A commercial photography assignment can begin with a short email, a few reference images, and a deadline that leaves little room for correction. The camera is rarely the first problem.
A useful conversation starts with the image’s job.
Ask where the photographs will appear, who will approve them, how many finished selections are required, and whether the tone should be polished, candid, dramatic, or approachable. A magazine profile, a website banner, and an advertising image beside a logo may all feature the same person, yet each calls for different framing, space, and lighting decisions.