Introduction

So, you’ve bagged your first paid photography gig, or you’re coming close to it... Whether that’s an editorial feature for a magazine, a private commission for a landscape scene, a travel story for a website, a wedding, party, or anything else, well done!

It is a hugely exciting time when someone else takes your photography craft as seriously as you. After all, your first photography job can lead to many more.

While it’s great to be excited, don’t forget: this is a job, and you must be professional. Below are our top tips to get you on the right footing. Following these and putting them into practice (along with your incredible photography skills, of course) will help you continue to get those jobs in the future.

These tips have all come from my own experiences, both from my own photography jobs and those of my friends and associates. I hope you find them useful!

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1 Check your kit in advance

Something easy to miss and forget about!

Check​​, test, and pack your kit well before the job. If you can, test everything a day or two in advance: the batteries, memory card, lenses, tripods, filters, etc. You want to turn up with all your kit in good working condition and avoid, as much as possible, any mishaps that’ll prevent you from doing a good job.

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2 Turn up on time (and in the right place)

Another big one, make sure you turn up to wherever it is you need to be on time!

If you’re prone to getting lost, or not good with directions, then make sure you’ve got the directions jotted down on your phone, or use an app like Google Maps.

Nothing says unprofessional more than not turning up when you’re supposed to. Remember also, everyone has a schedule and several people could be working on the same job who will be relying on you to arrive on time.

If you’re up against it and know you’ll be late, make your best effort to let your client know as soon as possible, along with a reliable time you’ll likely turn up. We've all been there, and you won’t be penalised for things out of your control. But let people know what’s happening.

3 Stick to the brief

Another one that sounds obvious, but it’s incredible how much this can trip people up...

Whatever it is you’ve been asked to take pictures of, make sure you do exactly that. For example, if you’ve been asked to take photos of vertical street scenes or architecture for a magazine shoot - make sure you stick to your word (i.e. don’t turn up with landscapes or irrelevant images), what I mean by this is, make sure you’re sticking to exactly it is you’re contracted to do. If you have free reign to do other things on the shoot, then great, but don’t offer your artistic opinion or personal perspective if it’s not asked for!

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4 Be reliable with your correspondence (but don't overdo it)

Make sure you’re replying to any emails or messages in a timely fashion. If your clients have questions or need anything from you, ensure you give them everything they need in a good time. Being a reliable communicator is essential to keeping clients happy and attracting new ones.

But while it's essential to be reliable, don’t overdo it. For example, if you're waiting to hear from a client or need something from them to get the job done, while it's OK to give them a polite nudge, don’t incessantly send emails to the point where you could be considered irritating.

Remember, people are busy and have their own schedules, don’t be pushy.

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5 Put your client first, and  be polite, kind and approachable

Remember, this job isn’t all about you, and you can’t be ‘me, me, me’. Put your client first.

Always remember to be friendly to your customers. I know it sounds pretty obvious, but you’d be surprised at how much this doesn’t happen. Nobody wants to work with a diva, no matter how great you think you are. It’s super off-putting, and what’s more, don’t expect any further jobs.

Sometimes things don’t go right, and it could be entirely by no fault of your own, or you may even (unfortunately) receive some rude behaviour on behalf of your client, or those working on the same job. While giving back any rude behaviour may be tempting, don’t rise to it. Take a breath, be calm, and handle the situation professionally.

It goes without saying that when on the job you should show kindness in everything you do. You’ll be amazed at how being kind can open so many doors for you. And we all need a little more kindness in this world!

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6 Manage expectations and deliver your images when you say you will

So, you’ve done the job and got some fabulous pics you know your client will be thrilled with. Now, just make sure you’re delivering them to the customer when you say you will!

If your customer has told you they need them on a certain date, then make sure you’re delivering them on that date 100% - even if that means staying up all night to process them (that’s happened to me; try and avoid that). Especially if this is your first gig, you want to go above and beyond to impress your customers.

Ideally, give yourself some buffer time to process your images, along with some breathing space if you need it. If anything happens and you need more time (which can occur, mainly if the post-processing is complex) and your client is open to that, make sure you’re managing their expectations as much as you can–tell them what’s possible.

Also, if you haven’t received instructions on how your customer wants their images delivered, don’t do guesswork; ask them.

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Final thoughts

Your first paid gig is both a milestone and an opportunity to prove yourself as a photography professional. You'll build a strong reputation by showing up prepared, following the brief, communicating effectively, and treating clients with respect - all habits that will help you secure repeat customers and grow your photography career.

If you’ve got a Picfair Store, we hope you’ve been using it to showcase and promote your work, too. Remember, sharing your portfolio with potential clients is a great way to land more paid gigs. Keep uploading, refining your store, and making the most of your platform, it could lead to even more opportunities.

If you haven’t started a Picfair Store yet, you can join here.

Good luck, and remember to enjoy the experience or your first ever photography job!