Jeff Smith. Posing Techniques for Location Portrait Photography. 2008

When it comes to clients, the root of virtually every problem is a lack
of communication. You didn’t know something about your client, or they
didn’t know something about you. Every time we have a “problem” client,
we get together and discuss the missing information that caused the problem.
I can honestly say that ninety percent of the time it is informationweneg-
lected to provide to the client that created the problem. Even if the problem
is rooted in a lack of information from the client, though, it’s stillyourfault;
you never took the time to ask what they wanted.
It shouldn’t be hard to be your client. If it is, you won’t have many
clients—and the ones you do have won’t respect you. If you make it easy to
work with you, your problems with clients will be reduced. You will work
with clients who want to work with you and who truly understand why you
are the best studio for them.

118 JEFF SMITH’S POSING TECHNIQUES FOR LOCATION PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHY

Here, the subject’s white top is in a light

area of the background, while her jeans are

in a darker area. Taking this kind of care is

what’s required to create professional-quality

portraits.

When it comes to clients,

the root of virtually every problem

is a lack of communication.