Family Photographers will tell you that relaxed clients make for the best family portraits. So, what are some things a photographer can do to help their client feel relaxed and at ease? Let me share with you 3 things I do to help my clients relax and feel at ease.
1) Welcome the client to the photo shoot.
This might mean by literally welcoming the portrait client to their photo studio, if that’s where the session is. Or pointing out special features of the location, if it is an on-location photo shoot. Even at a client's home, commenting on the home and letting THEM show you around is a way to help them feel comfortable.
It can also mean taking a few minutes before the photo shoot to ask how the client is doing and get to know any other family members. Just in general allowing everyone a moment to connect.
If there are kids involved, it's a good idea for the photographer to get on their eye-level and introduce themselves - and let the kids know the best way to address them. "Hi, Gavin! I'm Ms. Kerry. How old are you?"
2) Explain how the photo session will work.
Giving a photography client a brief overview of the flow and expectations of the photo session will help relieve that bit of anxiety. It’s hard to relax when you have no idea what’s happening next – or what you should be doing!
Just a simple explanation of the flow of the photo shoot, "We'll start with the big group, then I'll do separate groupings, and then individuals," is helpful.
And I find that letting clients know they do not have to always look at the camera takes that concern about "where to look" away. I just say, "Don't worry about looking at the camera, unless I ask you to. I like to get lots of interactive shots!"
3) Give specific instructions on what to do.
It isn’t super helpful to be told to “act naturally”. But if a photographer explains, “Relax your shoulders down a bit,” – this is quite helpful for a client.
Sometimes photographers will use specific posing “bring you hand down under your chin” and other times they might use prompts like, “walk toward me, holding hands, and looking at each other while talking about what you’d like to do for dinner”.
Regardless of whether the photographer gives poses or prompts, specificity (and even demonstration) is super helpful!
