The one element that can make or break your images of people is TRUST. My goal when photographing a couple is to capture genuine, authentic emotion between them. The objective is not to have the perfect location, outfit or pose from Pinterest, but to still a moment, an emotion. A moment that my clients, upon seeing their images, feel all those same emotions all over again. The joy of laughing with their best friend; the peace of being held tight in their arms.
But how can you capture genuine emotion if the people in front of your camera don’t TRUST you? It’s next to impossible! I don’t know about you all, but I am awkward in front of a camera. I need to know that the person photographing me is someone I can trust to take good care of me! Your clients want to feel the same way. Cultivating trust with your clients is the BEST way to ensure incredible images from every session! But how do you cultivate trust within a photographer/client relationship?
Acknowledge and Diminish Fear
Recognize the fact that being in front of a professional camera isn’t something most people do often! Reassure your couples (or senior/families) that it might feel awkward initially, but you’ll be there to guide them along the way. They don’t have to know what they are doing – that’s your job!
Be Confident
Get to your session location 30-45 minutes early to scope out the spots you’d ideally like to use. Things might change along the way if the light is different or you find somewhere even better as you progress, but have some “safe spots” in your back pocket that you know will be good regardless of anything! If you come prepared and act confidently and professionally, it is rare that anyone will question you. :)
Prepare them Beforehand
I love to send out this Bridal Guide to my couples as soon as they book with me to prepare them for all the exciting things ahead! BUT – you don’t have to start there! It’s as easy as writing a simple email detailing what the session will look like + how to prepare. The more information you share, the more people will value your knowledge and, therefore, value your vision as an artist.
Utilize Social Media
This is one of my favorite ways to cultivate trust! Share your work and share often! When people see that you are consistently creating beautiful images, they know that they can trust you with their own as well!
Last but not least… be patient. :) It takes time to build trust and it’s definitely not something that happens over night. Remember that what you do everyday matters more than what you do every once and awhile. If you’re struggling with clients that don’t seem to fully trust you during their session – evaluate each of these areas and try to pin point the problem! If you can acknowledge where the problem lies, you can actively address it, improve your business, and overall, your client experience!
Happy Monday, friends!
Jessica Lauren
