As a photographer, there’s no doubt that each client and photo session is going to vary. From the types of people they are, their goals of the photos, your style of photography, it’s safe to you may never have the same photo session twice. However, that doesn’t mean there won’t be constants that you should be knowledgeable about to help improve the quality of the session.
Appearance
In most cases, your clients are going to want to look and feel their best in their photos so making sure their appearance looks as best as possible should be a priority. From a photographer’s perspective, be sure to get accustomed to what the client’s goals are for the session. Are they going for more professional looks or something more natural? Helping to match someone’s look to their environment and expectations is perfect for creating the most well-rounded photos.
When it comes to physical features, such as makeup, hairstyles, facial hair, and accessories, your clients may ask for suggestions to help better their look. For men, shave with proper products, like these from Harry’s that are designed to be skin-protecting. That way your skin is less likely to become irritated before your session. I personally use shaving products from Harry’s. The cost is better than alternatives and the quality holds ups.
Likewise, for women, plan on taking practice photos with your makeup ahead of time to see how it looks. Some makeup brands like Bare Minerals offer a photogenic foundation that can give you glowing skin and a perfect look. As a photographer, don’t be afraid to give this advice and use past clients as examples of what can be done. This extra advice and personal flair can turn a good session into a great one
Pose
Part of being a photographer is being able to find the best way to frame your subjects and get the most out of your session. In addition to getting them to look the part is the way you position them in the frame. Again, this will vary from session to session, but it is your chance to make your photos unique from other photographers and deliver a quality product to your subject in the process.
If you’re lacking inspiration, don’t be afraid to ask the client if there are any particular poses they wanted to be photographed in. It’s important to remember that sessions should be a collaborative process and that you and your client should be on the same page and working toward the same goal.
Clothing
Wardrobe selection for any photo session plays a huge role, and making sure your client’s clothing matches the theme of their session is a decision that should be talked about prior. After all, the final choice should come down to the client but suggesting different outfit options may be helpful for them and beneficial for you.
For the best success, suggest that your clients bring multiple outfits that can last the duration of the session. Certain colors and styles might work better in some situations rather than others, and having multiple options on-site can make the whole session run smoother. Multiple outfits and locations can provide a variety of looks for your client, so they feel like they can leave one session with a plethora of different photo styles to choose from.
Communicate and be friendly
At the end of the day, the photographer is hired by the client to receive the best product possible, so fostering the relationship between you and your subject is key to making the session flourish. It’s important that the relationship is beneficial to both parties as you are each trying to help each other to get the best photos.
Be sure to bring your smile, best attitude, and creativity to every session so you can ensure the same energy back from the client. Establishing these great relationships can even lead to more potential clients just through word-of-mouth and recommendations. You never know what kind of impact you can leave on a client!
