My Intake Process Welcoming New Clients
When I’m working with a new client, my process is threefold.
Firstly, I want to make sure I’m working with others who share my mission: To help families create an enduring art legacy, and to elevate self-confidence, brands and spaces through the use of visual art. If you are just looking for someone to take pictures and simply handover digital images, I am not the right photographer for you. I have a few qualifying questions for new clients.
• Who is the subject?
• What moment or feeling are we trying to capture?
• What is your vision?
• What is your style?
• Do you have a budget in mind?
• Have your worked with a professional photographer or visual artist before?
These are just some of the questions I want to explore with you during an Initial Contact, before we can get started. We can talk about these questions by phone or using Messenger/Chat. How you answer these questions matter to me, and your responses demonstrate whether or not you are in the position and mindset to hire a professional. If you haven’t worked with a professional before, it can be a little scary. When was the last time you made an investment like this –or is this the first time you have considered hiring a professional? I urge you to do your own research and have at lease some idea of average pricing for the service you are seeking. Personally, I am pretty transparent about pricing. You can find the costs of the most common services on my web site. In those instances that you do not find a price, the rate is likely dependent on many factors and we have to work up a custom proposal, for example, for intimate nuptials or events. Remember, you get what you pay for, so cheaper is not always the best way to go when it comes to photography. Another biggie is style. When you do your own research, you will notice that most photographers have a “look” or overarching style –it might be lighting, types of posing, smiles or no smiles, heavy or natural image retouching, indoors versus studio photography. When you contact a photographer, be ready to share your project vision –what are you wanting to convey through the photography? Also think about after the shoot. What do you plan to do with your images? This may help you choose the right photographer for the project –are they able to do everything you need, or will you be running around after the fact trying to “figure it out” on your own after the photographer is long gone? Also, during the Initial Contact, you should develop a rapport with your photographer. You should feel relaxed and ready to move forward. If you still have too many unanswered questions, or you don’t feel the right vibe, you might not have the right photographer for you.
After the Initial Contact, the next step is to schedule a Design Meeting with me to explore your needs and desires further. A $100 retainer is required to schedule a Design Meeting. The retainer is subtracted from your final fees. I prefer to have the Design Meeting in person at my studio, or by video chat –using Zoom, FaceTime or Google Hangout –if a face-to-face is not possible because of distance. A Design Meeting is necessary before any shoot (except mini sessions) to set expectations, so we’re all on the same page. During the Design Meeting I will gather important contact information from you, and some personal details for my recordkeeping –like your favorite music, colors, birthday, pet’s name, hobbies, etc. At this time, we can talk about what you want to do with the images ultimately. We will talk about outfits and props, and start an inspiration board together on Pinterest for sharing photoshoot ideas. I will also take some test shots to talk with you about your best angle/side, what you like most about yourself, and any hangups –we all have at least one. Once we have all the important details noted, we will schedule your shoot and also set up a date and time for you to see your images for the first time. This is called the Reveal Meeting.
On the day of the shoot, you should bring makeup, comfortable shoes (if we will be walking around), a beverage, comb, brush, bobby pins, jewelry, nail polish (for touchup if needed), favorite props, outfits, a stack of vinyl records (or I can bring mine), and some BIG ENERGY. I promise the shoot will be fun and memorable.
Prior to or during the Reveal Meeting, you will make any remaining payment due, and then finally get to see your images! We will discuss any additional retouching necessary and talk about prints, wall art, albums, photo/gift boxes and so on. Before you go home, you will be introduced to your online gallery where you can also shop on your own. This is why it is important to have a budget at the beginning. Honestly, it’s completely normal to bust your preconceived budget, once you see the actual images and decide what you want to do about final deliverables.
That’s it. That is my intake process when I take on a new client. Next, I will follow up with you periodically. Of course, I hope we can work together again soon.
I can understand if you are reading this and thinking, “This is a lot!” Maybe the timing isn’t right, or your budget isn’t right, or your mindset isn’t right. If you’re looking for less interaction and a different experience that is absolutely okay. My approach is not for everyone, so no worries if we aren’t able to create together right now. Just in case you need it, here’s a link to find other qualified photographers near you … https://www.findaphotographer.com.
On the other hand, you might be saying, “Let’s do this!” That being so, I’m ready when you are.
