What clients need from a photographer varies according to the objectives and the style of photography they want. My clients want authentic looking images in a documentary style that are either black and white or colour. I recently heard another photographer saying that his clients prefer documentary style because they don’t want their shareholders to think they spent a small fortune on photography. My clients almost always want to build trust with their stakeholders.
I work with a lot of people, all of them have different job titles, and responsibilities vary between organisations and sectors but broadly speaking they fall into four groups:
- Project, training or operations managers in the industrial sectors (energy, mining, construction, infrastructure) who want to capture aspects of their work or specific projects. This is usually because the project or work isn’t something that can be easily witnessed by others, so they use photography to take the project or work to the audience.
- Project managers across all sectors who need to document long-term projects for reporting and corporate archives. This type of work varies from following the development of a new product, to the building of a new warehouse, to the installation of new kit, to simply documenting the team in workshops and meetings over the course of the project.
- Sustainability communication managers for any organisation that wants to highlight the work they are doing and the impact it has. This has become more popular in recent years as more organisations invest in the local community and overseas communities that are part of their supply chain. The work can involve everything from documenting new classrooms that have been funded in Africa, to community programs in India, to volunteering at food banks in the UK.
- Managers in the charity sector who want to raise awareness or demonstrate the impact of their work for stakeholders. Often this type of photography work is used for fundraising and grant applications.
Usually my clients already have a visual communication strategy but they struggle to find photographers who understand their sector or the subject matter of focus.
What they want is a photographer who understands their objectives and can deliver those objectives as photo-stories.
Why clients hire me
In part, the reason that I get award the work is because I understand what clients need from a photographer and I do everything I can to meet those needs.
- They want a reliable photographer who they can trust to deliver for them, without needing to be micromanaged.
- They require photographs that are authentic and impactful — whether it’s building trust with investors, changing behaviour of employees, inspiring donors, or influencing policy.
- They want a simple but collaborative process where they feel involved but can see the photographer adds value.
What clients get from hiring me
I’ve worked with some of my clients for 25 years, and many more come back to me year after year. The reason is that I am their photography partner, someone who can help them deliver their strategy and through compelling visual stories. When we work together the finished work gets the recognition and engagement that the client wants.
In short – my clients have a challenge and I help to deliver the solution.
I had intended to write to you sooner about the wonderful pictures you produced. When we first met and discussed how you would capture the stories I was a little nervous about how they would come across. Then I saw your website and felt confident that you would present in a sensitive and positive way. I feel you really captured this. Once again – thank you so much for the time, care and compassion you invested in these pictures and stories. Hilary Bartle CEO Stonepillow
About me
I am a documentary photographer who understands what clients need from a photographer. I work with retailers, the construction sector, manufacturing, agriculture and NGOs to engage audiences about change, sustainability, ways of working, good causes and project progression.
I work with my clients to create compelling visual stories that support employee communication, investor relations and external stakeholder engagement.
Find out more about the services I offer here.
