When Good Photographers Go Bad: The Art of Giving (and Receiving) Honest Feedback 📸

Why mixing photography styles is like asking a brain surgeon to fix your car engine (spoiler: it doesn't end well)

So you hire photographers who absolutely nail the first half of your project (architecture photography), delivering stunning shots that make your hotel look like it belongs in Architectural Digest. Then, three weeks later, they deliver the second batch (architecture photos but with people in them) and... what the hell happened? 🤔

Did they get replaced by their evil twins? Did they forget how to use a camera? Or did you just discover one of photography's best-kept secrets: being great at one thing doesn't automatically make you great at everything else.

Welcome to the wild world of photography specializations, where the lines between success and disaster are thinner than you think! 😅

@Myself. The car is the hero but is not “alone”. This a luxury shot where both the car (as Batman) and the house (as Robin) both play roles in showcasing “LUXURY”.

The Great Photography Misconception 🎭

Here's the thing that trips up clients (and honestly, some photographers too): architecture photography and lifestyle photography with people are about as similar as brain surgery and car repair.

Sure, they both involve precision and skill, but try asking a neurosurgeon to fix your transmission and see how that goes! 🧠🔧

Architecture Photography Mindset:

• The building/space is the star

• Clean lines and perfect symmetry

• Every detail matters

• Remove distracting elements

• Showcase the design

Lifestyle Photography Mindset:

• People are the main subject

• Capture emotions and interactions

• Tell a human story

• Create authentic moments

• Make viewers connect with the subjects

See the problem? When you're used to making spaces the hero, suddenly having to make people the supporting cast while still showcasing the space is like trying to pat your head and rub your belly while riding a unicycle. Backwards. In the rain. ☔

The Plot Twist: When People Steal the Show 🎬

What probably happened to our hotel client? The photographers nailed the architecture shots because that's what they know. But when humans entered the frame, their instincts kicked in: "People = main subject. Got it!"

And suddenly, instead of getting "beautiful hotel with attractive guests," they got "attractive couple who happen to be in a hotel." The space became the background, not the star. 🏨➡️👫

It's not that they forgot how to photograph, they just switched gears without realizing it!

The Lost-in-Translation Moment 🗣️

Before we dive into solutions, let me share a personal story that'll make you feel better about communication mishaps...

I once shot a prototype LeMans race car for a client. He asked me to "clean up the workshop floor and remove other elements (other than the car)". Simple enough, right? I delivered photos with the floor so pristine it looked like the car was floating in a white void. ✨

Client reaction: 😬

Turns out, when a Portuguese guy and a Russian guy communicate in English about "cleaning up," things get lost in translation. He wanted minor touch-ups, not a complete digital renovation of reality!

The lesson? Sometimes "failures" are just miscommunications in disguise.

The Feedback Formula: How to Criticize Without Crushing Souls 💬

Here's the golden rule photographers live by: We hate vague criticism, but we love specific feedback.

Don't Say:

• "I don't like them" 😤

• "They're not what I expected" 🤷‍♀️

• "Something feels off" 😕

• "Can you make them better?" 🤨

Do Say:

• "The hotel spaces aren't prominent enough in the shots" ✅

• "The composition focuses too much on the couple instead of the rooms" ✅

• "Objects in the background are distracting from the hotel's features" ✅

• "The photos read more like a romantic getaway shoot than a hotel showcase" ✅

The Psychology Behind the Panic 🧠

When photographers receive feedback, here's what goes through our heads:

Vague Criticism Triggers:

• "Am I losing my skills?" 😰

• "Do they hate everything I do?" 😭

• "Should I find a new career?" 🤦‍♂️

• "How do I even fix 'I don't like it'?" 🤯

Specific Feedback Triggers:

• "Oh, I see the issue!" 💡

• "That makes total sense!" 🎯

• "I can definitely fix that!" 🛠️

• "Thanks for helping me understand!" 🙏

The Reshoot Reality Check 💰

Now, let's talk turkey about reshoots and budget realities:

What Might Be Possible:

• Re-editing existing photos (if the raw material allows)

• Minor adjustments to composition in post

• Color grading changes

• Selective retouching

What Might Be Challenging:

• Full reshoot with new models (budget constraints?)

