Be Brief, Be Brilliant, Be Gone
Aside from the importance of doing a service as best as possible, it’s equally important to be efficient, precise, and know when to stop. Understanding a customer’s need is vital to giving them what they want, and keeping them satisfied. While this may seem obvious, it’s easy to oversell ourselves and fill the ears of potential clients with jargon and self-inflating stories that they have no interest in hearing about.
We have to get straight to the point while remaining as caring as possible. These days, people value their time just as much as their money. While some potential clients like being sold to, they would rather have the conversation to stay relevant and applicable to what they want – not to what the provider wants them to want.
When a service is provided, it should be comparable among competition or hopefully better. Aside from this, the service should be the priority – and our personal vision preferences stay second. This would be a bit arguable, for some, especially artists, because they want their work to be closely related to their identity. While it’s great to have a unique style and niche - it’s a happy customer that will keep a business going. Business, even in art, is still business. If personal self-expression is the priority, it can be attained without compensation.
In context, my work a photographer should be primarily about the clients and what they want the photos to look like. While my personal touch is present within the photos taken, I intend to cater to their exact needs. Being “brilliant” is achieved by listening and doing what a client expects. My personality and artistic vision should not become a higher priority than the customer’s requests, no matter how great I think the ideas may be.
Being gone, means that you are done when you can be done. No one wants his or her time milked out due to bragging or showing off. People know a good finished product when they see one. No amount of excess time and effort are going to make a lasting impression. Excellent work doesn’t need additional convincing of its worth.
Lastly, as a personal guideline: under-promise and over-deliver. People always love to get more than they expect to get. Everyone loves feeling like they are getting more for their money. On the flip-side, if something comes up, (in my case) such as a large gap in time that photos were not taken to due circumstances, then I have flexibility without pressure, and still be able to provide the quoted amount of photography. Always leave enough space for the unexpected.
For further related reading, please check out: Finding the Best Job.
