No Pro Needed: My Friend / Relative Takes Good Pictures. Fantastic! But Treat Them Like A Pro!
- David Hayden
- Jul 12
- 5 min read
Updated: Jul 13
It's a common scenario for small business owners: you need great photos, and a friend or family member who "takes good pictures" offers help. This can be a fantastic resource, but it's crucial to approach it with the right mindset.
Remember, your small business is too important to leave to chance when it comes to its visual representation. As we've discussed before, having no photo is better than a bad or unprofessional looking photo.
Treat Them Like A Pro
Even if your friend / relative takes good pictures and offers to do you a favor, treat them like you would a professional photographer. This isn't about being formal, it’s about ensuring a successful outcome for both of you. Here's what you need to do:
Set Clear Expectations :
Before your photographer takes the first shot, have a conversation. Explain exactly what you're hoping to achieve with these photos.
Are they for your website, social media, product listings? Knowing this, your photographer will or should know how to shoot for different aspect ratios and post process for internet use.
What's the overall vibe you're going for? Your photographer will need this information for lighting and post processing.
Discuss the number of photos you need, the specific products or services to be featured, and any deadlines. Remember, photos can have a shelf-life so if you have a folder of photos to rotate, you can maintain a fresh look on social media
Communicate Clearly What You Need:
Don't assume they'll know your business, your brand's aesthetic or even how to approach a product shot. Provide them with examples of photos you like (even if they're from competitors) and tell them why you like them.
Give them a shot list if applicable – a detailed list of every image you need, specifying the subject, angle, and any particular elements to include. The more specific you are, the better.
Benefits for the Photographer
When you treat your friend or family member like a pro, you're not just helping your business; you're also providing valuable experience for them.
It "Ups Their Game":
By giving them a clear brief and expecting a certain level of quality, you're challenging them to refine their skills. Nothing improves a photographers skills quite like shooting with intention to meet expectations.
They'll benefit by learning to meet client specifications, deadlines, and thinking about photography in a commercial context. This is a significant step beyond casual snapping.
Prepares Them for Entry into the Commercial World:
This experience can be a valuable addition to their portfolio and a stepping stone toward paid gigs. They'll gain practical knowledge of professional interactions, photo delivery, and the need for formal agreements.
Be Honest But Kind When Reviewing Photos
This is often the trickiest part. When it comes to reviewing their work, your business image comes first, but your relationship is also important. Remember they are doing you a favor, appreciate it.
Apply What You've Learned:
Use the knowledge from our previous articles in this series to objectively review their photos. Consider the lighting, composition, focus, background, and overall quality. Do the photos accurately represent your products or services? Do they align with your brand's image?
Be Honest, But Always Be Kind:
Start with positive feedback. Point out what you love about the photos. Then, gently and constructively address any areas for improvement.
Instead of saying, "This photo is bad," try, "I really like the way you captured the details here, but for our website, we need the background to be less distracting. Could we try [specific suggestion]?"
Frame your feedback around the needs of your business, not as a critique of their artistic ability. Offer solutions and suggest retakes if necessary.
Compensate and Credit Your Friend / Relative That Takes Good Pictures
Even if they offer their services for free, it's essential to acknowledge their contribution appropriately.
Compensate What You Can:
If your budget allows, offer a monetary payment. Even a small amount shows your appreciation for their time, effort, and skill. If direct payment isn't feasible, consider offering other forms of compensation like free products or services from your business, a gift card, or even a nice meal.
Ensure They Get Credit:
Always, always credit them for their photos. This is professional courtesy and helps them build their portfolio. Include their name (e.g., "Photos by [Photographer's Name]") where the photos are displayed – on your website, social media, or in print. If they have a photography website or social media handle, ask them if you can link to it.
Protect Both Parties: The Importance of a Simple Usage Rights Document
Even when dealing with friends or family, it's incredibly important to have a simple usage rights document. This isn't about distrust; it's about clarity and protection for everyone involved.
Why It's Important:
Copyright: In the United States, the person who takes the photo automatically owns the copyright. This means, legally, they control how the image is used. Without a clear agreement, you might not have the right to use the photos for your business, or they might decide later to restrict your usage.
Clear Expectations:
A document explicitly states how and where you can use the photos (e.g., "for website, social media, and print marketing"), for how long, and if any alterations are permitted. This prevents misunderstandings down the line.
Protects Their Work:
It also protects your friend/family member. It ensures their work isn't misused or distributed without their knowledge and can outline if they retain the right to use the photos for their own portfolio.
Future-Proofing:
Businesses evolve. Having a document prevents awkward conversations if your business grows and you want to use the photos in new ways, or if your friend/family member decides to pursue photography professionally. Imagine if you choose to sell your business; do the rights to use the images of your photographer extend to the new owner? Your photographer may want to control that.
Action Item:
As a small business owner, ask Google Gemini or other AI Chat for a simple usage rights document that protects both the photographer and the business. You can prompt something like:
"Draft a simple photography usage rights agreement for a small business
working with a friend/family member, outlining commercial use for the
business and credit for the photographer."
Be sure to tailor the generated document to your specific needs and always consider having a legal professional review it.
Ultimately, leveraging the talent of a friend or family member can save you money and strengthen bonds. By approaching your collaboration professionally, setting clear expectations, providing constructive feedback, showing appreciation, and formalizing usage rights, you can get the great photos your small business deserves while maintaining a positive relationship.
Remember, your business image comes first, and as your business grows, so too will your visual needs. When the moment calls for a professional's specialized skill and strategic eye – when 'good enough' just isn't enough – my upcoming 4-part series, 'You Have a Business to Run! Hire Your Pro Photographer with Confidence,' will empower you with the essential steps needed to find and hire the perfect photographic partner for your business."
This is just one perspective on what it means to me to be behind the lens. For more of my insights, practical photography tips, and a deeper dive into specific techniques, be sure to visit my main blog at davidhaydenphoto.com/blog.
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