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I am so fortunate to have clients that come back to me year after year to document their families, and they have become good friends. Even if we live far apart, we keep up with each other on Facebook and stay in touch throughout the year. Relationships don’t build themselves, and part of building a strong foundation with a client is really getting to know them, finding out what they need, and determining how I can best serve them. That’s why I think a Pre-Session Consultation is so important for my portrait clients.
Good planning is the key to a successful session (and if we’ve ever met, then you’ll know that I am a Type-A Planner through and through!) because it allows my clients and me to be on the same page. Communication between photographer and client throughout the portrait process is critical and helps to prevent any potential misunderstandings.
A Pre-Session Consultation is a way to get the ball rolling. It’s simply a conversation before the session to discuss what the goals and expectations of the session will be. We talk about the who, what, why, where, when, and how, which helps to inform the creative process and establishes a level of comfort before a client ever has to step in front of the lens.
Why is a Pre-Session Consultation Important?
1) You have the opportunity to share your vision of the final artwork to inform my creative process. For example, if you know for sure that you want a huge canvas of your family on the wall in your living room, that really helps to guide my shot choices.
2) It gives me the opportunity to get to know you, discover your preferences and understand the dynamics between family members to create a memorable experience.
3) I can help you plan your wardrobe and create a stress-free experience, all while ensuring that the portraits achieve the intended results. For instance, if you know you’re planning to hang a grouping of portraits on a blue wall in your dining room, I can help plan the color scheme for wardrobe to complement it. The details DO MATTER!
4) Meeting to chat beforehand (whether over the phone or in-person) helps to lower the tension and allows me to answer ANY questions you may have ahead of time, which will make you feel more at-ease.
5) I can introduce you to my product offerings and pricing for them. How could you possibly know you may NEED a window portfolio box in your home if you’ve never seen one? Without a Pre-Session Consultation, you may not even know some of these amazing things even exist!
6) We can go over studio policies regarding rescheduling, fees, model releases & permissions, printing rights, etc. and all the parts of the contract so that you are educated about the entire process. Taking care of the logistics ahead of time will allow everyone to be more relaxed and comfortable during the actual session.
Where to Have the Pre-Session Consultation?
There are a few schools of thought on this, and I am happy to accommodate whichever one works best for you. The key is to be in a place that is comfortable, distraction-free and allows for easy conversation.
In-Home Consultations: Meeting in your home allows me to see your style and wall space so that I can help you envision how portraits can be displayed. I can provide guidance on how to set up the portraits or groupings and take wall measurements to make recommendations during the Portrait Ordering Appointment. I have even been known to help clients dig through their closets and drawers to put together the perfect family wardrobe!
Online or Phone Consultations: I know that we lead very busy lives, or that some clients live very far away so that home consultations are not possible. Screen sharing is an awesome option we have these days! Zoom or Skype allows me to share my screen and introduce product options (though there really is no substitute for holding the real thing in your hands!). I have also FaceTimed clients who were shopping for wardrobe items 😉
When to Schedule a Pre-Session Consultation?
I like to schedule a consultation about two to four weeks in advance of the session, which allows you to prepare your wardrobe and get ready without feeling rushed. It also allows you to make the appropriate hair/nail/makeup/wax appointments you might desire. I typically will send an brief online questionnaire for you to fill out as a jumping-off point for our conversation.
I know this might sound like A LOT. But I want your portrait session to be as close to perfection as possible . . . and that requires some planning and effort. An investment in heirloom photography is not only a financial one, but an investment of time as well. A Pre-Session Consultation is so important because it lays the groundwork for a successful portrait session that is relaxed and fun, and you won’t have to worry about a thing!