyone tells us to start a business or whatever...because we are so good etc..

And then when it comes right down to it, and you've taken your time, thoughts (not to mention equipment and/or lessons you've paid for) EVERYONE has an opinion of what else COULD or SHOULD be done...AND there is always one more thing.

I'm taking this soapbox (not from a photoshop elements expert by any means[good grief, not I] but) as having done creative sewing and alterations as a side business for others for 36 years now. Unfortunately many think they own you.
As it was said earlier....lo siempre pero .

Smile, and say enjoy.
m
ps I apologize for going on.

[Robyn]

Perhaps we should rename this thread THE SOAPBOX............choose your own topic!! :D :D

[msbrad]

Touche':D
m

[kimh]

Oh my goodness, I love it:eek: "We" are not the only ones.
Cheers to us!!! Did you here me clink my Cold Coors light...to us, Happy New Year!
And Lord give us tolerance for the ignorant:rolleyes:
Kimh

[Robyn]

And Lord give us tolerance for the ignorant:rolleyes:
Kimh

...........and amen to that Kim!

[mom to 4]

Ditto!:D :D

[mom to 4]

Have this to share too....Last night walking into the game a parent came up and started telling me I should take certain pictures so WE can do something with them (thank you, but I already do!). Then proceeded to tell me that she is working in a portion of a school where she could turn them into something nice (ok, so what I do is crap) and hand them out (who??? me or her??). I very quickly got out of the conversation by saying Hi to someone I hadn't seen in a while. I will be keeping my distance. I did get some great shots tonight....that I will not be sharing.

Does everyone think what we do is nothing?????????

[Robyn]

I know my family does. I don't bother to even show them anything anymore! You guys are my family when it comes to sharing.

.........I'm just poor senile old mother playing around on her computer again!

[NMarti]

Oh goody - we are having drinks!!:D And it's not even New Years yet! Yeah I think everyone who sees our work has an opinion on how it could/should be done better but I've reached the point where I say - I'd love to see your work - but what I really mean is - if you think you can do it better then be my guest. Put up or shut up. :p :D I really love those "we" people who inject themselves into a project when their sole input may be to turn over a picture someone else took or suggest a color or something and suddenly they are part of the whole project and usually take credit for the work too.

[mom to 4]

:eek: Nancy, I only had one drink at the after the game party!!! does it show??? Thank God that woman wasn't there, I might have said something ugly!:eek: :D :D

[Robyn]

Oh goodie..........drinks! It is not too early is it?..........well it is 31st Dec. 4.20 p.m. here right now. Make mine VERY alcoholic, tall and cold! Irish whisky being the poison of choice!

[Robyn]

This thread is coming along very nicely, isn't it! :D It may well deteriorate into an alcoholic blur over the next 24 hours. :D :eek:

[mom to 4]

Robyn:

I had a nice glass of Australian wine. Love it!!! I may be of Irish descent, but I cannot handly Irish Whisky!!!

re: your last post: Heck, it is New Years Eve!!! 12:20 am here!

Goodnight all!

[Robyn]

I love the Irish whisky...........although I do remember being rapped over the knuckles by Kev quite some time ago...........according to Kev there is only one whisky and that is Scotch Whisky

..................and that would be quite acceptable tonight!:D :D

[msbrad]

Morning all,
I'm back and was worried I went off too harsh last evening (blame the wine) on my soapbox. I was worried when I got up this morning and was turning on the comuter.
Guess I am still in good company.
It is interesting the posts after mine that y'all have received the same from family and very close friends. Almost wonder if they could be the same people.:confused:
I do consider y'all here family as well as friends and enjoy sharing here and love to see what everyone is doing. At least we appreciate and have each other.
m

[mom to 4]

Well, since we consider each other family ....... WE MUST ALL BE RELATED TO THESE PEOPLE! (I was going to say "inconsiderate people" :eek: and thought the better of it:D )

Oh, and Robyn, ya know I love Kev, but .....

Michelle: I think on New Years Eve, we are all just trying to exorsize (sp) some lingering deamons within us!!!!

