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