🔟 Top 10 Beginner Mistakes with Brands — and How to Avoid Them
1. Undervaluing their work
Photographers agree to shoot for “exposure” or very low rates. Brands get used to paying little and don’t see you as a professional.
📌 Example: A brand offers to shoot a lookbook in exchange for clothes. The photographer agrees → no money earned and no real client experience gained.
✅ Do this instead: Even as a beginner, set a fair price. Keep it modest if needed, but always with an agreement and clear deliverables. It builds respect for your work.
2. Not following the brief
❌ Mistake: Ignoring brand references and guidelines, shooting “your own way.” The photos may look nice but don’t fit the task.
📌 Example: Client asked for clean e-com on white background, but the photographer delivered “artistic” shots with dramatic shadows. Client disappointed.
✅ Do this instead: Always ask for the brief, request a moodboard, clarify everything. Better to double-check than to guess.
3. Inconsistent lighting and style
❌ Mistake: Lighting and colors differ from shot to shot, ruining catalogue consistency.
📌 Example: In the same series, models stand closer/farther to the light → skin tones and backgrounds shift.
✅ Do this instead: Lock your settings: exposure, white balance, distance to model. Take a test shot and compare every 10–15 minutes.
4. Poor preparation & no references
❌ Mistake: Showing up without equipment checklist or references. Time gets wasted on set figuring things out.
📌 Example: The stylist and makeup artist create their own look, but the photographer never shared a moodboard → results don’t match client’s vision.
✅ Do this instead: Create a moodboard, confirm references with the client, prepare a shot list and setup plan. Walk onto set ready.
❌ Mistake: Failing to discuss deadlines, deliverables, or file formats. Leads to conflict.
📌 Example: Photographer delivers RAW files, but client expected 300 dpi JPEGs with color correction. Project delayed.
✅ Do this instead: Define everything upfront: what you deliver, in what format, and when. Put it in writing, not just verbal.
❌ Mistake: Shooting too slowly, mismanaging time. Client pays for studio/models while time is wasted.
📌 Example: 30 looks planned in 6 hours, but photographer only delivered 15 → client frustrated.
✅ Do this instead: Keep pace. Plan timing: how many looks per hour. Track time and inform client if things fall behind.
7. Ignoring small details
❌ Mistake: Wrinkles, crooked collars, dirty background left in frame. Post-production becomes expensive and frustrating for the client.
📌 Example: Half the catalogue images can’t be used because clothes weren’t steamed properly.
✅ Do this instead: Pay attention on set: background, clothes, posture, hands. Fix issues in the moment — cheaper and faster than fixing later.
❌ Mistake: Coming without spare batteries or memory cards. Equipment failure ruins the shoot.
📌 Example: Photographer’s battery dies mid-shoot, and part of the project gets canceled. Client loses money and trust.
✅ Do this instead: Always bring backups: cards, batteries, even extra lights. Have a plan B for gear problems.
9. Weak portfolio presentation
❌ Mistake: Portfolio is full of random photos — weddings, landscapes, pets. Brands don’t see relevant experience.
📌 Example: Photographer can shoot catalogue work but has none of it in their portfolio → client chooses someone else.
✅ Do this instead: Build a focused portfolio for brands: e-com, lookbook, catalogue. Even 5 strong, relevant projects beat 100 random images.
10. Treating photography as a hobby
❌ Mistake: No pricing, no contracts, working “as a favor.” Brands can’t take it seriously.
📌 Example: Client asked for invoice and contract, but photographer had nothing → project canceled.
✅ Do this instead: Position yourself as a pro from day one: clear rates, contracts, deposits. Even as a beginner, professionalism builds trust.