[LeeOtsubo]

This thread cracks me up! It sounds like group therapy at a bar on Friday night after a tough week at the office!

Doesn't someone on this forum have a sig that says something like, "No one says, "Great dinner, you must have a wonderful set of pots!" referring to people's penchant for attributing great photos to a great camera.

Happy New Year eveyone and remember, "Non carborundum illegitimi" (fractured Latin for "Don't let the bast***s grind you down".

[msbrad]

Lee ~ Love the quote,
Colleen, I too shall think of it as an exorsism ( my turn for sp) of sorts, and we will all be fresh in the new year.
m

[GaryK]

Lee

That is Kerri's sig.. so apt.

I did hear she is a great cook.. must be the pots.:D

[lindajay]

Hey! I missed out on this thread last night, but want to put my two cents worth in, as well. I soooooo empathize with those who've been un-thanked and un-appreciated for the work they've done. My grandfather and my father were master bakers and cake decorators -- the old fashioned kind of cake decorators . . . detail like you'll never find these days. And they taught me to decorate cakes. When my children were small, I always did their birthday cakes. Word got around that I could decorate, so for every event people came to me and asked me to bake and decorate the cake. Although I've gotten much more able to say "no" in my old age, back then I couldn't. So finally, I just gave away every bit of my decorating equipment so I could say, "Sorry, I gave all my equipment away. Can't decorate any more." Now I look back on that and see that I was the fool! I should have said "no", and kept my equipment and continued making beautiful cakes for the fun of it. Okay . . . my soapbox has been vacated :rolleyes:

[Wendy]

Linda ...

My Mum did cake decorating too ... and the same thing happened to her.

Then when I decided to get married again ... she had to buy more so that she could make my cake :D :D

That was quite a while ago but I still have the Church Tower, dome, some flowers, swans and butterflies she made for it (they were the spares just in case anything got damaged :) )

Wendy

[msbrad]

Linda,
My cake stuff is gone too, I empathize. I did not come from a family of bakers,but I took several levels of the Wilton cake courses, and I liked my icing! Said the decorating hurt my hands (which it did),.

I've used that same excuse on the sewing and saying no. Stopped completely (for others) for about a year. Now only do selectives.

On a "can you believe it note..." Was called to alter a dress needed for the following night. I said no. She called back to tell me it wouldn't take me that long. I said no. Called back again, to inquire about my health, if that was my reason, I said no. Called back one last time and asked if it had to do with the fact she still owed me money! She is still going to drop it off...and only lives down the street. This took place Dec. 05....haven't seen the 'do-re-me' yet. And still said no.
m

[lindajay]

Michelle, that's amazing that someone could not understand "no" that many times!

[Pauline]

Linda the hardest part about saying no is that the askers make you feel as though you are cheap and selfish. I hate that but I finally started saying no when I was constantly asked for donatioins for various fund raisers because everyone in our small town knew that I was a decorative painter. I've spent thousands on supplies, lessons, wood pieces, etc., but all these people saw was the opportunity to get something for free to raise money (and then would try to sell me a ticket to get my own product back and make more off me!). What really urked me was rarely were any of these askers customers who ever bought anything from me, nor did they plan too. They just wanted what was free. I don't donate anything any more unless it's a cause I believe in and want to help. Sick of being used.

My kids, however are my best admirers and when I did a collage for my one daughter a couple days ago, (in my gallery), my other daughter came up to me and said, "Mom I've done my hair....will you take my picture and do one for me please?" The girls appreciate my work, especially since they are starting to do it themselves and know what's involved.

I've learned long ago, that 'home crafters' regardless of what you do don't get the same respect they would get if they paid rent for a store front. It doesn't even matter if you were better than the guy with the store front..........you are still considered an amateur with a hobby and nothing more.

[mom to 4]

Man, there are a lot of stupid people out there!!! Or maybe they just think if they wear us down (is that the right wear????) we'll do it.

