Have you ever put yourself in your clients shoes? What is something you would want your own personal photographer to do on your photoshoots? What would help you trust your photographer even more? Here are 5 things that your clients wish you would do during their session.
1. Make Your Expectations Clear
2 Actually DIRECT Them
3. Encourage Them!
4 Show Them The Photos You’re Taking
5. Take Breaks
Make Your Expectations Clear
99% of people are uncomfortable getting photos taken. But your clients have hired you because they trust that you will be able to make them appear relaxed even though they were so nervous leading up to the shoot. When it comes to things that they are not knowledgable about, people love to be told exactly what to do. Your clients should not have to guess or even ask what the shoot will be like. It is your job as their photographer to make your goals and expectations clear to them before the shoot even begins.
I start prepping my clients for their engagement session the day they book me for their wedding. I send a questionnaire and a what to wear guide, which begins to show them exactly what they can expect on a shoot with me. On the day of the shoot (before I take a single photo), I give them a little pep talk explaining how I make them comfortable and how to make themselves comfortable. I ask them to trust me because I understand how awkward taking photos can be. This 2 minute pep talk alone creates an atmosphere where my clients know that they will never be judged and that I value who they are as people and as a couple.
Actually Direct Them
I am all about capturing people in the moment and giving them the freedom to kiss whenever they want/feel the moment. But once again, people love being told what to do when they are uncomfortable. And if you make your expectations clear before the shoot, you will also have their trust to completely listen to everything you are telling them. I’m definitely not much of a poser. All of my clients would probably tell you that I told them to “just get comfortable” while I tell them to sit on the ground. However, I keep myself aware of their actions at all times as if I was directing a movie. I know it sounds corny but it’s real! I really do feel like a movie director when I’m shooting! Your clients are your cast and they know their parts very very well. But YOU know what looks good. Direct them while also allowing them to express who they are as people and as a couple. Make sense?
Encourage them!
Getting your photos taken is an extremely vulnerable position to be in. My wife and I have had our photos taken many times and I can honestly say that there have been some pretty uncomfortable experiences where we did not feel encouraged. Think about it this way. Your clients cannot see what you see. You see the full picture but all they see is their partner sitting right next them. They need to hear that they look fantastic and they need affirmation that they are doing what you want them to do. I am constantly affirming my clients because I know what it’s like to feel like you aren’t doing it right. And how would they know that they are doing it right if you don’t tell them!?!? Like a lot… a lot a lot.
Show them the photos you are taking
Why don’t we take it a step further!? If you want your clients to totally trust that they will like the photos you are taking, SHOW THEM! Show them what you are seeing! Show them what their faces look like! Through that, they will have more trust in you!
I get that you might be hesitant to do this because you want to only show them the finished product. But GET OVER IT. It will just make the finished product even more exciting for them because they’ll have a better idea of what is coming. And yes, there may be times where they are not happy with the way that they look in the photos. WHICH IS A GOOD THING! Because now you can ask them what they don’t like and be sure to keep those things in mind as you are shooting. Trust me, it’s much better to get this feedback during the shoot than after you’ve delivered their gallery.
Take breaks
I am not saying that you need to go and grab a beer halfway through your shoot and sit around chatting for 30 minutes (but I mean, sometimes this can be really nice). Taking breaks just helps people relax a little bit. Before, I used to go through shoots thinking I had to rush from pose to pose in order to eliminate any awkward silences. But what this did was exhaust me and my clients and make it harder to be creative and comfortable. You can take breaks to drink water, have snacks, take another shot of tequila, chat for a little bit, watch the ocean, bask in the beauty of the earth. The options are endless. The bottom line is, just relax a little bit. It makes everyone more comfortable.
I promise you that all of these tips will make your clients feel so comfortable with you and you will have their trust! Try it out on your next shoot and let me know how it goes!
