Communicate Your Vision Early
As a photographer, one of the most important things you can do to ensure a successful photo session is to get a clear understanding of what your client is looking for from the very beginning. This is why I always encourage my clients to send over images that they absolutely love before our session.
By providing these inspiration images, my clients are giving me a great starting point to work from. I can then take the time to analyze the style, composition, and overall feel of the images they’ve shared and use that as a guide to emulate what they want. This ensures that when they arrive on set, I’m able to immediately deliver the exact look and feel they’re going for.
For example, I recently had a client who was looking for some maternity photos inspired by the beautiful images she had seen of Ciara and Kelly Rowland. By having those reference photos ahead of time, I was able to recreate a very similar style right from the start of our session. My client was thrilled because she got exactly what she had envisioned, and then we were able to build upon that foundation to capture even more creative and unique shots.
Make Your Job (and Your Client’s) Easier
Asking your clients to provide inspiration images doesn’t just benefit them – it also makes your job as the photographer much easier. When you have a clear understanding of the aesthetic your client is going for, it takes a lot of the guesswork out of the planning and execution of the shoot.
You don’t have to waste time trying to interpret their vision or second-guessing what they might want. Instead, you can focus your energy on bringing that vision to life in the most beautiful and impactful way possible. And of course, the end result is a client who is over the moon with the photos, because they’re getting exactly what they wanted.
It’s truly a win-win situation. Your client gets the photos of their dreams, and you get to showcase your skills and creativity in a way that makes them feel heard and understood. What could be better than that?
Elevate the Experience
Beyond just the final images, providing this level of personalized service can also elevate the overall experience for your clients. When they feel that you’ve truly listened to their needs and are going the extra mile to deliver, it creates a sense of trust and connection that can be hard to come by in the photography world.
Your clients will appreciate the extra effort, and they’re much more likely to not only be thrilled with the end result, but to also become loyal, repeat customers. And as we all know, word-of-mouth referrals from happy clients are worth their weight in gold.
Put it into Practice
So, if you’re looking to take your client relationships and the quality of your work to the next level, I highly recommend making it a standard practice to ask your clients for inspiration images before every session. It’s a simple step that can have a huge impact on the overall experience and outcome.
Not only will it help ensure that you’re delivering exactly what your clients want, but it will also make your job as the photographer much easier and more enjoyable. And who doesn’t love a win-win situation like that?
Conclusion
Remember, the key to success in photography is not just about your technical skills behind the camera – it’s also about your ability to connect with and understand your clients. By taking the time to get a clear vision of what they’re looking for, you’ll be able to create images that truly resonate with them and leave a lasting impression.
So, what are you waiting for? Start incorporating this simple tip into your workflow, and watch as your client relationships and the quality of your work soar to new heights. Happy shooting!