Linda :eek: I cannot believe you gave your stuff away!!!! I know this will sound awful, but I just would have said I gave it away. I know, I'm bad.:o :rolleyes:

[mom to 4]

Pauline:

That is BEAUTIFUL!!!! Hey, can you do one of Maryellen for me????:eek:

ONLY KIDDING!!!!

That's like the lady that came up to me in the store asking me about my camera, my program, etc, etc, how did I get onto the field to take the pics, etc, she wants to do the same, etc........ and then said that SHE AND I SHOULD START A BUSINESS TOGETHER!!!! Can you imagine?!?!?!?!?!? What makes her think I want to start a business with her esp. after all the work I have done and she has done none!

Thank God for group theraphy on New Years Eve!!!

[Pauline]

Colleen, now that did make me smile!! That project was from a tutorial in Advanced PS magazine Issue 25, and was a lot of fun to do. I like the look of hand draw elements with the photo and need to try and loosen up more and have some fun. The girls are perfect subjects for this. Stay tuned for the other one.........it will be along the same lines but different. I don't like to do the same thing twice and now that I have some basic ideas I want to have fun and play with it..........but first I need to finish the project of my daughter's boyfriend with his brain exposed......... :eek: (my daughter said the brain was too big :D :D -- can't wait to tell her b/f that when I give him the picture.)

[lindajay]

Colleen :D That's funny. No, I really gave it all away. I've regretted it many times, because a the majority of the tools were my grandpa's and dad's :( The only thing that makes me feel okay about it is that I gave it all to a very sweet lady who loved to decorate cakes. So it went to a loving home.

I was so bad about being assertive when I was young. I once went to a shoe store to buy some white courduroy sneakers (okay, this was when I was a kid, and they were "in"). When I pointed to the shoes in the window, the salesman thought I pointed to the purple ones. He went to the back, brought out the purple tennies, put them on my foot, patted the side of one of my feet and said, "There you go, young lady." And I paid for them! And walked out of the store wearing them! I cried all the way home. My mom made me wear them until they were worn out, and I think it had some impact on helping me to "grow a backbone."

[mom to 4]

I got married at 20 and divorced at 22. That made me assertive!

Too many people were making decisions about my life......lawyers, judges and I had to sit back and watch. It really changed me. ....hopefully for the better!

[Wags374]

Y'all are making me gratefull for my family! So far they have all been appreciative. Especially my inlaws - I'm the only one that sends pictures of the grandkids to them! I made them a 2007 calendar that featured all of their grandkids (like pulling hens teeth to get pictures from the rest of the crew) and when they got it my mother-in-law called me and expressed her thanks, even got a little weepy.

My folks enjoy the projects I make for them and show them off to all of their friends. Have had a few people ask me to make them books, but so far I've managed to avoid it. Having a couple of toddlers is always a good excuse for why I'm just to busy.:)

When we have family reunions it is pretty much expected that I will make a scrap album - but having learned my lesson - I make the link available to them and they can order the book directly if they want it. That way I don't have to worry about getting paid.

[Ric Cisson]

Well, I see this thread is still going strong. I guess we have covered the gammut...well...sort of. ...And then comes along my sister:eek: Dear brother Ric I am getting married (3rd time) in April in Las Vegas, I want you to be my photographer... Well I respond, sure 2500 clams plus per diem and milage, ring it up to 3000 clams and I will discount 10% back down to 2700 clams (notice I have the "beach mentality"?). She comes back with, oh I thought you would do it for a couple of hundred... Beach...here I come. Told her, that I loved her very much, but if you can't afford me, you will have to find someone else. Then I added, since I had photographed the first two, I thought I would just attend and enjoy the reception. If I don't get an invite, highly unlikely, I will go to the "Beach". Isn't family fun?:rolleyes: :D

[Shari]

