It is important to connect with clients before their portrait session.
You can not make authentic photos if you don’t know anything about a family. Seems sensible right? I send out a questionnaire as a guide when a family books a session. I leave it up to each family to decide, who answers, and I love reading the responses. Learning about a family dynamic, hobbies, and personalities helps to set the tone for photographing a family. Often, clients are interested in photos of the family together or child-focused. Merely asking your client what is most important to them (before the shoot) is an easy way to set yourself up for a successful shoot. It also establishes what is essential before the session to focus on shooting creatively and have fun. I grew up with Ranu and Lindsey on Cape Cod, Massachusetts. I shared a few of Ranu’s answers at the bottom of the post.
I also send a full gallery of a previous shoot before they book me to get a sense of what to expect. If they are looking for the “perfect” family portrait of everyone looking at the camera seriously and then I am probably the wrong photographer.
Honest and fun family portraits. Simple tips for success.
A few questions I ask:
Q: Are there any shots (or sessions that you’ve seen of mine that stand out to you?
Ranu: I want you to be free and use your creativeness. (<<<< Can you say…DREAM CLIENT? Trusting the process is everything! Thank you for giving me the freedom to capture you guys in such an honest and authentic way. )
Q: Tell me one thing you love about your partner or children?
Ranu: I love my family’s heart. (Man. I do, too, Ranu. )
Q: What do you like to do together? (Describe your perfect day off together?)
Ranu: Playing Sports, spending time at SNK. We like to goof off. (Sandy Neck Beach is a magical place for anyone who knows the cape, and he did not lie; our session was pretty silly.)
Enjoy!
