Help with a client

[Kimberly Dow]

I had this gentleman I know fairly well come in today. He is a past client and he wants to put a frame shop in my studio. What he asked today though was for a quote on a portrait.

The quandary is this - he is the Vice President of the bank here, a forceful guy. He wants a portrait of the bank owner who happens to be one of Texas's past governors. He is well-known and has a fairly impressive art collection. This would be the most prominent/public portrait I have ever done.

The VP is going to the governor's ranch this weekend and wants to take a photo of him on the front porch. I immediately stated that I would like to take the photo or get a professional to do it, but he is adamant about keeping it a suprise. It is to be a Christmas gift from all the employees at the bank.

I can always hope he takes a great shot, but what are the chances? Now that I know better I will not humiliate myself by having something done from a bad reference. Especially for such a public figure. This would be all over the papers, etc. So, it's good news, but I do not know how to convince him about the reference. When pushed he just stated that he had faith in my ability. What now?