A quote from an AD when I asked “What is the one piece of advice or warning you would give a photographer?�?
Client services–I may be their client, but my client is paying the bill. Don’t expect my client, me and my crew to come in from out of town and not have a decent breakfast when we arrive at the studio. I’m not expecting gourmet food, but something other than stale cereal and hard bagels, carbs may be back but are not for all. And lunch, don’t start ordering at lunch time, think ahead. And also get the client’s input on what genre of food they would like. Hungry and cranky clients do not make for a happy set. Especially if were all traveling away from the comforts of home and family. Make it and enjoyable experience for us to want to come back to. One of my favorite out of town shooters has different themed snacks in the afternoon, s’mores and hot chocolate on cold days, root beer floats and cookies on warm days.
Do you make your clients feel special? Do you go out of your way to give great (not just good) service on shoots? Is your studio clean (especially the bathrooms!) and climate-controlled?
What is the one thing you do with your clients that the other guy doesn’t? There are a lot of good shooters out there, sometimes the service you provide is the deciding factor in whether you get a project…or eternal voicemail.