OK everyone - this is a nice one. I have to take back what I said earlier about my neice not thanking me. She called this morning all apologetic saying that they had been sick and busy and in town (they live on an island) and she had just not had a chance to phone. She said she absolutely loves the photo and smiles everytime she looks at it. I also had made a Christmas card of her husband and one of the kids in the globe and she really loved that. Also my youngest sister called after re-watching the DVD I did for them on our Sisters 5 day get away to Sun Peaks last March and she said she started to cry watching it. It was a very special memory to have. My other sister is skiing at the moment so has not had a chance to really see it. I think because I have had a terrible sore throat and flu since Christmas that I was getting down on the fact I had not been thanked. We have had to cancel our plans for tonight and tomorrow. I have said to myself that I love what I do and I enjoy doing it so that is what I want to get out of this hobby. Personal satisfaction. I want to wish you all a Very Happy 2007 filled with lots of creative ideas and lots of laughter and smiles.
Shari

[mom to 4]

Shari:

Have you ever thought that maybe she secretly visits this site and just happened onto this thread????:eek: I always think that when I make a post like the ones I have made in this thread!!! Glad to hear that she called you! Sooo glad to hear that. I find that if someone says thank you and gushes just a bit, they are able to get more free stuff from me!!! One of the football moms, (son was the QB who broke his arm right before big playoff games, and the week before she found out she has breast cancer) wrote me a wonderful note about the slide show and senior collages I made for the boys. She included a check and asked for two more copies of the slide show. I had given the Seniors (her son) each a free copy and here she wanted 2 more enough to actually pay me for it. Anyway, it was such a beautiful note I made up an 8x10 of her son in a game, my famous Captains pic, and a nice 5x7 of her, her husband and son coming on the field on Senior night!!! Then she sent me another beautiful note!!!!! I almost cried! ...alright, I did... That note meant so much! And with all she was going through, she still wrote TWO NOTES!!!!!

Oh, Ric.....I LOVE YOUR STORY!!!!!!! TOO FUNNY!!!!! Are we related maybe????? Sounds like something I might (or would love) to say!!!!

[troush]

I feel fortunate no one has actually asked me to make a whatever (scrapbook or something) for them... I did a calendar (at yorkphoto.com - just had to fix a few photos and upload them, then choose the layouts for each month, it didn't take too long) for family this year, and got lots of thanks (except the brother!).

But, I have a good excuse: homeschooling a 1st grader and twin 2 year old boys. Pretty easy for me to say no these days. But, I usually do have a pretty good backbone. I'm also pretty good at not spreading myself too thin. It's hard when it is family to say "No" to them, because you don't want them to think badly (poorly?) of you. But, I think, in the end, they end up respecting you more because you do set boundaries.

-Trish

[mom to 4]

Trish:

You go girl!!!!! When my twins were little and I had a teenager and one other 18 months older than the twins a friend told me I needed to put a piece of paper on the inside door of my kitchen cabinet right above the phone that had NO written on it in large red letters and then I was to just open that door and read it aloud when someone called asking for something. I should have done that more than I did!

[Robyn]

Colleen.....

How wonderful that you got that note from the football mom..........and with all her own troubles too. Don't you just know it's always people like that who do the right thing. I probably would have cried too, little things like that mean such a lot. When my granddaughter Sally finished up a creche this year Jane (her mum) was given a beautiful scrapbook of the year's activities. Jane didn't see the person who did it on the final day she picked Sally up, so she sent the girl a personal thank you note of how much she appreciated it and how good it was for a keepsake in the future.

[mom to 4]

I cannot tell you what that note meant to me!

[Ric Cisson]

Colleen,

My family knows me, as a retired Navy person, I speak what is on my mind and I stand by it.;) The "beach" is very much in play.:D

[mom to 4]

Ric:

I love it! Happy New Year, my friend!

[LeeOtsubo]

Colleen,

My family knows me, as a retired Navy person, I speak what is on my mind and I stand by it.;) The "beach" is very much in play.:D

Ric, who'da guessed you are retired Navy. I had an image in my mind of one of the young, long haired, hippy-type dudes I used MTB with in Sedona, you know, the guys who hang out at MTB Heaven on the main drag.:confused:

Happy New Year!

