Have you ever shown up for a photo shoot and felt completely unprepared for your client?
My son is a cute, mischievous, medically complex and disabled teenager, and he can be really difficult to photograph. I would never dream of showing up to a photo session without giving the photographer a head’s up that it will be a challenge- he uses a wheelchair, he does not respond to directions, and he does not always make eye contact, among other things. Accommodations and patience and flexibility will absolutely be necessary.
Most parents, these days, are pretty forthcoming about any accommodations that might need to be made for their kids, whether the challenges are physical or behavioral.
Not always, though. And as with everything else in life, it’s important to be prepared for anything.
As someone with experience both professionally and personally with disabled individuals, I understand the importance of preparing for a challenging client. A client might use a walker or a wheelchair. Maybe your client’s child is autistic and has behavioral challenges. Maybe the whole lot of them are easily distracted. You never know!
Preparation begins with communication. Asking questions, sharing experiences. Understanding the need to meet my clients where they are (literally and figuratively) and work at their pace.
I do this by scheduling an extended Zoom consultation with my client. I created a questionnaire that is essentially a work in progress. I have a pretty extensive list of topics to talk about with clients who are disabled or are parents or caregivers of a disabled individual; often, though, they tell me something I hadn’t thought to ask about, so I am always revising.
I also email my questionnaire to the client in advance. They do not have to answer and return it; it is merely a guide so they know in advance the kinds of things I want to learn about their family. This way, my client feels prepared for our conversation and for their photo session. Furthermore, it gives them a sense of comfort that their photographer is truly interested in their people and is committed to creating the best possible images for them to treasure forever.
I want to know as much as I can about my client in advance of our session.
I have found that I learn the most by simply asking open-ended questions and showing genuine interest:
“Tell me about your family.”
“What’s the hardest part for you about getting family photos?”
I also ask more specific questions, like:
“Is he comfortable in front of the camera?”
“Does she respond to directions?”
“Does he require assistance with sitting or standing?”
“Is he one to sit still or prefer to run around?”
“Does she have a favorite toy or comfort item she likes to hold?”
“What makes him smile?
And my favorite question…
“What about her makes you smile?”
Another important consideration is location.
Photographers who have a studio, is it accessible with a clear path?
Does the individual need to be indoors or prefer to be outdoors? Should it be a quiet area with few distractions? Would they be more comfortable at their local playground or in their own backyard? Here are a few more things to consider.
I encourage you to develop your own questionnaire and approach that will reflect your experience and the needs of your clients. You know the idea that every crazy policy is based on one unexpected event? This is how you will develop your pre-session preparation plan.
After our detailed conversation, I share some helpful Tips and reminders with clients to help them feel prepared for their shoot.
Besides getting to know my clients, I want them to get to know me.
I want my clients to know that I am flexible. Life is unpredictable for all of us, and more so for special needs families. My son, for example, has epilepsy. He has a seizure almost daily, and after the stronger ones he often sleeps for a period of time as his system recovers. If I have booked a photographer for a portrait session, I will be praying until it is over that he does not have a seizure and then sleep through the whole thing. Believe me, I have enough photos of him sleeping. I want to know that our photographer is willing to reschedule with us, without charging an extra fee, (other than for travel if it’s really far) which would make me feel like I am being penalized for my son’s medical issues.
I also want them to know that I am resourceful. If your client wants to get out of their wheelchair, suggest sitting on a swing, or on Mom’s lap, or snuggled between their siblings. Same idea for a child who may be mobile but has trouble sitting still. Gentle containment is ok! There are so many ways to physically support someone who needs a little extra assistance.
By taking the time to get to know each other in advance, you are putting both your client and yourself at ease.
You are building that relationship that will not only create an environment for better images, but also increase your likelihood of being their go-to photographer in the future.
I try to check in with my client periodically (like, once or twice, max) before the photo session. Special Needs families often have a ridiculous amount of things swirling around their brains- appointments, medications, insurance, school issues. They might have forgotten about their upcoming photo session as soon as they scheduled it, but I want them to know that I have not forgotten. Is there anything going on that might interfere with our plans? Do they need some advice on wardrobe or locations? Does our session date still work for them?
They are giving me the gracious opportunity to create beautiful images of their family, and I want to make sure that they are thrilled with the results and excited to share and display the art that highlights their loved ones.
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