Sunday, 1 March 2015

A Note on Professionalism

Regardless of what sort of photography you are undertaking, professionalism is key. To maintain health and safety standards it is important not to misuse studio equipment. Make sure equipment is fit for purpose and that you use it as intended. There is a difference between using innovative techniques in photography, and using equipment in an unprofessional manner which might put people (including yourself) at risk.

Having arranged a shoot, make sure that you arrive prepared, with the right equipment, and in good time. Gather as much information as possible before the shoot so you know which equipment to take (including items which you may need to borrow). Visit the location beforehand if possible to understand the environment and build some concepts of how you will arrange the shoot.

This applies in your own studio too; it looks very unprofessional to set up around a client who has pre-booked an appointment. Have the studio set up and the equipment tested well before the model arrives.

Part of being professional is having the ability to communicate with people while you work; building rapport is all important. There are some tips on building rapport in this post from September: Studio Photography