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08/19/2009 10:44:50 AM · #1 |
I always try to go above and beyond for my clients. I arrive early, if needed I stay late. I never let the client see me sweat. I always bring twice as much equipment as I think I will need "just in case". I offer them drinks and snacks. I think I do my best to make every client experience (portrait or wedding) a good one in every way.
Yet of all my clients thus far, I have had ONE (1) client offer a tip.
I'm not saying that tipping is required, nor even expected... but it would be nice to know that the clients appreciate the extra effort.
So what is your take on tipping your photographer - or having your clients offer a tip if they have received photography services above their expectations?
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08/19/2009 10:47:28 AM · #2 |
| I would consider it extraordinary service that would make me come back the next time. Never would cross my mind to tip a photographer. |
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08/19/2009 10:47:58 AM · #3 |
I would never have thought to tip a photographer.
I mean you are paying them a lot of money to start off with .
It really never crossed my mind to be honest |
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08/19/2009 10:49:05 AM · #4 |
| I think it's something where people do not expect to tip or even think of it. With wait staff, you know part of their income is expected to be from tips and if you don't tip them, they are not getting paid. |
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08/19/2009 10:52:13 AM · #5 |
In traditional tipping etiquette, one does not tip the owner of the business. But accoring to this site, that is no longer the case.
From the web site:
Tipping the Owner
This is the question I get asked most via email - do you tip the owner of a company when he or she provides your service. The answer used to be no. Now it is yes.
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08/19/2009 10:59:24 AM · #6 |
Originally posted by idnic:
I always try to go above and beyond for my clients. I arrive early, if needed I stay late. I never let the client see me sweat. I always bring twice as much equipment as I think I will need "just in case". I offer them drinks and snacks. I think I do my best to make every client experience (portrait or wedding) a good one in every way.
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This is great business practice. The tip you will receive is that they will return and they will send you customers.
I had a roofer give me $100.00 for sending him customers. |
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08/19/2009 11:02:37 AM · #7 |
| Nope, never heard of tipping a photographer. In fact, when I started reading your original post I wondered what side business you were referring to! (Massage?) |
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08/19/2009 11:28:56 AM · #8 |
Originally posted by citymars:
Nope, never heard of tipping a photographer. |
Same here. Most professional services, I believe, are similar. I've always understood wait-staff and most manual labor jobs (landscaping, moving, etc.) -- but, as far as I know, not many other jobs are traditionally tipped.
I have actually been asked before if it would have been appropriate to tip me (cause they really liked what I did), and I just encouraged them to tell friends and hire me again when they had another show to do. I never expect a tip beyond that.
Originally posted by citymars:
In fact, when I started reading your original post I wondered what side business you were referring to! (Massage?) |
Heh -- gives a whole new meaning to using a "full-frame" sensor. Har har har!
ETA -
Originally posted by scarbrd:
In traditional tipping etiquette, one does not tip the owner of the business. But accoring to this site, that is no longer the case. |
Huh -- interestingly, in that tipping guide, they say:
"Weddings- Photographers - Only necessary when service is beyond expectations, up to 15%"
That is very interesting. Never heard of it myself, but I guess it's clearly not unheard of.
Message edited by author 2009-08-19 11:35:58. |
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08/19/2009 12:23:38 PM · #9 |
I'd never expect at tip as a photographer. In fact, I'd never thought of anyone doing it until now. I suppose that if it were offered, I'd try to politely refuse, but if they insisted, I'd accept it gratefully.
I don't think you should worry about it or expect it, really. |
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08/19/2009 12:26:36 PM · #10 |
I blame the service industry; because what ever happened to service? But to be fair, I tip very well when I get good service.
And I agree with others, I would never have though of tipping a photographer, but if they go above and beyond I may contemplate it. But many charge enough that I don't think they need the tips.
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08/19/2009 12:29:27 PM · #11 |
I always figured that the price paid to a photographer is enough. I never would have considered receiving a tip as a photographer.
