There are a lot of things that clients don’t know about photographers. Not things like my favorite color or restaurant, because if I’m doing my job in getting to know you – you may actually know those things. Things that a lot of people do, that can rub us the wrong way. Personally, I don’t think people usually do these things to make photographers mad or upset, I genuinely believe it’s just from a lack of knowledge of our profession or trying to not hurt our feelings.
#1 – It’s O.K. to say no! Photographers genuinely don’t mind when you say no to our services. We know that not every person is our ideal client. We may not be in your budget, we may not have the right style, or our personalities might not match. So if you inquire with us, and one of these turns out to be the case, let us know! When I get an inquiry from a couple, or meet with a potential client, I know stepping into the situation that this is going to be coin flip. What drives us crazy, is when we don’t know how the coin lands. I personally will send a no-pressure follow up email, and many times those go unanswered. If your photographer, or really any small business owner sends you an email, just send a reply. Heck you could even lie if you are uncomfortable telling them you don’t want to book! Just a simple reply lets us know “hey i got your email, thanks for the info”.
#2 – There is a difference between “You cost too much” and “You aren’t in our budget”. ‘You cost too much’ implies to us you don’t think our services are worth what we charge. This can be a little offensive to us, and most likely you mean the latter ‘you aren’t in our budget’. Most photographers are friends with other photographers and are happy to refer you to someone who may charge a little less. We know not everyone has the budget for every photographer and are happy to help you out. We want everyone to have great photos!
#3 We aren’t mind-readers. It’s shocking, I know 😉 If you have a shot in mind that you are dying to get, or you don’t like black and white images, or your parents will fight mortal kombat style if placed anywhere near each other at your wedding.. Please. Tell us! My job is to give you, my client, what you want. Sometimes your session can go extraordinarily better if you just tell us these little tidbits beforehand. It can save time, stress, and anyone getting upset.
#4 – We aren’t in it just for the money. Most photographers do what they do, because they love the art of photography (there will always be a few bad apples in every bunch). I love photography and have since I was a child. I love how it makes me feel, but I also love what it allows me to do for my clients. I love capturing memories and preserving history in a beautiful way for the people who hire me. It’s a wonderful gift I get to do, and I would probably do it for free if that was possible. Unfortunately, I have bills just like everyone else. My prices reflect what I need to charge to support my family, all of my training, as well as what I have had to invest back into my business.
#5 – We love feedback! (and you!) After everything is said and done, you have your photos, albums, prints, etc. How are you feeling? Sometimes we assume that you like your photos because we don’t hear back from you. We love when you put our minds at ease and let us know for sure that you love your photos. We also want to know how you love your products if you received them. We are always looking for the best companies to work with so let us know, did it take too long for the album company to make your album, is the quality of the paper or the sheen okay on your prints, is the USB drive you received good quality? We will appreciate the information and it may make for an even more stellar experience next time!
