"You should've had a drink before the shoot."

I was recently chatting with a client during their session in between scenarios, and they shared something that really irritated me.

Not irritated at him, but irritated at someone else.

He mentioned hiring a photographer to take couple photos with his wife a couple of weeks prior. Now, his wife was uncomfortable in front of the camera throughout, and it was pretty evident.

At one point, their photographer asked them, “Do you two drink?” He answered yes.

The photographer responded, “You both should’ve had some shots before the shoot.”

While that may be a funny statement, it’s also wrong.

You see, it’s not the job of the people in front of the camera to loosen up - it’s the PHOTOGRAPHERS.

If the photographer was doing their job, there would be no need for performance-enhancing drugs, no extra bells and whistles.

No bullshit.

Behind that camera, they are entrusted to make sure that through direction, rapport, empathy, and motivation, they get the subject comfortable enough to be themselves the entire time. This way, the photos we capture aren’t just visually appealing, but also genuine and reflective of who you are.

That’s why it’s so important to qualify the right photographer for you before they take the camera out of the bag.

During the inquiry calls, ask them about how they make their clients feel comfortable in front of the camera. Also, pay attention to how they communicate - does their style resonate with you?

By doing your due diligence before the session, you’ll have a better understanding of whether or not this photographer is right for you beyond their ability to capture pretty photos.

And you can save that drink AFTER the session is done to celebrate!