Common Photography Client Questions to Answer Before a Shoot
One of the keys to a seamless photography session is setting expectations early on so that there is no confusion at any point before, during, or after the shoot. Answering these common photography client questions before your client can ask them will help them know exactly what to expect during the entire photography process. It’s also going to filter out any clients that may not align with you and your photography business.
In this blog post, I’m breaking down 6 common photography client questions your client may ask. While all of these questions are going to be asked, first and foremost, in your photography contract, make sure the answers are included in the welcome guide, pricing PDF, photography contact form, email, or some other method of communication. Have the information logged and easily accessible before their shoot, so they never need to ask the questions in the first place. I personally recommend having these questions available on your website or included in your welcome guide as well, as this will significantly cut down the back-and-forth and make the client experience even better.
1) How long is the photoshoot?
This information helps with two aspects. Number one, it's a courtesy so that they can block out an appropriate amount of time in their day. For example, maybe it's an engagement session and they want to plan a dinner afterward. Number two, it helps for the length of time in the photography contract not to come as a surprise.
2) How long will it take to receive the pictures?
Your clients are obviously excited about getting the pictures back so they’ll want to know how long they’ll have to wait. This is definitely something that should already be included in your photography contract, but having the information answered upfront can give them some peace of mind. In addition, include exactly how they’re going to receive the file.
Whether you use Pixieset, Pic-Time, WeTransfer, or something else, make sure you include the platform, the download instructions, and whether or not it will be delivered in a gallery.
3) Do you offer prints?
At the beginning of my photography business, to my surprise, I had a handful of people ask me if prints were included or provided for an extra cost. That question would usually come after the photoshoot, and I felt like I was disappointing them when I told them that no, I didn’t offer photography prints.
If you’re interested in offering prints but don’t know where to begin, consider a platform like Pic-Time. I switched to Pic-Time from WeTransfer about a year ago and absolutely love them. While both are great options, Pic-Time allows you to sell prints if that’s something you’ve thought about offering your clients.
4) Can I have the RAW files?
Number four is quite controversial, and when I made a whole video about if you should give RAW files to clients, the opinions were quite divided.
I want you to let your client know if you are going to be providing them with the RAW, unedited files. Generally speaking, most photographers who offer wedding photography, engagement portraits, or any kind of milestone photography, do not provide RAW files— myself included.
Even if it is stated clearly in your contract that you do not provide the RAW files or you do for a fee, I believe it's vital to communicate this information upfront. Why? The RAW files are your property— they are a blank canvas used to achieve a final product that expresses your artistic vision. Plus, it completes the service that they're paying you to provide.
If you don’t want to provide RAW files but your clients ask you for them anyway, this is exactly how you can respond.
5) How can I contact you?
Make sure to let your clients know how you prefer to be contacted. Do you want to keep it in email up until this session? Will you provide them with your phone number at a certain point? In my own business, I let them know that I’ll be sending them my phone number a couple of days before the session.
6) Where will we meet for the photoshoot?
You're going to want to communicate with your client the exact spot where you are going to meet up with them. For example, I do a lot of shoots at Rattlesnake Lake here in Washington, which is a beautiful park that’s also quite big. Because there are so many places to park and cell service can get shaky, I send my clients a pin as well as a description of a landmark where we can meet. In some cases, I may even take a video on my iPhone and send it to them. This makes your clients feel like you’re taking care of them that much more.
7) BONUS Question: Where will I be able to change outfits?
Depending on your location, you could let your client know where they should get changed. For example, when I shoot in Central Park, I have mapped out a couple of public bathrooms that are both clean and spacious. If you’re somewhere more remote, order a pop-up tent (I bought mine from Amazon) to make changing easier for your clients.
While most of this information should be incorporated into your photography contract, many of these things are overlooked or forgotten. That’s why it’s better to display them as upfront as possible. Not only does it create less back-and-forth, but your clients know exactly what to expect from the get-go, which only provides a better experience for both you and them.
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