[Ric Cisson]

Lee,

I know the types that hang out there. No, I am fast approaching retirement in the civilian sector. My career in the Navy was great, no regrets as to the timing of entering, nor the decision to retire. Sedona was always on my "radar" for retirement. I am a native Californian, but once retired from the Navy, I wanted out of the state. San Jose is "home", but, to borrow the words of Neil Diamond, "but it ain't mine no more". So I grabbed my seabag and belongings and came to Sedona. Landed here in Nov 1990 and my anchor is set, they can haul it up when I leave this good earth. ;)

Anyway, long story short...retirement is just about 5 years from now and I then plan to RV back and forth across this great land of ours, this country I so love and served with great honor and humility, and as they say...with pride. Sedona will be my home base for the rest of my life. It is beautiful here, very inspiring, on the front door step of some of the most spectacular scenes in America, the Colorado Plateau, and all within a 5 to 7 hour drive from Sedona. I could not be more happy as senior lab technician and lab manager in the only full service lab in Northern Arizona, educating students, envolved with local high schools throughout the area, in Photography and Digital Photography and conducting night classes at the lab for adults, and with this being my passion, how could I not be happy.:D

[Shari]

Colleen, I know she did not see this site because she would not have time - but you are right - when I was talking to her I offered for her to come and see the portraits I did of her kids from Matt's tutorial and see which ones she might liked framed!! What the heck - I love doing this. I have had great luck finding some good frames with mats at garage sales and also Ikea's black frames with white mats are very reasonable. Praise is always welcome with this hobby - yes. Rick - I too had pegged you for a young hip dude!! I appreciate the help you have given me. When you do get the RV - don't forget about Canada - we have some beautiful country out here on the west coast.
Shari

[Ric Cisson]

Shari, thank you for the compliment. As the saying goes, you are only as old as you feel. I consider myself very fortunate, despite bouts with a bad back, osteo arthritis, and vertigo, to be able to help so many. I really believe that is what keeps me going.

I have not ruled out Canada, and if the opportunity presents itself, you can bet I will cross the northern border to visit your beautiful country as well.

I am just a very easy going individual with a passion for life, a dedicated love of life.;)

[msbrad]

Colleen,
So happy to read about the note you received. That gives a little boost to all of us here, that, for all the "assumed" we deal with, there's hope and a silver lining of gratitude for what we do with what we love. Guess that is what keeps us going.
m

[quillabee9]

Ric,
When I "retired" we spent 8 years RV'n around the country. There are a lot of great places and groups to support that life style, and it's even getting better. Good luck, it's a "hoot" being able to call yourself a vagabond. A classic joke about RV'rs. A full timer is one who, when he/she gets up in the morning has nothing to do and when they go to bed at night have only got half of it done. Actually we were as busy as we wanted to be. It was a wonderful time in our lives.
Your home is where you park it.
Gail Burchell

[mswnow]

I havent read all the posts, so you may have answered this, but what is it they are asking you to do? With a hundred prints, it sounds like something that woud cost a pretty penny to a normal client. and If its fancy paper that you cant print, What exactly do they expect you to do? Pay to have it printed? (if this is too nosey, please dont answer)

IMHO Its one thing if it is a purely digital request, take a couple pics, email them to me, etc I do that kind of thing alot. I even did a portrait shoot (granted they were desperate to do it before the baby was born) for someone I know because it was a time crunch and she was on bed rest and could only go out into the yard. All they asked me to do was take the pictures, they were going to do all the printing, choreographing, etc. Although, it never happened bcause there was an explosion in their house and her partner got burned pretty badly.

If its anything that requires you to spend money (and not get reimbursed) Heck with it, I would have no trouble laughing at them when they asked me. It would be a simple matter to nonchalantly get another family member involved (a matriarch or patriarch for instance). They seem to come arround pretty easily. The other option is to do a half quality job and go to bed at 8 every day and blame it on the time crunch. Do the best you can before ur supposed to leave to go to the beach, give them a CD with the stuff on it, (or print it over the internet at a walgreens or something) and give them the bill. No reason you should have to pay a dime.