• Complete re-composition (if the framing is fundamentally wrong)

• Travel expenses for location shoots

• Scheduling conflicts

The Budget Breakdown Reality: If the original quote included models, travel, and location fees, the photographers probably allocated most of their budget to the initial shoot. They might be willing to re-edit or do minor corrections, but a full reshoot could be financially challenging for them.

The Conversation Roadmap 🗺️

Here's how to approach this delicate situation:

Step 1: Lead with Positives

"I absolutely loved the architecture shots from day one – they perfectly captured what I was looking for."

Step 2: Be Specific About Issues

"For the day 2 shots, I noticed the focus seems to be more on the couple than on showcasing the hotel spaces. The rooms and amenities aren't as prominent as I'd hoped."

Step 3: Explain the End Goal

"I need photos that potential guests will look at and think 'I want to stay in that beautiful hotel' rather than 'that's a cute couple.'"

Step 4: Ask for Solutions

"Is there anything we can do to adjust the editing to make the spaces more prominent, or would you be open to discussing other options?"

What to Expect in Return 🤝

Best Case Scenarios:

• "You're absolutely right, let me re-edit these with that in mind"

• "I can reshoot a few key shots focusing more on the spaces"

• "Let me adjust the composition and color grading to emphasize the hotel"

Realistic Scenarios:

• "I can definitely re-edit to shift focus to the spaces"

• "A full reshoot isn't in the budget, but I can make significant adjustments"

• "Let me see what I can do in post-production to better showcase the hotel"

Prepare-Yourself Scenarios:

• "This is my creative vision" (red flag 🚩)

• "The photos are technically correct" (missing the point)

• "Reshoots cost extra" (true, but not what you want to hear, doesn’t fix the problem)

The Silver Lining: Growth Opportunities 🌟

Here's something beautiful about this situation: Good photographers want to get better. When you explain specifically what went wrong, you're not just solving your immediate problem, you're helping them understand a new aspect of their craft.

Your feedback might be the lightbulb moment that helps them realize the difference between architectural photography and lifestyle photography in commercial spaces. That's valuable knowledge they'll carry into future projects!

Prevention for Next Time 🛡️

For Clients:

• Ask to see examples of similar work (hotel lifestyle shots, not just architecture or people separately)

• Discuss the primary focus during pre-shoot meetings

• Share reference images that show the balance you want

• Be specific about the end use of the photos

For Photographers:

• Ask clients about the primary subject and secondary elements

• Clarify whether spaces or people should be the hero

• Show relevant portfolio pieces, not just "close enough" examples

• Discuss the intended use of the photos

The Bottom Line: Honest Communication Wins 🏆

Photography is a collaborative art form, and sometimes the collaboration needs a little course correction. The fact that you can identify specifically what's wrong with the second batch of photos shows you have a clear vision – that's half the battle won!

Remember: Photographers would rather fix a specific problem than guess what "I don't like it" means. Your detailed feedback isn't criticism; it's a roadmap to success.

And who knows? This experience might turn your photographers into specialists in hotel lifestyle photography. That's a win-win situation if I've ever seen one! 🎉

Your Action Plan 📋

1. Organize your specific feedback – write down exactly what needs to change

2. Start the conversation positively – acknowledge what worked well

3. Be clear about your end goals – explain how the photos will be used

4. Ask for solutions – let them propose how to fix the issues

5. Be open to compromise – understand budget and time constraints

6. Document the lessons learned – use this experience to improve future briefs

Remember: The goal isn't to make anyone feel bad, it's to get photos that serve your business needs while maintaining a good working relationship. Sometimes that just takes a little honest conversation! 💪

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Want to see how I handle feedback and client communication in my own work? Check out my portfolio and approach at pedrothomaz.pt – I promise I listen to what you actually need! 📸