1. What types of photography do you do?

Some photographers do a little of everything. Others specialize in one type of photography or another. The first thing that people are going to want to know is what kind of services you offer. If they’re looking for a family photographer or someone to do their son’s senior portraits, for example, they wouldn’t want to work with a wedding photographer.

Make sure that you list all the different types of sessions or services you can provide, as well as anything you’re willing to discuss on a case-by-case basis. This is your chance to educate people, but also encourage them to reach out to you to discuss what they need and how you can help.

2. Why should I hire a professional photographer?

This is the million-dollar question. People want to know exactly what it is that sets you apart and makes you worth their time. This is your place to make it known. Explain all the benefits of working with a professional, including the fact that you won’t have to worry about one of your family members or friends missing out on whatever event is being captured because they’re the one manning the camera. Explain that you have experience in producing high-quality images that will last a lifetime and create wonderful memories and take advantage of this opportunity to link to testimonials to seal the deal.

3. Are deposits refundable?

If you’re like most professional photographers, you take a deposit with each booking to provide a little security and peace of mind. This holds people accountable and shows them the value of your time. What happens, though, when there’s an emergency or something comes up that requires rescheduling or cancellation? Do you keep deposits? Perhaps you only keep part of them. People are going to want to know, regardless.

If you do keep deposits, make sure that you explain why. For example, a cancelation with less than 24 hours’ notice causes you to lose valuable time that you could be handling other sessions. It doesn’t give you enough time to re-book or find another client, so keeping the deposit would be understandable in this situation.

4. When will we get our finished prints?

Here’s another common question that we see. People are impatient and they want their finished product as soon as possible. They often don’t understand the time-consuming process of editing and proofing photos before they can be delivered to the client. Make sure that you not only explain how long clients should expect to wait, but why the wait takes that much time so that they are aware of what they are paying for—your professional expertise. 6.

5. Do you include digital images?

Today, people often want digital copies of photos along with or even instead of physical photos. Moreover, some photographers only work with certain mediums in the same regard, for one reason or another. Therefore, most people will ask if digital images are available if they want them. However, they may not always be an option. Be sure to advise as to whether you offer digital images with prints, instead of them, or in any other capacity. If you do not provide digital image copies for any reason, explain that here so that clients understand your reasoning.

6. How much are your photography services?

This might seem like it’s too open-ended for an FAQ page, but that’s the genius of it—it allows you a little room to market your services and link to your pricing page so that you can convert more leads and generate more website traffic. In this answer, you should advise on how your rate structure works, whether you charge hourly, per session, or by the event, if packages are available, and so forth. Give people a condensed version of your pricing page, and then use the opportunity to link to that page for people who want more information.

7. What’s your cancellation/rescheduling policy?

No one likes a cancellation, but sometimes things happen. Therefore, you’ll need to make sure that you have contingency plans in place and that you can share them with your clients and potential clients. Be clear about what is expected, how much notice is required, and what the terms are for last-minute emergencies and other potential hiccups. If you allow rescheduling or accept last-minute cancellations with a fee, this is the place to spell that out. Make it clear what you require and expect from people so that there is no confusion. As a bonus, invite them to contact you to discuss their scheduling issues before making any decisions. It may not create any better solutions, but it shows your willingness to work with them.

8. How long will our session take?

People are always worried about time. They want to know you’re not going to take too much of it, but also that they’ll get every second that they pay for. It’s a balancing act, but again this is about providing information more than actually giving a specific timeline. If you have a time for certain sessions, list that here. For example, you might offer two hours for senior portrait sessions, while wedding photography sessions might be booked as all-day events. Reassure people that they’ll get the time and attention that they deserve, but that you won’t overstay your welcome or drag the process out longer than necessary. More than an actual time, that’s what they want to hear.

9. Do you backup or otherwise secure images for protection?

Today, digital photography has changed the game entirely. One way that it has created some concern is in the realm of backing up images or securing files against various events or problems. People want to know that they’re going to get the end product that they are paying for, despite what could happen along the way. Explain your backup process and how you secure images between shoots, editing, and delivery to keep them safe and guarantee that nothing goes wrong.

If you’re not in the habit of backing up images regularly, now would be a good time to start. Technology is great, but everyone knows it’s not always reliable. It’s better to be prepared and offer peace of mind to your clients as well as yourself.

10. Do I get the copyright/ownership of my photos?

Ownership is a big topic in the world of photography. You’ll want to make sure that you explain the process of delivering images, including who retains ownership, whether people have the right to copy or make additional prints, and so forth. If you keep the raw image files and don’t provide them, explain why. Make sure that you’re completely transparent about what your clients get when they work with you so that they can make an educated decision. You don’t necessarily have to give up the copyright; a proper explanation is sometimes all that people need.