Compositional control

[ronll]

One of my long-time good clients has recently taken to giving me the view angle of each image in advance in Sketchup. Altho it actually saves me time if I just have to mimic their view angle, I find that it restricts my control over the composition resulting in less dynamic images. It is not that the client is not good at choosing a view angle or knowing what they want, it is just that the lighting, coloring, texturing and other compositional elements are not the same in Sketchup as they are in a professional image. I find that it is important to work these elements in concert with the camera settings to get the most satisfying composition.

 

This is difficult to talk to the client about without sounding like I'm a whining tempermental artist and that I'm putting my ego above their needs. But I honestly think I can give them a better image that does meet their needs if they give me more latitude and trust in this. They think they are helping me, but they are not. How do others deal with this issue?

[Neil_cg]

If they ask for a view and I feel it really isnt working, i'll do another one (very rough) of what I think would be better.

Sometimes they'll be stubborn, but quite a lot of the time they'll change to the new view.

[mattclinch]

you have to reason with them, and explain in detail why you think your alternatives (i'd provide them with 3-4 other suggestions) work better artistically and compositionally. you are being employed as an artist, so to have an artistic opinion and artistic eye is not 'whining', it is quite justified.

 

at the end of the day if, after your best efforts, they still stick with their composition, then ce la vie, but at least you will have tried to express some compositional creativity into their project.

[Nic H]

ask them if they would like to do it themselves?