Making Photography Accessible

One of the things I've become passionate about in my photography business is accessibility. Whether we are talking about creating offerings at different price points that are accessible for various budgets, or making sure that a photography location will work for a differently abled client, accessibility is actually a huge concept that I don't see discussed enough in the photography community. There's also the question of how easy it is to book, and whether or not social media and blog posts include captions and image descriptions.

While my offerings aren't always as accessible as I'd like them to be (I have my own chronic issues that I'm navigating over here as well) I work to make them as accessible as possible. It aligns with my personal business ethos, and also makes it possible to work with the clients I most want to attract.

Financial Accessibility

There are a lot of photographers out there who want to create a "luxury brand" for themselves, and there are a lot of business coaches out there making bank on teaching people to make the maximum amount of money from photography. I understand why people do this - being an entrepreneur is hard, and photography gear, software, and services are not cheap. I'll still never be in either camp. There are several reasons for this.

The biggest reason is I believe everyone deserves photos of their favorite version of themselves.

Photos are memories of who we've been and portals to who we dream of being. Call me delusional, but I don't think that should be gatekept because not everyone has multiple hundreds or thousands of dollars to drop on a session or event.

There's a lot of conversation about "charging what you're worth" and that's important too - we all are trying to pay rent and buy groceries out here - however this is why I see offering tiers of services as an equitable and accessible option. The last time I held mini sessions, it was the first time that more than one of my clients had signed up for a professional session. This tells me that I'm filling a need. It also tells me that so many people who are my age and younger are missing out on professional photos because they aren't financially accessible, and no one is showing them how these sessions serve them specifically.

Some of my clients will be able to pay for my most expensive services, and that balances out the people who are stopping by a photobooth. If demand increases to the point that I'm having a hard time fitting everything in, I will start offering more options for mini sessions. If you are interested in booking a mini session in the future be sure to sign up for my wait list!

Technological Accessibility

I'll let you in on a secret if you've never built a website - it can be overwhelming at best. I've gone through several iterations of websites before finally settling in with Wix for the last several years, and accessibility was a huge reason for that.

While, if I'm being honest, I originally wanted online booking and billing because I hate asking for money, it also makes it so much easier for people to see how our schedules might align and book a session at their convenience. My price ranges are listed clearly, my goal is never to get someone excited about working together but secretly wondering if they will be priced out of my services. When they do ask for a quote or price, I know that they at least had the opportunity to review my website and it's a confirmation which is less likely to induce sticker shock. I feel like this is a great example of the adage that a more accessible world is better for everyone, not only people with disabilities. Cost transparency and ease of connection is going to benefit all my client relationships.

I recently went through a checklist that Wix set up for website accessibility - and they highlighted images I had missed writing image descriptions for, and suggested I write an accessibility statement. Image descriptions are important for anyone with visual disabilities, and also as a bonus makes my website easier for search engines to index.

I also added some questions to my booking questionnaire so I know if clients have accessibility or disability based concerns before the session.

On-Site Accessibility & Session Planning

I feel like this is potentially the most important part of of the process for me - making sure that when we get to the session my clients feel empowered, safe, and prioritized. While I'm always thinking of new ways to facilitate this here are the things I always consider:

• Mobility requirements for accessing our session location

• Bathroom accessibility for clients

• How challenging it might be to find the session location

There are also special considerations for family sessions, newborn sessions, and maternity sessions.

In Making Family Photos Magical, I talk about my approach to working with families and children. I'm a huge proponent of incorporating themes that will catch the kids interest into the photo session. Taking their perspective into account makes it a smoother and more enjoyable process for everyone.

I will always allow extra time for newborn sessions to make sure Baby has time to take as many snack breaks as necessary. Usually I suggest we do newborn sessions at home, where everyone is most comfortable.

Maternity sessions are as unique as each pregnant person and family, however I always keep in mind how exhausting and challenging it can be to walk, pose, and be directed. I've worked with pregnant folks with different preferences and abilities, from sweet park photos to almost rock climbing to get that shot. I'm up for all of it, but I will always let the client take the lead.

Taking these steps are ways that I work to create a client experience that celebrates every client's milestones, victories, and identities. Any limitations you come to me with are just part of being human - I have them too. Let's go make some fantastic images together. Curious about pricing and availability? Take a look at the options here.