Communicate often.

While you’ve done this whole photo session thing a million times, your client hasn’t. I never want my client to feel lost in the process.

So even though they’ve read about your process on your website and heard about it during the onboarding phase, frequently remind them what is coming next and when.

For example, when I touch base the week of the session, I review what the big day will look like. Then when I arrive at the session, I remind them how the session will progress. At the end, I reiterate when they will receive proofs. And when I send proofs, I remind them when they can expect to receive the final invoice and images.

Communicate efficiently.

I want clients to feel that working with me is easy breezy. So from the inquiry stage to final image delivery, I keep things simplified:

I maintain a single email thread with a client so they aren’t searching endlessly for session details, invoices, contracts, etc. I update the subject line every time I send a new email.

I send links to contracts and invoices within this email thread rather than directly from my client management system. The client will receive less “stuff” from me—and from an email address they recognize.

During a session, I explain technical processes in terms they understand. For example, rather than saying “I’m going to bracket this image,” I say, “I’m going to capture this image at different exposures. I’ll combine these images when editing to create a single image with even lighting.” Technical jargon doesn’t make you look awesome; it confuses the client.

Validate your client’s fears and/or enthusiasm.

I feel most loved by a person when I feel understood by them. And what better way to make a client feel understood than by validating how they feel?

When you arrive at the session, comment on the beauty of their work and how inspired you feel to photograph it. They’re obviously proud of it—they hired you to capture it! So validate their accomplishment.

Are you working with a new client who is clearly nervous? Validate their fears and then put them at ease: “I understand why you’d be a little nervous, but trust me—there’s nothing to fear! The photo session is gonna be so much fun! And I will guide the entire process to make sure we get the shots you want."

Fight laziness in editing.

I have learned to red-flag the voice inside me that says, “My crappy clone job is so tiny, the client will never notice.” This usually means I need a little break from editing. If I see an edit that I’d be ashamed of if another interior photographer noticed, then it’s not something I should deliver to a client.

Whoever can be trusted with little can be trusted with much. Maintain your level of service when no one is watching, and it’ll come more naturally to you when they are.

Demonstrate you care even after you get paid.

A client expressed to me during a session that she was having a hard time finding contractors. A couple of weeks later, I followed up with her to ask if she’d found the help she needed. I also suggested the name of a specific builder that fit her niche.

You better believe in that moment she felt like I was more than just her photographer! It was a simple text exchange that demonstrated my above and beyond care for her success.