My favorite solution would be to charge her for the time you wernt at the beach (nightly rate). See what she says then...

good luck!

P.S. if the event has already happened then call me a fool and ignore this post. I forgot to check first.

[mom to 4]

I believe Shnupita is off to the beach. I think she was venting at a family member who asked her to do something and kept pushing for more to be done (and more, and more) and was not really willing to pay for it. This at a busy time of the year when she probably had 100 other things to do and a trip to the beach scheduled too! Boiled down to family member issues. We all chimed in and vented too :D !

I think Shnupita finally finished and left for the beach! Something we were all supportive of! That is why you might not hear back from her!

[mswnow]

Have this to share too....Last night walking into the game a parent came up and started telling me I should take certain pictures so WE can do something with them (thank you, but I already do!). Then proceeded to tell me that she is working in a portion of a school where she could turn them into something nice (ok, so what I do is crap) and hand them out (who??? me or her??). I very quickly got out of the conversation by saying Hi to someone I hadn't seen in a while. I will be keeping my distance. I did get some great shots tonight....that I will not be sharing.

Does everyone think what we do is nothing?????????

Colleen. I know what you mean. In this particular case, I think I might subscribe to smugmug (the $150 one) just so that I might post a price of 5$ each for both prints and digital downloads, and tell her she is free to do whatever she wants "turning them into something nice." Just make sure to put a copyright symbol on them all. If she does anything with them, send her an email about the copyright violation, but be nice about it and maybe she will realize that this is a hoby to you and you're not just someone with a nice camera doing the dirty work, but are an expierienced photographer who knows what she is doing.

Alternatly, you might burn her a CD and be very profesional about it. make sure it says Copyright 2006 Colleen Soandso etc and give it a very nice neat label. You might consider making them into a WMV slideshow and putting that on the disk as well just to add a bit of a professional touch. If you photoshoped all the images on there to the point where anyone she would take them to would not have anything to do to them, she would likely not understimate you again. This has worked very well for me.

I know I'm jumping on this bandwagon late but thought I'd add my $.02 anyway.

[mom to 4]

OOOHHHHHHH, you were talking MY post!!! Yeah, but it is a bit hard when our daughters are friends and we see each other twice a week at games and the parties afterward. I am just going to continue to try and blow her off. You see this is a woman I was supposed to be making a quilt together with to be raffled off by the team as a fundraiser. She did 4 or so hours of work. I did the rest, which was months of work. I figure this is my daughters senior year. Not really comfortable rocking the boat too much for her sake, but venting on the forum....oh, yeah, that is something I can do :eek: :D


I actually do have a smugmug site, not the $150. one, and didn't realize that they were downloadable at the time. Guess what ..... one football player has them all over his my space site and even sent them to the yearbook as his!!! I was ok with the downloading as he is a senior and I get that he wants them on his myspace. My daughter wasn't happy about that though. I did send a note to the yearbook moderator and told her that they were mine and if they used them I would like to get the credit, not him.

Live and learn. Next year my smugmug with be the $150. copyright protected gallery!!!

Don't get me wrong, I don't mind sharing, and many will attest to that fact that I give tons of pictures away for free, but I draw the line at doing a ton of work for someone else to get the credit.

[mswnow]

When you say he used them for the yearbook, do you mean a photo of him or he used them as a photo he took? Does he realze what a hooligan he is? When the yearbook gets published (I presume he doesn't know you know he sent them a letter) send him a letter about how innappropriate it is to submit people photos to something without at least their verbal permission. also about how it is innappropriate to post someone else's photos online without asking them, and giving them due credit. At least a "thanks to Colleen's daughter's mom for these great photos" should be included on his myspace. I hope I never have a problem with people usin my photos for stuff like that without me knowing. I am so glad that the average person doesnt know what EXIF data is, nor how to remove it. If anyone needs proof that it is your photo EXIF is complicated enough to confuse them into thinking it actually says which specific camera took it.

