I've had some really awesome clients in the past. Like most photographers, I have had bad client experiences as well but often times, the good ones I have seem to completely outshine the bad ones and leave lasting smiles in my memory. Here are some of the cool things that past clients have done in response to my commitment to their photographs and photographic experience.
1) Took the time to view my entire portfolio and compliment me on it. I have had a few clients that viewed everything from men and women's portraiture to my international travel imagery. They even cited back specific details of some photographs and complimented me on them. To date, only one photographer I know of has viewed my entire public portfolio and we talked on the phone about it several months ago. So it really means a lot to me when a client does that to get a full sense of my style. Though most clients make their decision after viewing only a few photographs from each photographer they research, a few of my past ones were really into my style.
2) Trusted me to walk them through their fear. Not every client is comfortable and confident in front of the camera. Some clients have a belief that photographers, especially me, only photographs models, though I have explained many times that most of the people I photograph are 9-5 folks and not models for a living. Furthermore, I have to daily deconstruct the myth that "anyone who is beautiful in a photograph must be a model and only models can be beautiful." Beauty comes in many forms. So once a client gets past those hangups and really allow themselves to be themselves in their photographs, going from extreme fear to comfortability, it's a beautiful thing. I love the transforming moment where client fear becomes trust in the photographer.
3) Thanked me. This sounds simple and obvious but as I mentioned earlier in the post, I have had bad client experiences where the client did not thank me and pretended to be angry about the product. I of course go above and beyond to make the client happy. The reason why I said "pretend" is that those same clients blasted the photographs all over the web, proclaiming their beauty yet were angry with me and couldn't say thanks. In those cases I realize it was more of a personality conflict than the work itself. It happens sometimes. Thus, I appreciate every genuine thank you I get from a client.
4) Offered me a "tip." I never imply that a client should tip me as I don't consider photography to be a tip-oriented industry like service industries. As far as money is concerned, I always expect clients to pay the fair professional/market rates to their professional photographer, but that's it. However, several portraiture clients have given me tips of $20-$40 extra. After their invoice at full rate was paid prior to the session, on the day of the session, they handed me some cash once the session was over. I dunno about other photographers but I think that is very generous and cool. Plus, surprises are awesome.
5) Told me I did a great job even BEFORE they saw the photographs. When a client says that, they mean your demeanor, professionalism and personality. I remember photographing a wedding where the bride, groom and 10 guests told me what an amazing job I did as I was leaving. I smiled because most of the time I was quiet and out of their way. I barely spoke two words there except for the short time of the group photographs. But my demeanor, presentation of confidence and professionalism appealed to them. I also was dressed professionally. I wear a white button down, black or khaki pants, dress flats and pearls for this kind of occasion. Appearance matters.
6) Came back for seconds and thirds. Photographers love repeat clients. It isn't just a financial thing. It is the confidence that a client has in your work, the trust in you and the pleasure they derived from their first session.
7) Referred even bigger clients. Photographers love referrals. Most people in business do. It's extremely awesome when that referral is an even larger, more complex or higher paying project. Again that goes back to the client's confidence in me.
8) Used one of my photographs as their social media avatar. Most photographers active in social media have clients who do this. I think it is neat. I remember when I used Myspace with the "top friends" feature and I had 16 top friends, all of them with my photographs as their avatar. That was neat. Admittedly somewhat narcissistic of me, but still neat.
9) Wished me well. It's always kind and surprising to get an email out of nowhere, wishing me success in my future work and rethanking me for a past session; sometimes months, even years had passed. This has happened only a handful of times but was meaningful to me each time it happened.
10) Respected my work regardless of relationship. Photographers often have family members, friends, past-coworkers and other people who know them beforehand as clients. Unfortunately, some people perceive that connection as an absolution from payment. However, in the past, I have had family members, friends, past co-workers and past classmates pay me for creating for them. Thus, as you can imagine, I think it is outrageous when someone I don't know from adam suggests that my work, what I do for a living should not have a salary or request free work. To those folks I always half-joke that I will photograph for free if they agree to reject their next bi-weekly payroll check. After that I usually hear crickets. Good. I prefer the silence so that I can then hear the voices and needs from the clients who are respectful, kind and looking to work with me.
