Intentional & Mindful Approach
As a diverse and inclusive photographer, your work goes beyond capturing beautiful moments—it’s about creating a safe, respectful, and empowering experience for your clients. For BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) clients, this is especially important. BIPOC wedding and lifestyle clients hit road blocks when searching for inspiration. Even on a comprehensive platform like Pinterest having to include qualifiers in order to see themselves in images can be incredibly frustrating when starting the process of planning. Many POC clients feel hesitant to work with photographers or other wedding vendors who don’t showcase diversity in their portfolios. When clients don’t see themselves reflected in your work, they may wonder if you understand how to properly light, pose, and edit their unique features.
Being intentional with your BIPOC clients starts from the very first interaction and carries through every step of the process—from the session or wedding day to post-processing and editing. Here’s how you can ensure your work honors and respects your clients’ identities and memories.
1. Representation Matters: Showcase Diversity in Your Portfolio
One of the first things potential clients look for is whether they see themselves represented in your work. If your portfolio lacks diversity, it can send a message—intentional or not—that you don’t work with or understand how to photograph BIPOC clients. Make a conscious effort to include a variety of skin tones, hair textures, and cultural backgrounds in your portfolio. This not only builds trust but also shows that you value and celebrate diversity.
There are many options in how you can do this.
- Attend diverse styled shoots - look into styled shoots being put on in your area. Inquire about the diversity that will be included.
- Put together your own styled shoots or sessions. Reach out to models, couples, etc. If you do reach out to couples or models make sure you compensate and pay them for their time and effort.
It's important to approach your art not just as content for clients but especially a representation of your business.
2. Mindful Editing: Avoid Overly Orange or Red Skin Tones
Editing is where your intentionality truly shines—or falls short. Many photographers rely on presets, but these can often distort skin tones, making them appear too orange, too red, or unnaturally washed out. This is especially problematic for POC clients, whose skin tones may not align with the default settings of popular presets.
To avoid this, pay close attention to the HSL (Hue, Saturation, Luminance) sliders in Lightroom. These tools allow you to fine-tune specific colors in your images, ensuring that skin tones remain true to life.
For example:
- Adjust the red and orange hues to prevent skin from looking too warm or overly saturated.
- Use the luminance slider to brighten or darken specific tones without losing detail.
Remember, editing is not one-size-fits-all. Take the time to customize your edits for each client’s unique skin tone. These small mindful adjustments make all the difference in helping your clients feel seen and their memories feel authentic to who they are.
3. Listen and Learn: Embrace Client Feedback
If a client approaches you with a critique about their skin tone in the final images, don’t take it personally. Instead, view it as a valuable learning opportunity. Photography is a collaborative art, and your clients deserve to feel confident and beautiful in their photos. Work with them to make adjustments and ask questions to better understand their concerns. This not only improves your skills but also builds trust and shows that you value their input.
4. Honor Their Memories: Be Intentional Every Step of the Way
From the moment you meet your clients to the final delivery of their images, your intentionality speaks volumes. By being mindful of how you interact with them, how you capture their stories, and how you edit their photos, you’re showing respect for their identities and their precious memories.
For BIPOC clients, this level of care is especially meaningful. It communicates that you see them, you value them, and you’re committed to honoring their beauty in every way.
As a photographer, you have the power to create images that celebrate diversity and inclusivity. By being intentional with your BIPOC clients—from representation in your portfolio to mindful editing and open communication—you’re not just taking photos; you’re creating a legacy of respect, empowerment, and authenticity.
Let’s commit to doing the work, learning along the way, and ensuring that every client feels seen, valued, and celebrated in front of and behind the lens.
