Clients and Deaths

[Onrey]

Evening everyone,
I wasnt sure which to post this in, Mods feel free to move it.
In less than a year I have had 2 clients passaway, both were very young, back in May a 19 yr old, this last week an almost 6yr old( Car wreck). I just got the call for photos of her yesterday, I met with her cheerleader coachs (Mother still in hospital, may or may not make it to the funeral) and let them view all of her photos, they decided on the final photos, I edited them and printed them out (also provided every photo of her on a cd)and then met again with them Sat night, family or funeral home needed them early Sun morning to work on some type of collage poster board and slide show for the viewing Sunday night. Funeral is Monday. Its momments like this I don't even consider charging. Right or wrong as a buisiness I still won't charge, In my opinion there are enough people already profiting from this tradgedy and rightly so, but for my little bit I just cant justify or live with it. How do you handle this?

Also, the little league football program she cheered for is having their banquet in a week and have asked me to provide a large collage to honor her ( I have asked the league to give the collage to her family afterwards). Now I can make a simple collage but I feel like it needs to be better than just a simple collage BUT I dont feel my PS skills are good enough.
Any ideas? Suggestions? Offers to help?

I'll stop rambling/venting now.
Thanks

[nikos]

Originally Posted by Onrey

Evening everyone,
In less than a year I have had 2 clients passaway, both were very young, back in May a 19 yr old, this last week an almost 6yr old( Car wreck). I just got the call for photos of her yesterday, I met with her cheerleader coachs (Mother still in hospital, may or may not make it to the funeral) and let them view all of her photos, they decided on the final photos, I edited them and printed them out (also provided every photo of her on a cd)and then met again with them Sat night, family or funeral home needed them early Sun morning to work on some type of collage poster board and slide show for the viewing Sunday night. Funeral is Monday. Its momments like this I don't even consider charging. Right or wrong as a buisiness I still won't charge, In my opinion there are enough people already profiting from this tradgedy and rightly so, but for my little bit I just cant justify or live with it. How do you handle this?

Also, the little league football program she cheered for is having their banquet in a week and have asked me to provide a large collage to honor her ( I have asked the league to give the collage to her family afterwards). Now I can make a simple collage but I feel like it needs to be better than just a simple collage BUT I dont feel my PS skills are good enough.
Any ideas? Suggestions? Offers to help?

I'll stop rambling/venting now.
Thanks

I completely understand, and, in my business (not photo related), I too have donated my services or have not charged customers under similar circumstances.

If you can link a gallery of pictures, I bet all the great talented DGrinners can come up with something special.

Nikos

[MyView]

My heart goes out to her family!!! I can't imagine their pain!

If you need different maybe embellishments or anything, depending on how you decide to do the collage, there are many many many digital scrapbooking sites on the net where you can find free downloads. Since you would be giving this as a gift and not profitting from it, I don't think there would be any problems using the free downloads. Just a thought I would pass along.

I agree with the link to photos and maybe we could all work together!!!

[anwmn1]

Originally Posted by Onrey

Evening everyone,
I wasnt sure which to post this in, Mods feel free to move it.
In less than a year I have had 2 clients passaway, both were very young, back in May a 19 yr old, this last week an almost 6yr old( Car wreck). I just got the call for photos of her yesterday, I met with her cheerleader coachs (Mother still in hospital, may or may not make it to the funeral) and let them view all of her photos, they decided on the final photos, I edited them and printed them out (also provided every photo of her on a cd)and then met again with them Sat night, family or funeral home needed them early Sun morning to work on some type of collage poster board and slide show for the viewing Sunday night. Funeral is Monday. Its momments like this I don't even consider charging. Right or wrong as a buisiness I still won't charge, In my opinion there are enough people already profiting from this tradgedy and rightly so, but for my little bit I just cant justify or live with it. How do you handle this?

Also, the little league football program she cheered for is having their banquet in a week and have asked me to provide a large collage to honor her ( I have asked the league to give the collage to her family afterwards). Now I can make a simple collage but I feel like it needs to be better than just a simple collage BUT I dont feel my PS skills are good enough.
Any ideas? Suggestions? Offers to help?

I'll stop rambling/venting now.
Thanks

Wow that is pretty tough. I feel you did the right thing and are on track for the league collage as well. There are some dgrinners and smugmug memebers that do collages. You may try posting this in the sports section or searching for sports collage/ poster on smugmug. I am sure someone will give you some pointers.

Best of luck and hope the photos you have taken will ease your pain as well as the families.

Aaron

[Andy]

Onrey, make a link to a gallery with the original images. I'll help find a giving Dgrinner who will help you.

[gus]

Originally Posted by Andy

Onrey, make a link to a gallery with the original images. I'll help find a giving Dgrinner who will help you.

If my skills were up to it ..i'd be more than happy to help you out but there are a lot of good people on this board whom will surely help you & do a great job.

That is a sad post.

[Onrey]

Wow, what a community, thanks guys n gals.

I just got to work, her photos are on a external hard drive at home, I'll create a gallery when I get home and post a link here. Again, I can make a simple collage but for this simple isnt good enough.

Specs? if your interested in helping:

1) Collage needs to be 13x19 max ( this is as big as I can print at home) but can be smaller.

2) I'll note her coachs favorite photos to use , and you can decide on others.

3) Dont be afraid to be creative( I'm not creative) , you know this child about as much as I do, cept I took her photos.

