Showing Your Photographer (or any Vendor/Artist) Gratitude
Being a freelance photographer means that I have a lot of different titles. Every day, my job consists of being a photographer, image editor, small business owner, social media manager, communicator, documentarian, artist, techie, and more. As with all who make a living off of their craft, I put countless amounts of time, energy, money, and trust into my work and my business. I love being able to do this and I am so grateful that I get to make a living off of my passion and support from others. I appreciate each and every one of my clients for the learning experience that is working with them - it’s what makes me, me, and I couldn’t be more grateful!
There are a few easy, simple, no-cost ways that you can share your gratitude for the services of any photographer, or really any vendor or artist. For those of us whose livelihood depends on visibility, word of mouth, and verbal encouragement, even a small act of support can mean the world.
Be Respectful of Our Time
Small business owners and creatives put their all into their work in order to thrive. This includes not just client communication and deliverables, but also the marketing and bookkeeping aspects of running a business. We also need time for ourselves and our personal lives! So, although it is important to prioritize work and client communication, there is also a need for boundaries so we can uphold a healthy work-life balance. If I don’t respond right away, I’m not ignoring you! I promise I’ll get back to you as soon as I can. :)
Trust Our Expertise
You hired a professional for a reason - expertise. While I am always open to some questions or special requests, it can be frustrating and invalidating when clients or guests try to tell me how to do my job. There have been too many times I’ve been elbowed out of the way by a wedding guest trying to photograph over my shoulder with their cell phone. Even if they mean well, it never feels good to get your toes stepped on in your professional field.
Don’t Haggle
It’s not easy to decide on pricing and photography packages. Photographer’s rates may come across as steep, but consider what they cover: high-quality images, the rights to the images, time spent photographing, several hours of editing (typically 10-20 minutes per image), time spent culling images, time spent emailing/communicating, drawing up a contract, commuting to the session, etc. Payments don’t just go into our bank accounts, either. A fairly high percentage of an LLC’s wages goes to taxes, and much of it is also spent on gas, equipment, or editing applications. It’s okay to ask for photo package customization (custom amounts of time, etc.) - but please don’t ask for lowered rates!
Give Us Credit
One of the biggest things any artist will ask for is credit, especially when you post their work on social media. Photographers get a huge percentage of their work through apps like Instagram or Facebook, so tagging us when you post our work is invaluable. It gets the word out about our services and it makes us feel appreciated.
Verbal Affirmation Goes a Long Way
I get it - you open my email with your photo gallery and are super excited to see the images I’ve sent you. You want to download, print, save, and share them, and you don’t even think to respond to my email. I’d never hold that against you. However, the most rewarding part of my job is having my clients tell me that they are happy with my work. Positive feedback is encouragement for any vendor to keep going.
Leave a Review
If you have an extra minute, it’s always great to leave your photographer a review. Similar to tagging, it’s a great way to add credibility to my services. I take reviews on Google Business, Facebook, or email, and any time taken to write one is always greatly appreciated!
To inquire about a session, please fill out the form linked here and on my contact page.
