The Value of Building a Long Term Relationship with Your Photographer

Photographers are family historians. Family photography is a powerful way to capture memories and preserve them for generations to come. When you establish a long-term relationship with a family photographer, you can rest assured your most important moments will be captured beautifully and professionally.

Wow!! You know that old saying, “Time flies when you are having fun!”? It certainly applies when I look back over the years of documenting this client’s absolutely adorable family! I can’t believe it’s been seven years of watching this family grow! Recently, when putting together my new website and sifting through the thousands of images I’ve been honored to take over my career, their images collectively told their love story from expectant parents to a family of five! It’s been such a privilege; it makes my heart smile when I look through these images…each child is beautiful in their own way and together they make up the most sweetest of families that I am proud to call long term clients.

“We have had the pleasure of Pam capturing our pictures for the past 7 years. We came across her page when I was pregnant with our first child and looking for maternity photos. She has taken pictures of our three children since then. Pam has always been wonderful to work with and so flexible when it comes to working with our children. She is so personable and is also adored by our children. The pictures she captures are truly beautiful and so precious to our family. Her pictures are an investment you won’t regret.~ Ashley T.

 

As a family photographer, one of my biggest joys is serving my long term clients through capturing their lives, watching them grow and evolve as they add little precious miracles to their families.  I value the trust they put in me as they allow me to step into their lives during both their big and small moments. When I am invited back to shoot another session, I know they also understand how crucial it is for their family to exist in photographs (one of my main goals as their  family “historian”!).  As they look back at their images, I know they will be grateful they prioritized their time and the financial investment just as I will cherish each session as their photographer. This is a “win-win”! Let’s look at the benefits for both photographers and clients of creating a long term partnership:

Here are some benefits to establishing a long term relationship with your photographer:

• You’ll get to know each other. A good family photographer will take the time to get to know you and your family. This will allow them to capture your unique personalities and relationships during your session time. This includes your children! For little ones, it is always a plus that they see a familiar face at each session (and sometimes they even give you little “gifts”!).
• You’ll have peace of mind. When you know that you have a trusted family photographer, you can relax and enjoy the session! The initial nerves that sometimes accompanies a session are eliminated because you already know each other.
• You’ll get consistently beautiful photos. A good family photographer will have the skills and experience to capture your photos in the best possible light (this could be a pun if you’ve read my blog on the importance of good light!). You also won’t have to worry about the quality of your images as your photographer will have already demonstrated their skill during past sessions. 
• Your only job will be to schedule the session and ENJOY documenting your family’s LOVE.

If you are a family photographer, here are some tips to building a trusted partnership with your clients:

• Be professional and kind. As in life, kindness is always key to establishing good relationships. This same is true with your photography clients. 
• Be patient. Understand that it takes time to build trust and rapport with clients. (But it’s so worth the wait!)
• Be flexible. Things don’t always go according to plan, especially when little ones are involved! Be ready to shift then go with the flow (as I always say “Babies and Mother Nature as boss!)
• Be positive. A positive attitude is contagious. Clients will be more likely to want to continue working with you again if they enjoy not only your work, but the experience as well. Aim for both!
• Deliver high quality work consistently. As noted above, your goals should always be two-fold: 1) Deliver reliable, outstanding work, and 2) Create a joyful experience.
• Be grateful. Always thank your clients for their business. Again, as in life, gratitude is transformational to both your personal and working relationships. 

If you’re looking for a way to capture your family’s memories, consider hiring a family photographer. The value of building a long-term relationship with your photographer will continue to pay off years down the road for you and for the generations that come after you! If you are looking to establish a long-term family photographer to document the love in your life, please contact me, I’d love to chat with you.

Thanks for readings, friends!

~ Pam