4) This will be given to her parent(s) or family afterwards, I'd like it to be frameable , something they can hang on their wall ect and bring back good memories.


Thanks for being so careing and willing to help.

[Sam]

Onrey,

You wrote: " I don't even consider charging. Right or wrong as a buisiness I still won't chargerote: "

Because your heart commands you to do this, you are already richer.

Sam

[Frog Lady]

Onrey,

This type of event is felt by even peripheral observers. I think you are doing the right thing and hope that this community can help you produce just the right type of momento for the event and parents.

Originally Posted by Sam

You wrote: " I don't even consider charging. Right or wrong as a buisiness I still won't chargerote: "

Because your heart commands you to do this, you are already richer.

Sam

Sam, what a beautiful quote.

C.

[Angelo]

Originally Posted by Sam

Onrey,

You wrote: " I don't even consider charging. Right or wrong as a buisiness I still won't chargerote: "

Because your heart commands you to do this, you are already richer.

Sam

[Onrey]

Thanks everyone for the nice words and offers to help.

Ok I have uploaded the photo's 6 in all, one is the same but a custom edit B&W with a hint of color.

1) I labled their favorite, its the 1st in the gallery, you may use the rest as you see fit.

2) Max Size 13x19, but may be smaller if needed

3) Somewhere appropriate put "In Memory Of Haley Lollar"

4) The first 5 photos are all UNEDITED, so you can edit and crop to the sizes you need, 6th photo is the same as the first but its B&W with tint of color, I "Thought" it might make a nice background photo, you decide to use it or not, its your project.

5)Link to my gallery http://fitephotography.smugmug.com/Weddings
Lollar Gallery, Password is :
6) THANK YOU SO MUCH e-mail (fitephotography@gmailDOTcom) me if you have any questions OR my cell # is on my web site

[Andy]

So, who's going to take a stab at this?

Say so, now, we'd love to see a few examples. Think of it as a collage exercise!

[Ann McRae]

Onrey

Have a look and let me know if one of these simple styles suits what you are after - then I can give it a shot.

http://canadian-ann.smugmug.com/gallery/1609705

ann

[Onrey]

Ann, possibly the 1st one, 12x18

Thanks so much

[Dee]

Originally Posted by Onrey

Thanks everyone for the nice words and offers to help.

Ok I have uploaded the photo's 6 in all, one is the same but a custom edit B&W with a hint of color.

1) I labled their favorite, its the 1st in the gallery, you may use the rest as you see fit.

2) Max Size 13x19, but may be smaller if needed

3) Somewhere appropriate put "In Memory Of Haley Lollar"

4) The first 5 photos are all UNEDITED, so you can edit and crop to the sizes you need, 6th photo is the same as the first but its B&W with tint of color, I "Thought" it might make a nice background photo, you decide to use it or not, its your project.

5)Link to my gallery http://fitephotography.smugmug.com/Weddings
Lollar Gallery, Password is : dgrin
6) THANK YOU SO MUCH e-mail (fitephotography@gmailDOTcom) me if you have any questions OR my cell # is on my web site

But only if Ann doesn't mind. This is not the occasion to make this a competition. Do you have her birth date and date of death? Do you know some of her favorite things, pets, activities, etc.

This is so sad, my grandson is almost 6, I have to admit the photos brought tears to my eyes.

[Onrey]

Dee, not a competiton at all, just some very Nice folks trying to help a family and a not so talented or imaginative nor creative, unskilled PS photographer (ME)

Birthday is Dec 12, 2000.....Death Nov 21, 2006 I spoke to her coach a few min ago, she will get the rest of the info and call me back tuesday night.

This has concerned me a bit, I'd hate for dozens of fab Dgrinners take the time and effort to make collages then I dont use it, If I have multiple collages I WILL have to post which one I chose, or maybe better yet let those that made the collages vote on the best one and I'll use it

I understand about your grandson, my photos arent that great of her shadows and bright sun are bad enough but combine the two, half of her is shadded and upper half sun, LOL that was half time show in the middle of the field, they chose the perfect spot LOL

Thanks Dee

[JenGrace]

My sympathies go out to those families...and to you as well. You are so kind to do this for them.

[Dee]

Since you'll be printing this yourself? On your own printer? What dpi or ppi would you like the file to be.

I usually print around 150-200 dpi on my inkjet, but let me know if you prefer to use more or less. If you are photo printing it, do you need 300 dpi?

[Onrey]

Dee, I have a Epson R1800, I usually print my stuff at 300.

P.S I updated my last post with the dates


Jen, thanks for the kind words

[Andy]

Originally Posted by Onrey

Dee, not a competiton at all, just some very Nice folks trying to help a family and a not so talented or imaginative nor creative, unskilled PS photographer (ME)

Birthday is Dec 12, 2000.....Death Nov 21, 2006 I spoke to her coach a few min ago, she will get the rest of the info and call me back tuesday night.

This has concerned me a bit, I'd hate for dozens of fab Dgrinners take the time and effort to make collages then I dont use it, If I have multiple collages I WILL have to post which one I chose, or maybe better yet let those that made the collages vote on the best one and I'll use it

DO NOT worry one bit about this. The folks who create these, they're doing it out of goodness of heart. If you choose it, great. We'll all learn something along the way here, and the folks that make collages will be getting some great PS practice, too.

Don't spend a second worrying about the contributor's feelings being hurt.

And to ALL: Thanks for helping out! This is what our Dgrin is all about :)