Seth Godin recently wrote a short piece called Hospitality in the Mirror. It stayed with me, because it names something I’ve felt on the other side of the lens for years.
Danny Meyer and Will Guidara have both written wonderful books about hospitality. Seth’s point is that the people who receive the most genuine hospitality are usually the ones who’ve made it easy to give.
Think about Halloween. Every kid who knocks gets a piece of candy. That’s the deal, and the ritual ends there. But the one in the brilliant costume, or the one who sings a little song, or simply brings a bit of magic to the doorstep? That’s the one we remember. That’s the door we’re glad we answered. Maybe they even get the full-sized chocolate bar.
Photography is no different. Paying for a shoot gets you a photographer. It doesn’t automatically get you the best of one. What comes after depends on how you show up, and I don’t mean that as a rule. It’s just how people work.
So here’s what I’ve learnt about being a good client.
Be on time. Time is the one thing neither of us gets back. Arriving on time tells me you value the session, and it sets a calmer tone for everything that follows.
Say clearly what you’re looking for. I’d love to be a mind reader, but I’m not. The more honestly you can tell me what you want, and why, the closer I can get to it.
Share inspiring pictures, but hold them lightly. References really do help. Just remember I can’t always replicate a photo that was made in another place, in other light, with other people. Treat it as a feeling to chase, not a blueprint to copy.
Pay on time. Behind every invoice is a person with their own bills and their own worries. Paying promptly is one of the quietest ways to say thank you.
Respect the contract. It’s not there to be rigid. It’s there so we both know what we’re walking into, and it protects us both.
Tag the photographer. If you share the images on social media, tag the person who made them. It costs you a few seconds and it supports their work more than you may realise.
None of this is complicated. It’s just human. And I’ve noticed that the clients who show up this way are the ones I find myself giving a little extra to. Not out of obligation. Because I want to.
The shoot starts well before the shutter clicks.