Related Blog Posts: 10 Easy Ways To Make A Photography Client Happy, When Is It Ok To Say No, When Should Photography Be Free?
1) Took the time to view my entire portfolio and compliment me on it. I have had a few clients that viewed everything from men and women's portraiture to my international travel imagery. They even cited back specific details of some photographs and complimented me on them. To date, only one photographer I know of has viewed my entire public portfolio and we talked on the phone about it several months ago. So it really means a lot to me when a client does that to get a full sense of my style. Though most clients make their decision after viewing only a few photographs from each photographer they research, a few of my past ones were really into my style.
2) Trusted me to walk them through their fear. Not every client is comfortable and confident in front of the camera. Some clients have a belief that photographers, especially me, only photographs models, though I have explained many times that most of the people I photograph are 9-5 folks and not models for a living. Furthermore, I have to daily deconstruct the myth that "anyone who is beautiful in a photograph must be a model and only models can be beautiful." Beauty comes in many forms. So once a client gets past those hangups and really allow themselves to be themselves in their photographs, going from extreme fear to comfortability, it's a beautiful thing. I love the transforming moment where client fear becomes trust in the photographer.
3) Thanked me. This sounds simple and obvious but as I mentioned earlier in the post, I have had bad client experiences where the client did not thank me and pretended to be angry about the product. I of course go above and beyond to make the client happy. The reason why I said "pretend" is that those same clients blasted the photographs all over the web, proclaiming their beauty yet were angry with me and couldn't say thanks. In those cases I realize it was more of a personality conflict than the work itself. It happens sometimes. Thus, I appreciate every genuine thank you I get from a client.
4) Offered me a "tip." I never imply that a client should tip me as I don't consider photography to be a tip-oriented industry like service industries. As far as money is concerned, I always expect clients to pay the fair professional/market rates to their professional photographer, but that's it. However, several portraiture clients have given me tips of $20-$40 extra. After their invoice at full rate was paid prior to the session, on the day of the session, they handed me some cash once the session was over. I dunno about other photographers but I think that is very generous and cool. Plus, surprises are awesome.
5) Told me I did a great job even BEFORE they saw the photographs. When a client says that, they mean your demeanor, professionalism and personality. I remember photographing a wedding where the bride, groom and 10 guests told me what an amazing job I did as I was leaving. I smiled because most of the time I was quiet and out of their way. I barely spoke two words there except for the short time of the group photographs. But my demeanor, presentation of confidence and professionalism appealed to them. I also was dressed professionally. I wear a white button down, black or khaki pants, dress flats and pearls for this kind of occasion. Appearance matters.
6) Came back for seconds and thirds. Photographers love repeat clients. It isn't just a financial thing. It is the confidence that a client has in your work, the trust in you and the pleasure they derived from their first session.
7) Referred even bigger clients. Photographers love referrals. Most people in business do. It's extremely awesome when that referral is an even larger, more complex or higher paying project. Again that goes back to the client's confidence in me.
8) Used one of my photographs as their social media avatar. Most photographers active in social media have clients who do this. I think it is neat. I remember when I used Myspace with the "top friends" feature and I had 16 top friends, all of them with my photographs as their avatar. That was neat. Admittedly somewhat narcissistic of me, but still neat.
9) Wished me well. It's always kind and surprising to get an email out of nowhere, wishing me success in my future work and rethanking me for a past session; sometimes months, even years had passed. This has happened only a handful of times but was meaningful to me each time it happened.
10) Respected my work regardless of relationship. Photographers often have family members, friends, past-coworkers and other people who know them beforehand as clients. Unfortunately, some people perceive that connection as an absolution from payment. However, in the past, I have had family members, friends, past co-workers and past classmates pay me for creating for them. Thus, as you can imagine, I think it is outrageous when someone I don't know from adam suggests that my work, what I do for a living should not have a salary or request free work. To those folks I always half-joke that I will photograph for free if they agree to reject their next bi-weekly payroll check. After that I usually hear crickets. Good. I prefer the silence so that I can then hear the voices and needs from the clients who are respectful, kind and looking to work with me.
Related Blog Posts: 10 Easy Ways To Make A Photography Client Happy, When Is It Ok To Say No, When Should Photography Be Free?
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