Being a family, newborn and maternity photographer is a very different profession than any other I have ever had. It’s the first job that people tell me what and how to do it. They send me Pinterest boards, tell me when and where to shoot. It would never occur to me to walk into someone else’s office and tell them how to do their job. Walk into an art studio and show a painter a Pinterest board of paintings, or a restaurant and tell the chef how to cook. If you feel like you need to do this, you probably didn’t hire the right person. Right?
“There is no doubt that creativity is the most important human resource of all. Without creativity, there would be no progress, and we would be forever repeating the same patterns.” — Edward de Bono
Folks sometimes do this and I listen. I totally get it! You see a photographer that inspires you on Pinterest, it’s exciting! Naturally, you want to recreate it! This is a great starting point for us to talk details and what type of look a client is after. When some insist on their ideas (shooting at a busy park, but they don’t want anyone else in their photos or at high noon with harsh sunlight) rather than listen to my experience the images are forced and lack the creative zest and vibrancy, and at times not even really what the client wants. There is a great chance for compromise and communication for a win-win!
The sneak peek below is for a family which hired me for their Maternity Photography, Newborn Photography, and Family Photography. This is our fourth session together and what I love most is, they let me be creative and play. They have complete trust in my decisions as an artist and photographer.
I often recommend going to Pioneer Square for photography for clients. My clients often recoil at this idea. Yes, Pioneer Square is a very culturally diverse part of downtown Seattle, but a very stunning area full of texture and the oldest buildings in the city. Pioneer Square is covered in art and beauty and I felt so lucky these clients trusted me when I suggested it. This is definitely one of my favorite sessions, ever.
A few years back I would go anywhere a client asked at any time of day. I was just eager for the business. Today I realize that my experience, knowledge of lighting and what it takes to make a great image are very important. Not sharing that with my clients would be a huge loss for us both.
In conclusion – I hope you as a client will trust your photographer to have a plan and will put it into action. Your experienced photographer will be knowledgeable about locations and time of day. This leads to a fun and collaborative relationship. Trust them, they got this! If you don’t feel confident that they do – look for a photographer you can put your trust in. You and your families memories deserve it!
