Last summer I needed to take a month off to recover from surgery. One of my dear longtime clients, Melissa*, had a project wrapping up that would have a small window of time to get photographed at about that same time. This meant she needed to hire someone else for this shoot. I was nervous! What if the other photographer is better or less expensive? Will my service and quality of work be able to compete well enough to keep Melissa coming back to me?Two months later, Melissa did call me to photograph her next finished project! Woohoo! 

Lessons learned

While at the property, I asked her how things had gone with the other photographer. I was really curious to hear about the experience from the client's perspective. Boy oh boy was I surprised at what she told me!
Her experiences confirmed to me the value of a client workflow with clear communication. Here's what I learned:

• Contracts and invoices are not just for our benefit. Melissa said she never received a contract or invoice, and because of that she actually felt a little uneasy. It made her feel like she wasn't dealing with a legitimate business. (Grab the Architectural Contract Templates Bundle for a head start on your own contracts!)
• Branded paperwork matters. Just like contract and invoices are reassuring for your clients, having the documents branded with the business name and contact information is another layer of assurance. 
• Open communication is key! One thing I never skip doing is checking in with a designer a day or two before our shoot date to confirm. Melissa's other photographer didn't do this, and so Melissa admitted to me that she felt nervous about whether or not her photographer would show. (Thankfully, the photographer did arrive!). Not sure what questions to ask along the way? Check out the email templates in The Grove's marketplace!
• Collaboration is very appreciated. I LOVE having my designers be active during the shoot. After all, this whole shoot is to show off their designs! Melissa's other photographer did not ask for her input in the styling, the compositions, or the shot list. In fact, this other photographer walked in and let Melissa know, "I've done a lot of these shoots. Just let me do my thing and I'll get it done for you." Looking for a great way to incorporate your client? Tethering!
• Common goals. This one ties into the idea of open communication and collaboration. Melissa said that the photos were okay (not great), but she was a little bummed because the beautiful tiles that she had picked out for the kitchen backsplash were totally lost in the final photos! She was sad to see textures blown out and no details captured. Remember that your goal with the photos always has to align with the designer's goals! 

Thankfully, Melissa is still a dear client of mine that I truly love working with. Her insights that day on our home shoot taught me that I was on the right path with my client workflow and, more importantly, that the open communication and collaborative spirit I bring to each job is appreciated! 

xo,

Natalia

 

 

*My client’s name has been changed to maintain anonymity.