What do you do if your creative vision as a photographer isn't being understood by clients and collaborators?

It must be clarified who provides creative direction. It is a misconception that photographers are always booked for their creative vision. Some projects (especially in the commercial field) require the photographer to follow someone else's art direction.

During pre-production, it's so important to create a complete and robust creative deck in order to present, discuss and align on the vision with client. I always include as many visual references as possible (from my past work and peers) to communicate ideas and leave a lot of room to listen to the client and learn more about how they envision the project.

If you want to dive deep “listen to” your client, what are their objectives. Sometimes they don’t know how to express them because it is not their education or speciality. Then ask them: what is "the ambiance or image they want to create”? Think if this will be realistic, abstract... I will be working on some specific warm or cool colors, will need natural or artificial light? If have some samples, share them. Give some advice according your experience and the “target audience the client will be focusing” or “the main objective to portrait”. Make some tests, try different options before you marry one concept. Then when you have your first drafts. Use a tool like "Lightroom". Go back to your client, and talk in more detail about it.

You dont work with those who don’t share your vision. Because once you start changing to comply with others demands- you stop being what makes you you! You start changing merely for financial gains and before you know it… what makes you the amazing you that you are slowly fades away and you lose your uniqueness and individuality and become just like everyone else.

The wider the range a photographer can showcase their vision in, the easier it is to articulate their vision to potential clients. Make work which might trigger these eureka moments and share it as much as you can, and provide some insightful facts about the way you work. It can take a long time for the right client to come along and click with your work, even longer for them to find the right project for you.

It's highly recommended to conduct a brief, 30-minute presentation for clients, detailing the project's overall workflow before commencing the actual work. This approach ensures clarity regarding the types of feedback required at each stage of the process. It's common for clients to feel uncomfortable during the early, rough stages of a project due to the lack of polish. To alleviate this, it is important to communicate clearly that at this phase, we are seeking high-level decisions from them. Assure them that the refinement and detailed polishing will be followed in subsequent steps. At this juncture, showcasing some of your most exemplary past projects can be an effective strategy to mitigate any uncertainty the clients might have.

Make it simple! For me, it's more about trying to use colloquial words and sometimes it seems silly, but it's the more adequate.. so you don't complicate yourself with a plethora of concept. Also, it's more easy to understand your client idea. Doing a simple draw with some frames examples, that explain the way elements will be around the space. Shades, lights, fadings and other that are just basic. I think the simple, the better!

I need to meet my client Have a meeting know her/his ideas, concept, colors or other is interesting facts I need to know before start. Like in design a brief. I will look forward to some personal past photos, also to photos or concepts of some photographer I admired in the sense of creating an ambiance. I will talk to other colleagues and make a list with these aspects seen before I can make a proposal if I don't feel very into the topic. If there is a topic or concept I'm familiar... Also, I will try to force myself to depict other images. Sometimes when you are stress out or with some specific timing the ideas doesn't flow! But, I think most creative work under pressure as ordinary! So talk as open topic to colleagues is always good!

Clients, particularly those without a background in visual arts, often require visual references to align with your project vision. The quantity of these references is less critical than their consistency and relevance. Presenting clients with a collection of generic or subpar references can lead to confusion and raise additional questions. It's crucial, therefore, to select visual references that precisely support and articulate your vision. Nowadays, even AI-generated images are frequently utilized at this stage, as finding exact reference images that match your intended concept can sometimes be challenging.

In my experience aligning with a client on vision starts in the pre production stage not on location. The more references you have around your idea, whether that be color choices, poses, wardrobe, or lighting. The more references will make it easier with your client and on the day to bring your vision to life.

I think it is very important if the client have seen some visuals captivates his/her would tell me... Because otherwise sometimes you are with a opposite point of view that might be good. But listen to your client first... if you feel this doesn't seem good in the sense of aesthetics or other art related make suggestions.. Also, if you carry with you a little scrapbook with some referent photos in this respect will be appreciated to your client and also it's very handy to know where is your starting point... so you can start to draw a plan, make a list of materials, spaces or other you might find useful to your project!

I think sometimes as an artist it's very important to "stand out your idea or concept" otherwise it might seen as unprofessional or playful in the sense there is too much space between... Being very open is not good sometimes, because you can lose a good idea if you doesn't' stick with it. If you feel that you have "a good idea o concept" have the guts to tell about it... but you need to be very cautious on the way to engage your client to this "idea or concept" you are interested in order to engage an audience or tailor some specifics...

Carry a tiny sketchbook when you go to your client and everywhere if you need to make some drawings about your composition, colors, fading or others! It's very handy!!!