How To Work with a Photographer
How to Work with Your Photographer
How do you actually work with a photographer? In the age of social media, everyone needs good photos. We all carry decent cameras in our pockets but unless you know how to work the settings cell phone pictures aren’t that great. Plus, no one wants a selfie for their professional LinkedIn picture or on their wedding day.
So, sometimes you need a photographer. We are going to talk about how to work with one. Since Google is ever-present, this article doesn’t cover how to find one, but offers tips on making your selection and going through the process with your photographer.
This article also assumes you’re not a model or accustomed to working with a photographer regularly.
Know What You Want (but trust your photographer)
Photography is an artistic expression for the photographer, but when they are hired, they are offering a service - that means the client’s needs come first!
Know what you want from the shoot, and communicate honestly with your photographer. They want you to be happy, and they need to know what will make you happy. Trust your photographer’s expertise, but know what will make it a successful shoot for you.
If you don’t know, that’s okay! Your photographer can guide the conversation and provide options to ensure you are happy.
The first wedding Fizz and Flash shot was very casual. The bride and groom did not care about posed photos; the only traditional photos they wanted were of the vows. What they wanted was candid shots, and one very specific shot to be taken during the party. The couple was very clear about their expectations and what they truly cared about. Fizz and Flash confirmed all details, and provided opportunities for the couple to pivot.
Sure, it was an odd experience not to take traditional wedding photos, but the client’s wants and comfort is key. Clear communication and trust between the couple and Fizz and Flash ensured that everyone was happy.
Align With Your Photographer
The photographer should take you through the customer journey during the booking process. The customer journey is the complete experience a customer has with a company, product, or service. Describing it in more detail would be an entirely different article, and frankly, kind of boring.
What’s important for this blog is that photography customers should feel that they are working with a professional. The photographer should confirm details, share portfolio items, and follow up with you. A professional never ghosts.
They must be open to why you’re engaging their services, and how they can deliver an excellent product. If you have questions, ask! If any vendor or company is upset with questions, they are not someone you should do business with.
There’s nothing worse than finding out afterwards that you missed an important moment that the client really wants. Tell us, and we promise to provide plenty of opportunities for you to voice your thoughts and needs.
Bonus advice: always check that a photographer’s work matches your needs and the aesthetic you want. Most photographers have a signature aesthetic. A skilled photographer will be able to adapt to their clients’ needs. A classic example is that any skilled photographer can shoot a decent head shot. However, very few people want an avant garde or heavily edited head shot for their LinkedIn profile.
Pick the Right Photographer for What You Want
Seems obvious, but it might not be. Photographers have niches and styles for a reason. If you’re good at everything, you’re good at nothing. Of course, many photographers have more than one niche. A product photographer is probably also a brand photographer and a LinkedIn photographer. A family photographer probably also does head shots, newborns, and engagements.
Where it gets a little muddy is when a photographer has too many specialties, or a photographer is picked purely for aesthetics. It’s okay to approach a photographer and ask them to adapt previous work to your needs, or to go with a photographer learning a new niche or learning photography entirely. New photographers charge less specifically because they are learning.
Be wary of anyone who says “I do it all”, because it is impossible to do everything well. There’s definitely exceptions, but exceptions are always the odd ones and not the rule. Above all, the photographer should work with you to deliver the best possible results for your vision and needs.
Pick the Right Photographer for You
Lastly, pick the right photographer for you. That can mean anything! Most of Fizz and Flash’s clientele comes from real-world interactions when the client “liked our vibe.” True story - in fact, true stories.
Just because someone has the skills doesn’t mean you feel comfortable with them, or they’re in budget, or available, or whatever is the key deciding factor for you. Regardless of how much you like someone’s work or how affordable they are, do not choose a photographer who is demanding or makes you uncomfortable.
Trust your instincts. You shouldn’t get to your shoot and feel uncomfortable, rushed, or like you’re unimportant. Shoot day is about you, and you deserve to enjoy the experience.
Thanks for reading these tips on how to work with a photographer. We hope these insights will help you with future choices and empower your decision-making.
Feel free to reach out if you’d like specific advice for your upcoming shoot, or if you'd like to explore a collaboration. Fizz and Flash wants to make you shine!