The Digital Reality Check

Advertising, media, and public-relations clients have a lot invested in their products, both financially and emotionally. As a result, they can be very literal in their demands for the final image. For example, clients often want to include too much in a photo, or sometimes don't understand the needs and realities of different media usage.

Many times in my career I have heard from clients:

"But that's not how you set a table!"

"I don't like the tilted plate. The food looks like it's going to slide off!"

"That corner of the photo looks too empty."

Battling that literal nature is the photographer's plight. Saying "I'll do whatever you like!" is often the best way to begin your relationship with your client. Diplomacy, patience, humor, and depth of understanding go far in determining the best way to convey an image.

As a digital photographer, I have been able to reduce the amount of negotiating I have to do with clients in order to give them the pictures that best suit their needs. Digital photography enables me to show clients what they think they want to see, and then show them what works better visually. It's absolutely true that a picture is worth a thousand wordseveryone reacts to visuals! The picture is most often the hook that draws attention to an ad, article, or product package.