[mom to 4]

Michael:

He took about 30 of MY photos and sent them to the yearbook!!!!! He was probably in one or two, but certainly not all. Didn't give me (or my daughter) any credit. The funny part was when I was doing the slide show for the football team his mom wanted to help. That's Great!! She comes by my house and drops off a cd with pictures, I thought they were hers .... I pop them into the computer.....I though....hmmm, they look familiar.......I say, oh, I must have clicked on the wrong drive, these are my pictures. Oh, she say, those are the ones he downloaded from your site!!!! :eek: Excuse me???????? My jaw dropped!!! Can you imagine coming by and bring to my house pictures on a cd that you downloaded from my site????? I bit my tongue and realized that the apple apparently didn't fall far from the tree!!! Excuse me for saying this as my son is also a football player, but I was ready to excuse this kid, thinking that he is just a big, dumb, football player, until I realized this was ok with his mom!

Like I said....live and learn. I changed the password to my galleries until I can put my own water mark on them. Next year nothing will be up until watermarked. He asked my daughter when I was going to post the pictures from the last game. She told him "when she watermarks them!" Ah, she is stronger than I am ...... I raised her well, now I just need to learn from her!

[Pauline]

Colleen it amazes me that teenagers seem to have no cooth at all (did I spell that right). They think nothing of doing stuff like this. My daughter's x-boyfriend used to use our phone number all the time when he rented movies and I would get the call when they didn't get returned. He had no phone and just didn't understand why I was upset!! He also wanted me to sign for a credit card for him as his mother had a bad credit rating!! DUH No bleeping way!! He didn't get that either. He was offended!!

I am hoping I have raised my kids to be smarter better people.

You have to love those who 'volunteer' to help, leave someone else do all the work and then jump in for all the credit!! A reason why I no longer get involved in these kinds of committees. There is always the parent with the stupid idea that they push for and when the crunch comes.....all of a sudden they aren't there to help out.

[mom to 4]

Yep, Pauline, you get it!!! It's crazy isn't it??? Oh, yeah, I'ld sign for a boyfirends credit when his mom has bad credit!!! Do they really think we are that stupid?!?!?!?

Oh, and these woman I speak about in the above post isn't the one that suggested we start a business together because she wants to do what I do and get a sideline football pass. These are actually 3 different women!!!:eek:

Thank God for the woman who sent me the wonderful note...she restored my faith in people!

[Pauline]

Colleen this boy just didn't know any better. He'd been left to his own devices from a young age and basically at 18 when my daughter started seeing him he was immature in a lot of ways. It was after they'd been going out a over a year that he asked. He considered himself part of the family as we were the only family he really could count on. I felt bad at saying no but horrified that he would even dream of asking!!

Well it would be bad enough with one vulture but 3!!! Some times it just pays to be a loner. Life is a lot less complicated.

[mom to 4]

Hard thing to have to say no to the boy, but I would have done the same thing. It is a shame that some parents have kids, but then don't do the parenting! Very sad for the kids. But can you imagine if you had said ok, then he and your daughter split, and then you get left with HIS bills????:eek:

Yeah, I have become somewhat of a loner at these games, it is just easier. I socialize afterwards but keep the conversation off of my photos!

[mswnow]

Colleen, thats horrible. I am offended by what they (the mom and son) did and I'm 7 states away and have never met them! I would have flipped out. To send 30 of your photos to the yearbook as his, and then for his mom to bring them to your house to work on them with you, what a waste of a CD. Does she not think you have them at home and that she has the only copy? I hope you forgot to put her name on whatever you produced together, because I can just tell that she didnt contribute squat. Your photos, your house, your computer, your editing program, your hobby, plus her ignorance, bad manners and total disregard for your work= your work, her "supervision". Where I come from (NC) we call that TOO MUCH HELP.