I figured if they like what I did for them, then a referral would be a good enough tip for me. |
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08/19/2009 12:34:41 PM · #12 |
I agree with the earlier post -- we tip in the restaurant industry because it is legal for restaurants to pay their wait staff below minimum wage because of expected tips. Thus, if you don't tip, it's possible that they are not receiving anywhere near a fair wage.
If a photographer is not receiving a fair wage, that's their own fault for not pricing their services correctly. I would never have thought to tip a photographer nor would I ever expect a tip from a client. It's not that kind of an industry. (imo, of course!) |
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08/19/2009 12:55:43 PM · #13 |
| I would consider a photographer to provide a professional service in the same way as my dentist might and yet I am never tempted to offer him a tip |
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08/19/2009 12:58:32 PM · #14 |
Quite honestly if someone offers to tip me for doing my job. I'm not charging near enough. :D
Matt
Honestly I don't ever expect anyone to tip me when they are already paying me directly for performing a task. Servers usually get tipped because you are paying for food or drink and not them directly.
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08/19/2009 01:58:54 PM · #15 |
Never thought of tipping a photog before. Just the fact thay are ambling around with all the gear and that they charge $$ for services is enough for me to say "Meh... he / she is doing well".
If they come your way, great. If not, don't sweat it. If you think yiou're putting out too much for not getting tipped, scale back the extras (snacks, etc) a bit.
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08/19/2009 03:02:14 PM · #16 |
| i got a ten dollar tip today! and i got a 25 dollar tip once too! :) |
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08/19/2009 03:07:08 PM · #17 |
I'm not concerned about getting tips or not. I just thought this would be an interesting discussion.
However, here: //www.frugalbride.com/tipping.html and a couple of other wedding ettiquite sites say tipping to the potographer is "optional".
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08/20/2009 12:37:26 AM · #18 |
Yeah yeah, everyone's saying that you're supposed to tip everyone that provides you a service. I, for one, would never tip my broker (if I had one), and (s)he would be providing a service.
I usually tip people when I know they're expected to be tipped (and receive a lower wage because of it). For example, pizza delivery drivers make way less than minimum wage, as do servers, so I tip both because I know their bosses assume they'll be tipped.
Another way to look at it is to consider the expertise required to use the camera (effectively). Since it requires talent, it's assumed you either get paid well (Overpaid? America seems to love paying lots of money for talent and not much for hard work...) or that you name your own price, in which you ask for what you want, and only ask less if you can't get what you want. |
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08/20/2009 01:25:59 AM · #19 |
If there is a Happy Ending involved, then I'll tip! ;-)
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08/20/2009 08:10:21 AM · #20 |
Originally posted by AperturePriority:
If there is a Happy Ending involved, then I'll tip! ;-) |
Scores! :-D
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08/25/2009 04:14:10 PM · #21 |
| I had a man tip me $60 after a maternity session last month, and told me I'm undercharging. LOL, needless to say I'm making a new price list. |
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08/25/2009 04:16:29 PM · #22 |
| what about dog groomers, i had Maverick shaved yesterday and the bill was 70 bucks. Should you tip a dog groomer the same way as you tip a hairdresser??? |
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08/25/2009 04:18:28 PM · #23 |
Originally posted by JulietNN:
what about dog groomers, i had Maverick shaved yesterday and the bill was 70 bucks. Should you tip a dog groomer the same way as you tip a hairdresser??? |
hmph, make the dog tip him. |
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08/25/2009 04:40:41 PM · #24 |
| lol, he did with all his hair, that dog i swear, for being a Rottie mix has more hair than,, well something |
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08/25/2009 04:51:42 PM · #25 |
Some people tend to tip in general; not towards a specific service, but to mostly anyone they deal with. While other people will generally not tip, and when they have to tip, are very stingy.
I've noticed this to be true with certain cultures. Italians and Russians, just for example, tend to tip more often than, say, Asians or Hispanics. Not being racist or anything; just my personal experience as a wedding photographer.
Message edited by author 2009-08-25 16:54:51. |
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