These questions help establish the groundwork for all photography sessions. Sometimes, clients do not have very clearly defined expectations when it comes to style or aesthetics and they rely on the photographer for creative direction. Asking these questions will help bring out the details and lead both parties to a suitable agreement.
You can start by asking why they’re having their photos taken, and what their priorities for the session are. Next, find out what photo style appeals to them most, whether vintage, black and white, faded, or warm or cold hues. If they’re still unsure, you can use the elimination method by asking them what type of photo they consider absolute must-haves and work down the list from there.
For clients who are happy to leave all the decisions about creative direction to you, you can further narrow down the list of possibilities by finding out where they plan to display the images, or what part of their house the images would grace. You can also ask them to make a list of group photos they would like to take.
The next questions to ask will pertain to the composition of the photos. Don’t forget to ask such questions as:
- Who will be participating in the session? If there are young people, ask about their ages
- What about any type of special prop? Will there be provisions for them during the session?
- Do you have any specific location in mind for the photography session?
- Do you have special outfits picked out for the session? If yes, how many?
- What kind of finished product would they prefer? Canvas, prints, or metals?
Questions Pertaining to Budget
Yes, money isn’t everything. That’s why we didn’t lead with that question and we don’t encourage you to, either. But, at some point, the conversation has to veer towards that direction. “What’s your budget” is an important question that you shouldn’t be afraid to ask.
It’s an unfortunate fact that some clients do not believe that photographers do not work hard enough to earn the big bucks. Some clients also seem to think that they’re doing you a favour by displaying your work.
Asking about budget early into the session makes it possible to end conversations with such clients early, before too much time has been used up.
As soon as a fee is agreed, the next step is to decide on payment terms. If you require booking deposits, this would be a great time to let your clients know.
Questions About Licensing
Professionals will never giveaway the copyright to their work, license it to your clients for a set time, after which they would need to renew it for continued usage of the photos. So, you’d need to ask the client how long they want usage rights for the photos for.
Also, it’s smart to find out in advance if they have a set of terms you’d need to sign, and if they’re happy agreeing with yours. Better not to leave anything open to misrepresentation.
Questions about Further Relationships
If you’re looking to retain relationships with your clients, you should consider adding a few questions about connection to your questionnaire.
You can request to know how they heard about your photography studio, why they chose you as their photographer, and if they got to know you through a referral.
Finally, you may request permission to add them to your mailing list to receive original, engaging content, product updates, and occasional freebies.
Final Words
Asking the right questions is the first step towards providing an excellent experience for your clients. Not only that, it positions you as a capable and dependable expert in the minds of your clients and helps them feel like you actually care about delivering the best service for them.
