Left to our own devices, we photographers are quite the friendly bunch, if just a tad quirky. We rarely do anything without taking a million photos—it’s a way of life. Just accept it. We spend way too much time tinkering with editing software for fun and, only occasionally, beg you to purchase artsy prints.
Unfortunately, solo ventures rarely pays the bills, so we’re often forced to interact with a public that generally has little to no understanding of our jobs. For every genuinely appreciative client, we have three who ask us why we charge so much just to press a button for a few hours.
As a marketer, there’s a good chance you’ll call on one of us at some point in your career. Whether you need portraits, event pictures or product shots, there’s a few basic things you should know to make our partnership a pleasant one. Here’s a few ways to avoid pushing our (figurative) buttons.
Have a idea of what you want…
You probably think that giving me full creative control over the project is a foolproof path to amazing work. Unless your photographer is a mind reader, I assure you this is not the case.
While I appreciate the faith you place in my abilities at that precise moment, don’t blame me for being incredibly skeptical. I’ve heard it enough to know that “Do what you think is best,” almost always turns into “That’s not what I wanted!” or a request for a reshoot.
Neither of us wants to waste time. I’d rather get it right on the first booking, so give me as many details as you can. Have an idea of the types of shots you’d like to capture, the theme, the feel—anything that will help me get a grasp of your expectations. Unless I tell you otherwise, I promise your guidelines won’t hinder my creativity.
Please don’t make me do revisions on account of your unpreparedness. It’s a huge time sink and, frankly, downright rude. Additionally, don’t agree to something and then change the scope of work later after the project starts.
…but stop asking us to copy something you saw on Pinterest.
We get it. That shot you’re so keen on recreating is brilliant, perfectly executed and, well, not our idea. I’ll happily take inspiration from reference images and even attempt something stylistically similar if that’s what you want, but I won’t outright copy it.
“You told me to know what I want, and this is what I want! Stop being so picky,” I can hear you whine.
Creatives don’t like being asked to blatantly copy someone else’s work. It’s unoriginal and can sometimes lead to trouble. Art theft is a serious problem in the community, and I’m not keen on adding to the drama. Besides, repetition dilutes meaning. Trust me, that ripped off photo won’t have the same impact the second time around.
Yes, we’re photoshop masters. No, we can’t work magic.
Nothing sets me on edge faster than a client who makes nonchalant remarks about how everything can be fixed in postproduction. Backdrop too boring? Cut it out and replace it with a new one. Missing an element? Just plop it in later. Don’t like the way you look? Don’t even get me started on the woes of human vanity.
While it’s true that I can work wonders with editing software, I’d rather not make fixes that can be avoided or corrected during the shoot. Significant edits are labor intensive and can be tricky depending on a million different variables, lighting especially.
The caveat here is that some projects will call for massive, time-consuming edits. That’s fine as long as you’re upfront about your expectations and communicate your needs beforehand so it’s built into your package or quote.
At least if you do this, don’t expect the re-shoot to be free. (Image courtesy of Imgur)
We don’t appreciate competing with cell phone photographers at events.
I don’t care if you’re using the latest name-brand DSLR or a disposable Kodak camera, take as many photos as you want. No, really. Go ahead. I have the utmost respect for anyone wanting to capture a special event on film—until they get in my way.
I don’t expect you to understand the frustration of flipping through your camera roll and realizing a huge chunk of your shots are unusable thanks to people constantly stepping in your way with their cellphones raised to their face. Or the struggle of trying to coordinate a group photo with several distracted people unsure where to focus their eyes and attention.
You’re paying us to be there, and we want you to be happy with the results. But in order to do that, you’re going to have to ask your guests to reign it in.
Please don’t ask us for the RAW files.
Look, I can see where you’re coming from, but no matter how much you beg, plead or scream at me, I’m not going to hand over my original files. That’s like demanding an author release their manuscript unedited and unpolished. It’s not cool. Plus, I know you’re just going to slap it on Facebook without my watermark and give me zero credit. You’re not being sneaky.
Get Great Photos with BlueArx
You want amazing professional shots. We deliver. Product photos, event coverage, Google Business View—we do it all. Our photographers have years of experience and, more importantly, a keen eye for design. Give us a call today.
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