Spot checking

Photo sessions can be a nerve wracking endeavor

But there are ways to ease the anxiety.

For many experts, the idea of spending hours in front of a camera is akin to having a leg amputated.

Or maybe something less dramatic, but still painful…like having a tooth extracted, or something like that.

Either way, their anxiety is through the roof, their mood is miserable and they’re essentially working with a fuck it, let’s get this over with mindset.

As someone who ran away from cameras for the better part of my life, I can completely relate.

But, as a professional photographer, that type of resentment on the client side of the camera is simply not going to work. 

Being on camera in that type of headspace will result in photos where you’re apprehension and tension will show up in every single photo, and who wants to use those shots to promote your business and brand?

That’s right - no one.

Fortunately, I have a couple tricks up my sleeve that I use to help get the Expert in front of the camera out of their head and into the moment. 

One of them involves the client to spot check the photos as they’re being photographed. 

For example, let’s say we’re about to do a round of photos of the client sitting at a desk and working on their laptop.

I’ll direct the client to do something, snap a couple photos, and then walk back over to them and scroll through each shot on the back of the camera. 

The first thing I do is zoom into the picture and show them their face, and then reveal the rest of the photo.  

I also review with them their “trouble areas” - their specific issues with their appearance. I zoom into that and we take a closer look and see if it’s triggering them or not. 

(Oh, I don’t beat around the bush folks - no one has time for that!)

Regardless, the client and I are on the same page. 

And this spot checking process repeats itself for every single setup during their entire session. 

Recently, a client applauded the fact that I did this with her because she said the process made her feel more present and comfortable in front of the camera because she knew exactly how they were coming out as we were creating them. 

She continued by saying that this was the first time a photographer did this with her during the shoot. All the other times, the photographer simply said, “oh, you look great in these pictures!” and continued to fire away, leaving her in the dark. 

Not a great feeling at all, which will ultimately be written all over your face in every photo, which will render them useless, at the end of the day.

When you’re allowed to spot check the photos throughout the session, you feel more included in the process which simultaneously reduces anxiety and creates excitement because you can see the results in real time. 

Make sure when you’re qualifying photographers for your next portrait session to ask them if you’re allowed to spot check photos with them throughout the shoot. 

It’s a very simple way to ease you into a photo session that will produce quality images where you appear present, relaxed, dynamic and, dare I say, enjoying the process of being in front of the camera. 

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