Photographers are the DJ’s of sessions! Ultimately we are responsible for setting the mood and getting our clients excited! Wanting them to walk away not only adoring their pictures, but share their experience with others about how fun the session was. Just like a wedding DJ, there are small things that we can do to ruin a session for our clients. Are you killing the Photography Session Mood by doing these things?

Photography Session Do Nots

Pulling out your cell phone – If you are trying to keep track of the time, please wear a watch. Try to avoid bring out your cell phone at all during a session! Answering a call, look at a digital prompt card, check message, etc… this can disconnect you from the session & potential conversation completely

Hearing Crickets – Silent in a session can cause awkward tensions. Be sure to get your clients talking by asking questions. If you are not a talker, that’s ok! Although I will tell you are missing out getting to know your families more, there are other options! Bring a portable speaker and play music.

No posing guidance – Be sure to have 15 -20 poses ready off the top of your head. No one wants to get back photos and realize they are all the same pose or only a couple similar poses. Bring variety to your sessions so your clients will have a TON to pick from and will potential buy more photos from you.

Negative filler words – “umm, maybe, don’t, I don’t know” these are negative filler words that can cause insecurity in your client and kill the Photography Session Mood.

Lack of Authority – You are the person controlling the session! Establish your authority and professionalism with an intro speech explaining how the session is going to go

Frowns are contagious – you clients will take it personal because, from their point of view, your frown indicates the session is not going well.

Photography requires Caring!

Change batteries or SD Card – Make sure your camera battery is charge with a brand new SD card in. That small disruption can break the flow of a session.

Disregards clients comfort – Do they look uncomfortable? Ask them! Move them! How they are feeling is what they will remember about you. Make them priority, not just the perfect picture.

Gossiping – don’t talk bad about other photographers, clients, or vendors you may have worked with. This will make them wonder if you will do that to them after the session is over.

Don’t touch – never touch someone without permission. After Covid, don’t even go in for a hug or handshake without asking! (Yikes!! Talk about making things awkward and murdering the photography session mood before it even begins!)

Don’t cut the session short – Time to get creative! you may be in the last 5 minutes of the session and you ran out of ideas. Be sure to ask if there was something they want you to capture instead of just ending it there.

Take care of your equipment – if you are tossing down your equipment and not taking care of it, your clients remember that! They will wonder if you will take the time to take care of their pictures while editing.

Not giving posture or hair pointers – The client can not see that they are slouching. Remind them because you are all they have as guidance. (Do it politely though!)

No “what’s next” speech – clients wants specifics! “You can expect sneak peeks TONIGHT! Keep in mind, The sneak peek will not be full quality or resolution. The Gallery will be returned back to you within the next 2 weeks! The link will be sent to your email and you will have a ton of photos to chose from. Your package comes with 15 free images. You will add your favorites to the cart and use the coupon code to download them for free. Any additional image is $5 per image.” Do not let them walk away with uncertainty of what is next.

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