Let’s make it a date

Sometimes a potential client will ask a photographer, “What day is good for you?” or “When are you available next month?”

The photographer should never answer with something like, “Oh, any time is good for me” or “I’m open on the 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 11th, 13th, 15th, 20th, 21st, 25th and 28th of next month.”

Both of these answers suggest that the photographer is sitting around doing nothing. While this may very well be true, there’s no need to broadcast that business is slow. If a restaurant has no customers, something must be wrong with its food, right?

Which would a client prefer to hire: a photographer who’s (seemingly) in demand or one who’s not? If you’re not in demand, something must be wrong with your photography, right?

Also, by responding with either of the above vague answers, it gives the client lots of room to slip away.

If the photographer uses one of these wishy-washy answers, the client will then have the option to respond with “Okay, we’ll get back to you” and then they might forget, find another photographer or put the project on the back-burner.

Instead, the photographer should be specific and use direct terms: “I have an opening next Wednesday. Does that work for you?” or “Next month, I have the 7th and 9th open. Which one is better for you?”

If the client says that the photographer’s suggested date(s) don’t suit their schedule then the photographer can reply with something like: “Okay, let me check … What about next Friday?” or “Okay, it looks like the 14th and 16th should also be good. Which one of these works for you?”

The photographer needs to be direct so they can close the sale. The photographer wants the client to commit to the assignment and set a date.