Working with a Relative as your Client: Part 1

For those of you who know are familiar with the freelance photography world, you know that you have to take any gig you get. And even when you’re just starting out and need to build your reputation and portfolio, you’ll grab anyone you know for a free photoshoot.

However, working with strangers versus working with close friends and family are two different types of clients. Many photographers, new and old, find working with strangers to be nerve racking. You don’t know what these people are like personally. You just met them and now have to capture intimate moments. It’s hard to tell someone what to do when you just met them, but photographers have to position their “models” during the entire session, getting really hands-on with them.

New photographers assume that working with their friends or family members as their first models is the easiest way to get experience. Unfortunately, your first experience as a photographer will not be a good one this way. An hour photoshoot will turn into three hours and your friends/family members will dictate how you edit or post your photos of them online. Because they know you personally, they think they can give YOU advice on how to be a great photographer. They goof off during the photoshoot making the time in between each photo much longer. They even check your camera after each shot, and ultimately run YOUR shoot. Who wants that? The last thing you want during your first photo shoot is to feel undermined, by your own family no less. It really does set up how you handle future photo shoots in your professional career.

Continue reading Part 2 to learn about a personal experience I had working with a family member on a very special photoshoot.