Client wants image cropped.

[ishutteratthethought]

Hello Folks,
Just trying to get a feel on what your thoughts are on an issue I have with a client that wants to buy one of my prints.
The issue is that the client wants me to crop the image to their specifications.
During the capture, I was thinking and composed the image in square format. This client wants it cropped to a landscape type image taking out the foreground (and some of the subject) leaving more sky in the image and more of 4 x 8 type of look.
I am not overly offended, just a little perplexed and wondering if I should accommodate.
I do not want to lose a sale (and possibly a repeat client) but I have strong feelings that the image I created is what I had imagined when I took the photograph & printed it, hence what it is…is.
Your thoughts appreciated.
Thanks,
Steve

[Ian Grant]

The client gets what he wants, if he (she) is paying and it's a commercial shoot, or being bought for commercial purposes.

If however the client just wants a print for his her wall, then it's up to you, they can get the framer to do the cropping later if they want, that's my take on it.

Ian

[guyjr]

I still believe in "the customer is always right" both as a customer and as a professional. Crop it, sell it, then delete it.

[ishutteratthethought]

Thanks Ian, your comment is appreciated.
Steve

[bobwysiwyg]

I still believe in "the customer is always right" both as a customer and as a professional. Crop it, sell it, then delete it.

+1

At work we had two rules. Rule one was the customer is always right. Rule two was go back and read rule one.

If you were on the phone they couldn't see you gritting your teeth anyway.

[dpurdy]

I am with Ian on this one. If it is a commercial client either paying for one time use or buying all the rights to the image, then consider it. If it was me and my art work and someone offered to buy a print if I cropped it their way, I would do it if the image was otherwise a failure to me, or if it was an image that I felt is successful I would tell them it is what it is and either buy it or don't.
Dennis

[SuzanneR]

For commercial work... let them crop it, but if it's a fine art print, and they want you to print it again with their crop, I'm not sure I'd agree to that... well, depends on the money I suppose!!

[Christopher Walrath]

Amen Suzanne. Reduce the price slightly and suggest that they can make whatever amends they so choose, IMHO.

[cabbiinc]

If they are paying you for your services then you're almost obligated to givem what they paid for.

If they're just an admirer that's buying your art you can do whatever feels best. Sometimes you'll feel like the art stands the way it is, other times you'll feel better with a full belly and some paid bills.

I for one don't think there's a "wrong" answer.

[Bruce Watson]

The issue is that the client wants me to crop the image to their specifications.

If it's an art print, and it sounds like it is from your description of how you framed and composed it, then it's just a question of how much your artistic integrity is worth to you. Standing by your artistic vision might cost you a sale. But what does abandoning your vision and letting someone else dictate your composition cost you?

Been there, done that...