The Viewing and Ordering appointment

It came up while chatting with a friend recently that not many people know what a Viewing and Ordering session is. I realized that in the digital age most photographers charge a session fee and you get all your images on a CD or USB drive. There are more of this style of photographer than full service photographers so this CD style has become the norm.

Have you ever had a session like that? What did you do with the CD? Did you intend to get prints but never got around to it so now its sitting in a drawer somewhere?That's exactly how the conversation with my friend went.

Friend: Yeah I've been wanting to get some pictures on

the walls since we moved.

Me: That's great! Which ones were you thinking?

Friend: Oh some of the boys, probably their newborn

ones and current ones. Maybe some from my wedding.

Me: Do you have those already printed?

Friend: No the photographer I used just gave me the

CDs...actually I'm not even sure where those are.

Me: Ahhh...hopefully you come across them, I could help you order

prints, I do it all the time in my viewing and ordering appointments.

Friend: Whats an ordering appointment?

I then went on to explain that since I don't offer online galleries it's at the viewing and ordering appointment I show my clients their images and they choose which ones they'd like to order. I help clients decide sizes for wall art, gifts for family and friends and go over custom album options among other things.

A few tips for a viewing and ordering appointment

Make sure all decision makers are present. Many partners may not need financial approval from each other for financial decisions, but most of us do want our partners input when it comes to selecting images that are displayed in our homes. If you would like someone’s input for your portraits, make sure they’re at the ordering appointment.

Have a list of anyone you need gifts for. Grandparents, Aunts and Uncles, Family, Friends etc… You don't want the session to be over and a day later remember that you wanted to mail gift prints to Aunt Suzie as a surprise.

If you're interested in updating images that are already in your home, have the frame sizes written down and whether they're displayed as horizontal or vertical.

Be prepared to hang the proper size wall art. Just like when you purchase a TV, there are things that you always consider when making your wall art portrait purchase. Things like the size of the room and viewing distance.

Payment is due at the end of the appointment. At least with me it is. Some photographers may offer payment plans. Always ask your photographer when they expect payment if it's not outlined in their contract. Always remember to ask about tax and if there's a shipping cost too.

P.S. I realize I use both appointment and session. I use them interchangeably because they're pretty much the same thing :)