Words for photographers
When a client posts a negative review about your photography business online
Dear Miss Communication, It happened–I got a terrible review online, and I’m heartbroken. I’m so afraid this will damage my business! The client had a terrible experience with weather and a timeline that didn’t work on her wedding day and now she’s taking it out on me. What do I say? Can I do anything?…
Read MoreWhat to say when your client wants to make changes to your contract
Photo by Pixsooz/iStock / Getty Images We’ve all been there—you’re about to finalize the booking with your client and instead of coming back with a signature, a smile and a check, they come back with red pen marks all over your contract. What to say? Whether you’re willing to make changes or not is completely…
Read MoreWhat to say when your client wants to choose or approve your second shooter
Sometimes your wedding clients are extra curious about the second shooter you’ll bring to their wedding, and they express a desire to exert influence on your choice for their event. While it’s a reasonable question to wonder who else will be at your wedding and capturing one of the most important and expensive days of…
Read MoreWhat to say when your client communicates via text
This is a personal preference, obviously. Some photographers and other small business owners don’t mind informal texting or FB messaging with clients, and others prefer to keep all client messages in one location. I’m strongly in the “keep all client/vendor messages in one location” because I know myself, I will never remember where an important…
Read MoreWhat to say when your client wants to retouch or edit their own photos before you blog them
Dear Miss Communication, One of my clients is a skilled graphic artist and photographer. In the previews I posted on Instagram, she observed what she believes to be wrinkles around her eyes, and said to me, “I’d like to retouch those before you blog them or submit them for publication.” How do I nicely say…
Read MoreYou’re fired! What to say when the couple wants to break up with you before the wedding
Every once in a while, it happens. The couple who loved you at booking has a change of heart. Maybe a parent is pressuring them to choose a more traditional photographer. Maybe your personalities didn’t click at the engagement session. Maybe they hated their images. Maybe you never met half of the partnership, and one…
Read MoreWhen the client is upset with their images
You look MAHVELOUS! For photographers, one of the hardest possible messages to get from a client is…”I just don’t like the images.” As difficult as it is to hear, it’s a customer service scenario that needs prompt and courteous attention. Here’s a suggestion for how to handle it. Hi YOU, I’m so sorry to hear…
Read MoreDear Miss Communication….
Before starting my photography business, I spent years as a communications professional, so writing letters and providing talking points is second nature to me. Because of this, I receive regular requests from photographer friends, usually starting with, “I cannot believe this client, what do I SAY to her?” From that, one of my dear friends…
Read MoreThe five most commonly misused words by wedding photographers
Dear Miss Communication, Please answer this once and for all, is it isle or aisle? Love, Photographer Dear Photographer, As photographers, we write all the time—probably even more time than we’re taking photographs! We’re responsible for a whole lot of correspondence with clients, social media statuses, blog posts, website content, marketing materials and more, so…
Read More