Best Business Practices for Photographers [191]
Thank-You Notes: How Much They Do and How Right They Are
In this fast-paced world, the use of a simple handwritten thank-you note has all but vanished from the mail-scape of interpersonal communications. As such, a written note by you to a client, thanking them for the assignment, will almost without exception be well received and regarded as a thoughtful reminder of your work and you.
Here's an example of a thank-you letter:
In Robert Solomon's The Art of Client Service (Kaplan Publishing, 2008), he makes this important point. "It's amazing how much power those two words have. A simple thank you…to clients for their business should be a given. Yet it often is not. People assume that others know they are grateful…. Go out of your way to say thanks, for the smallest favor, for the biggest help, and for anything in between." In today's busy world, when do you find the time? The same way you find the time to surf the web or shoot the breeze on an assignment. I recommend you make the time and make a difference in a client's day when they get the note and think well of you.
Recommended Reading
Griffin, Jack. How to Say It at Work: Putting Yourself Across with Power Words, Phrases, Body Language, and Communication Secrets (Prentice Hall, 1988).
Kirschman, DeaAnne. Getting Down to Business: Successful Writing at Work(LearningExpress, 2002).
Kramon, James M. You Don't Need a Lawyer (Workman Publishing Company, 2002).
Smith, Lisa A. Business E-Mail: How to Make It Professional and Effective (Writing & Editing, 2002).
Sterne, Jim and Anthony Priore. Email Marketing: Using Email to Reach Your Target Audience and Build Customer Relationships (Wiley, 2000).
Strunk, William Jr. and E. B. White.The Elements of Style (Longman; Fourth edition, 2000).
Chapter 23 Attorneys: When You Need Them, They're Your Best Friend (or at Least Your Advocate)
The best time to engage an attorney is prior to actually needing one. Whether it's for contract language review, queries about how to register a copyright, the legality of running a business from your home, or myriad other reasons, taking the time to learn what an attorney can do for you prior to actually needing one can save you time, money, and a lot of headaches.
Consider this: A respected and well-off businessman in the community receives a message from his lawyer, quite insistent on a meeting at the businessman's earliest convenience. Having been in meetings and unreachable all day, this message has floated to the top of his message stack. Upon turning up at his lawyer's office, he makes his way directly to see his attorney.
"I have really bad news and terrible news. Which do you want to hear first?" posits the lawyer.
"Usually, I look to the good news to cushion the bad, but if those are my options, I'll take the bad first."
The lawyer responds, "Your wife has found a photograph worth at least a million dollars."
The businessman is puzzled and bemused. "Bad news? How's that bad news? What on earth could the terrible news be?"
The lawyer states, "The photograph—it's of you and your secretary."
Everyone has a good lawyer joke—this one was inspired by a similar joke, the author of which is unknown. People love to poke fun at lawyers until they need them. Then an attorney is the only thing that will keep you from jail, a bankrupting judgment, and/or theft of your intellectual property, to name just a few things. Although this chapter won't deal with how you might resolve criminal proceedings brought against you, nor civil proceedings resulting from your car crash or your dog that bit the neighbor, it should shed some insight into how a good attorney (or an attorney who specializes) will be one of the better investments you can make.
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NOTE
Disclaimer: My attorney advised me to tell you, dear reader, that I am not an attorney, nor have I played one on TV, and as such, the counsel in this chapter, the chapters on copyright, and in fact this entire book is to be construed as general advice. Should you need legal advice on any matter, you