Photographers are used to slow periods and having months where things are a little bit more quiet. But I don’t think any of us were prepared for a pandemic hitting and essentially bringing our businesses to a screeching halt. What a whirlwind the last few months have been for photographers due to COVID.



Many places have been slowly reopening. Photographers are starting to get back into the groove with their sessions – with some new precautions in place of course. How can we help our clients feel safe during this new normal we now operate under? Here are some things to think about when you begin booking again and put your clients’ minds at ease.

Follow the guidelines

Things are always changing with guidelines and it varies depending on where you’re located. Before you begin shooting, be sure to check your state and local jurisdictions to make sure that you are allowed to shoot and you are following any government directives regarding operating business again.



You’ll want to make sure you are keeping up to date with guidelines regarding social distancing and PPE. You can find current information about those guidelines here: https://www.whitehouse.gov/openingamerica/

Protecting yourself legally

Be sure to check with your insurance company about your liability coverage. Hopefully no one would be put in this position if you have taken proper steps to prevent it, but you’ll want to talk with your insurance about the what-if scenarios. For example, what if a client claims that they were exposed to and tested positive for COVID from their session with you and wants to take legal action? You need to be prepared and know what to have in place to protect yourself legally.



Speaking of legal matters – have you reviewed your contracts or updated them to identify and address any contract issues? If not, you’ll want to do this before getting back into your sessions to make sure it aligns with operating during this time. There are a variety of provisions to have in your contracts to help you when facing reschedules, natural disasters, or need for a back up photographer. If you’re not sure where to start or what to have included – we recommended checking out our Marketplace where you can purchase contracts (standard and COVID-specific from The Law Tog. You can find other helpful COVID resources here: https://thelawtog.com/covid/

Let your clients know what you’re doing to be safe

Once you get all of the legal parts squared away, you’ll want to make sure you’re letting your clients know about any new policies in place and how you plan to keep them safe. Communication is key. Here are a few great ways to share information about your changes related to COVID: 

Write a blog
Create a graphic to include in your email templates
Post on social media
Include details in your welcome guides

Tell us in the comments what you have done to help your clients feel safe as you get back to shooting.



Ready to try Iris Works and start streamlining your business? Sign up for a FREE 14-day trial!