What the client wants.......

Hello POTNers!
I am starting to have people ask me to do shoots for them, and I am curious-do clients already have an idea of what they want, or do most of them just show up and let you shoot however/whatever/where​ver you choose? Do they tell you upfront when calling to schedule a shoot or do you ask them?

Maybe you should ask them.

jaypie77 wrote in post #5949764
Maybe you should ask them.

I do ask, them-what I am asking is, do your clients come to you with an idea of what they want, or do they just show up and let you do what you want? Sorry if I was unclear!

Maybe this was a dumb question??

Hello three - it's not a dumb question, but the manner in which you posted it was pretty wide open and bit ambiguous.

Are these wedding clients?
Portrait people?
Folks interested in sports shooting?
Those looking for landscape and architecture images?
Businesses needing product shots or advertising pictures?

There is a whole range of possibility here. How are you marketing yourself - ie, what sort of commercial photographer? - Stu

threeinthenest wrote in post #5949983
I do ask, them-what I am asking is, do your clients come to you with an idea of what they want, or do they just show up and let you do what you want? Sorry if I was unclear!

I don't think it is a dumb question. To quote my mom, "There are no dumb questions, only dumb answers".

So, here is my opinion: When I began I would ask if they may have seen a pictures somewhere that they really liked. Did they like soft or crisp, indoor our out, water or land... etc. Most of the time they say that they don't care. Most husband/sig.others don't even want to be there. Keep a lookout for poses that you like and keep a book of them. They may choose what they like from that.

Good luck.

If youve got a style, give them your look.

What EXACTLY are they asking you for? After that, it's a matter of your signature look and expertise and business matter. Make a lasting positive statement with those attributes and the repeat business will keep showing up.

Study posing and composition.
Make sure you are ready to make clear, crisp, well exposed images.
Calibrate your monitor.
Watch your background.
Be ready to give them direction.
Have some ideas that you think you would like.
Be light hearted and friendly.
Use the 1,2,3 open your eyes trick so you get groups with all eyes open.
Be patient.
Take more shots than you think you need.
When it is sunny, shoot in the shade with fill from flash or reflectors.
Watch out for single stray hairs.
Study....study....stud​y
Are you a bit nervous before a shoot? You should be.
Charge all your batteries the night before and bring everything.
Always have a plan B...what if it rains?...what if your flash or power supply fails?...what if your camera fails to function?
Customers tend to get nervous that it is taking too long when shooting children. Get them to relax.
Talk to your clients...............

Hi,

If this is for portraits and such, many photographers have a "brag book" showing samples of their work that would include various poses, that they look through with clients. This accomplishes several things besides just showing off how good they are. It gets feedback from the client what they might have in mind. It's also useful to show them how you want them to pose. And it can even serve as a reminder for the photographer themselves (keep lighting notes with it, for example).

There also Posing guides available for portrait work: both for Individuals and for small groups/families.

If this is the sort of thing you are looking for, a course or seminar in portraiture might be a good idea. There might be a posing guide provided, and there are some skills matching up people to a particular pose or lighting technique that shows them at their best.

Well, people generally have an idea of whether they want wedding or portraits or porn before calling me up. If not, and they tell me they're putty in my hands, then I eeny meeny miny moe and make sure it lands on porn.

I work from both angles....I always ask a client what they want and I'll shoot their ideas and visions. From there, I may build upon their ideas or throw in some of my own. I like to offer a client what they asked for and then some.

Thanks so much everyone! That is a TON of great info!

From getting that exact question a lot, I say they "think" they know. If they do "know" they have like 1-2 shots in mind.

What I usually do, is ask them to bring samples with them, other photographs, magazines clippings, internet pictures, etc. You'll end up with 2-3 shots, the rest of the sitting is up to you, you have to apply your style, see what works for their body type.

Ok so funny story, I had a 5'6" woman ask me to reproduce an advertisement, she wanted it for her husband's birthday. Sadly the subject of the photo was not "human", she would have been 7'4" tall in one leg and 5'2" in the other. I worked with her and got a shot that she liked just as much.

I'm glad the info is helpful - but you still haven't told us what it is you do ?

threeinthenest wrote in post #5952079
Thanks so much everyone! That is a TON of great info!