TALK TO YOUR PHOTOGRAPHER!

I've been a professional photographer for three decades now. One of the things I absolutely love and cherish is a client who communicates well. First, they communicate their exact needs so the photographer can shoot what they need. Second, they offer feedback during and/or after the shoot. If I'm not providing exactly what a client or brand needs, I want to know so I can better serve them on the next shoot. Immediate feedback is great, I can then change things up and capture the exact images needed. And followup feedback is invaluable, as it will enable me to better provide images the next time.

I'm an artist, and yes, I have an ego. But I'd rather be told that I didn't deliver what was needed, or not as good as you'd hoped, than have you save my feelings and hire a different photographer. I can't grow as a photographer if you don't share what I didn't do perfectly for you, and you now have to hire someone else, then someone after that, then someone after that, ad infinitum until you find the right match. Along the way, you'll spend more money and have more frustration, too.

Talk to your photographer and offer feedback. Even if you don't know why an image doesn't work for you, perhaps he/she can help and even offer solutions to make it better than you'd even envisioned. You're making the photographer part of your team via this communication, which is well worth your time. And as part of your team, your photographer will work harder for you.

People don't like confrontation, but honest feedback doesn't need to be confrontational or painful. Use feedback and communication to help your photographer get you exactly what you and your brand need. You'll make a great friend and ally in the process!