The Art of Being Flexible

Planning is Key to Your Flexibility

As photographers, there is so much that we do to prepare for our sessions: storyboarding, location scouting, client questionnaires, style guides, etc. All that planning can go out the window in a second: the weather forecast was wrong, a toddler has a meltdown, a teenager or husband wants nothing to do with taking photos, or, God forbid, someone is hungover. When we aren’t careful about managing our expectations, our confidence can be gone in an instant, or we can be filled with frustration, even anger, towards our clients and unforeseen circumstances. Let me break the news to you now – you’ll likely experience all these situations and more, no matter how much you prepare or how much you communicate with your clients. Don’t get me wrong; you need to prepare for your sessions – this is precisely what allows you to be flexible and adapt to any situation. However, you need to go into each session, wedding, or creative shoot knowing that not everything will go according to plan. This slight adjustment in mindset will bring you so much peace at the end of the day and allow you to go to work with a new perspective. Allow your flexibility to be your biggest strength! It is invaluable to your client experience.

Kids are Going to be Kids

Let’s face it, children of all ages will do what they want, and that’s okay! Sometimes all the bribes in the world won’t appease them – you know you’ve been there – so let them run, wander, or express their emotions. Don’t give into frustrations here and give the parents grace – we have no idea what they’ve been going through, how long they’ve worked, or what losses they’ve experienced. If you can adapt to the children, they’ll be your greatest asset for those candid moments that families always love. Being flexible here will help alleviate the stress that both you and the parent may be feeling at this moment. You’re still in control, and if you can adapt, the families will rave about you and your services.

Get to Know Your Clients

Older children, significant others, and dads often dread family photos. Here is where your client's journey comes into play. Establish rapport in your communications and make an effort to build a relationship with your clients. Get to know their quirks, likes, dislikes, and favorite family activities well before their session. Find something you can relate to or be impressed by – this is HUGE. When you can get clients excited about a show, music, celebrity, sports, etc., they’ll quickly forget about their desire to be anywhere else. Also, ask if they have experience being professionally photographed and how it went. Their answer will usually give you a good indication of how to plan.

Be Adaptable

When it comes to weddings or family sessions around a celebration, you will likely encounter someone who is hungover or even drunk. Sunglasses will be your best friend here. The bridal party will often have their own made, and when it comes to the family or couples’ photos, they can add a fun or cool vibe. In these situations, do your best, give yourself (and those getting photographed) grace, and have a clause in your contract protecting you from photos you could not get. Sometimes that’s easier said than done, but even trying to adjust your mindset will bring about some peace. 

At the end of the day, the best-planned shoots will likely have some unforeseen elements, so be mentally prepared for this. Look at these problems as opportunities to grow and learn as a photographer and business owner. Adaptability can be one of your greatest assets, especially when working with families and weddings in natural environments or changes in location. Being flexible in these situations reinforces that YOU are the expert, strengthening your client experience. Your clients hired you for a reason. You’ve got this!! With flexibility in mind, your whole perspective about difficult situations and even demanding clients will bring you peace and calm that can transform an entire session. Your clients will match your emotions and energy, and you can go into any situation confident that you will leave with the best product possible.