As far as the credit card, it sounds as though he might end up having bad credit as well. there is no reason for him to have a credit card, besides online payments, and convienience. If he is 18 and his mother has bad credit, if he failed to make payments, the burden would fall to you, am I right? We were in a similar situation 5 years ago with my cousin. Her mom died of brain tumor, and my mom is trustee of the estate. My cousin wanted a credit card and for the trust to cosign. first of all, the trust cannot cosign, because it is protected in my aunts will so that couldnt happen. She then asked my mom to do it, but at this point she had been expelled from 2 schools (one for using her roomates creditcard, of all things...). My mom had no trouble saying no.

We lost contact with her last newyears, and havent seen her since. weve only talked to her twice on the phone, her mail has been returned twice. we think shes been evicted because she told us she stopped checking her mail and its full. if im not mistaken the post office will hold your mail and put a slip in your box if this happens. (its a funny thing, it seems like we get all our bills in our mailbox... do you see a connection?) So, I know it was smart not to cosign her card. And also, what happens when ur daughter and him break up? What if he ran up a $20000 bill with your good credit and then skipped town? I for one know you made the right choice.

[Pauline]

Michael my daugher and her b/f did break up. I think he's managed to keep himself out of trouble and he never did get a credit card which is good. I don't blame him but his lack of guidance. He's had to use survival skills for many years and I fed him more than half his meals in 2.5 years........even when he was living with his Mom. He was the 'functional' one of the family and was trying to get a better life for himself. I wish him well.

My kids some times like to watch Judge Judy, or one of those such programs and while they find it humourous.......I find it a great life lesson. DON'T LEND MONEY TO FAMILY, FRIENDS, and especially not BOYFRIENDS!! It seems the tune of the show is over and over.....the love sick girlfriend who bails out the boyfriend and get stung with the bill. Girls seem more vulnerable because they are nuturing and so love struck. A sad fact of life.

[mswnow]

I agree. I also like to watch judge judy because I find it humorous. I like how they (judy, mathis, idk the rest) have an inate ability to sort through the malarky and find the truth. I sometimes wonder if she is a legal judge and if her verdicts are legally binding. It seems odd that they never get into real specifics as far as law goes. Then again, when the judge is the only one who knows anything about law...

The other thing I like about them is when people come in with a really dumb argument and its obvious that they should lose, but they keep at it act like the judge is stupid and doesnt get their point. i find that humorous.

[Pauline]

While it seems that people SHOULDN'T be that stupid when in court, I can tell you that there are people who are. Last year for example I had to go to court regarding a dog down the street that kept getting loose and terrorizing anyone walking by. Many occassions it happened to myself and my dog, but one particular day after he finished circling and growling at us he ran back down the road and after one of my other neighbours who was riding a bike and did the same to her. We were both witnesses and another neighbour came running out when she heard the commotion. So here the two of us are witnesses and the owner was going to fight the charges and say it never happened!! In the end the lawyer convinced the dimwit to plead guilty and in front of the judge he apologized and said, "the KIDS" had let the dog out. An out and out lie since they were out of town that weekend and previously told Canine control that and also this dog has been doing this since those children were babies!! The guy was a complete MORON!! Blaming his little kids for something they didn't do!

It wasted 3/4 of my day and was an hour to drive to court. I also had to change a dental appointment to appear. He got nothing more than a slap on the hand, and they have since moved.........but I did see that dog loose again, up in our area......so nothing has changed.

[mswnow]

Thats the kind of thing where you kind of wish someone had gotten (mildly) hurt so you could sue them. Regardless of whether you won or not (of course you would if theyre that stupid) it would teach them to lock their dog up. Although It would be more in everyone's best interest to call the ASPCA or some other organization that could hold the owner legaly responsible for neglect, (though on something like youre talking about that might not apply. I always worry about complaining because I wouldnt want the owners to put the dog to sleep because of it, or try to teach it a lesson or something. I always worry about my dogs barking at people who cut through our backyard. (its on an easement, so people seem to think that it makes a great shortcut to the shopping center, bus stop, etc. We live in a university town, so we get alot of those kind of people without cars. Plus its a liberal community so we also get alot of those "why walk when i could spent 10 times as much time and save a little gas")