What You Can Do To Stop Scope Creep With Clients

 

Let’s chat about Scope Creep. Scope Creep is when your original project time and tasks grow and takes (requires) more time than originally agreed upon with your client. Your duties/tasks . . . "creep" up.

Scope creep isn’t always intentional, or your clients trying to taking advantage of you, but it happens so you want to have a plan (conversation, email response) ready when it happens.  It could be a 2 day photo shoot that turns into another half day or maybe 50 product shots that turns into 70.

Or, you be asked after Agreement and Contract is signed 4 days into a multi-week shoot “We’re all coming in hour and half earlier in morning before Creative Director arrives on set now.  That’s some serious “creeping”, right!?  (Yes, happened to me!) So, they don’t have to be big, drastic time commitments ~ they just sorta “creep” ~ but they do add up.

It can happen in a scenarios like this . . .

✔  Photo Stylist gets job with specific tasks.
✔  Photo Stylist sends Client contract with all specifics.
✔  Photo Stylist gets signed contract back from client.
✔  Shoot Day ~ everythings going great ~ la 🎶la 🎶la
✔ ”Just take you a second” random tasks start rollin’ in.
✔ The “would ya mind doing this” start comin’.
✔ The “We’re thinking about this prop, Can you go get it?”(2 hours away)
✔ The “we think we will go over shoot time” about 1/2 day. (or worse, they don’t tell you and just keep the day rollin’)

Photo, Prop Stylists & Creatives ~ you can update your invoice with additional tasks when that “creep starts a creepin . . ." ;)

You do not want to add up all the hours you prepped and shopped, time on set or location and then wrapping and returning items for a photo shoot and then realize you made less than a couple dollars an hour for your styling assignment. (It happens)  Your gift and talent of styling is valuable.  Keep track of your time.  Just a short and simple conversation and email will confirm your updated terms (& time) when tasks start to add up. (I included sample email below.)

Both your Contract and an adjustment of the assignment can be made legal via sending an email (and receiving email back with your client agreeing to your terms.) You HAVE to get the email back from client for it to be legally binding.  The absolute best way is to send your client an Official Photo Styling Contract.  If you need a Styling Services Contract, we have one in our Business of Styling Shop.   (Our goal is to organize, prepare and protect you and your styling business.) You can see our digital products we offer in our Business of Styling Shop.

Scope Creep comes from a reference Scope of Work (SOW) which is part of your Contract and Agreement that describes everything you are responsible for in your styling job. Want to know more photo styling industry terms such as this? We have a FREE Creative Industry Roles and Terms in our Free Resource Library to help you.

So, you may have seen some of my posts about client love. I have even written a post about the unique and creative gifts, experiences and things I have done because I love my clients and I appreciate them selecting me. I do extend myself to clients. There is a way of showin’ the love while doing business.  This is more based on constant or even frequent “creeping” from a client that really adds up.

Sometimes, it may be intentional from a client, sometimes not. I included just a very basic letter to help you. There is absolutely nothing wrong with saying . . . “I will update my invoice to accommodate the new tasks.” I always have the conversation about tasks (mileage, time extension, etc.) first ~ then I tell them I will send letter. (same day as conversation!) We don’t have to complicate it. Quick convo - Quick letter.

Many Photo Stylists I have talked to have built up frustration ~ then resentment toward a client ~ for adding tasks expecting them not to charge more. It doesn’t have to be that way.

I hope this helps you!  Reach out and let me know!

Bonnie ~

Image Credit ｜ CoffeeandMilk via Istockphoto