What to Do When Clients Ask for All Photos from a Shoot

If you’ve been in business as a photographer for any length of time, you’ve probably had this experience: a client reaches out after a session and asks for all the photos you took.

Nice, right?!

It’s a request that can catch you off guard, and if expectations weren’t clearly set beforehand, it can feel tricky to navigate.

Let’s break this down so you can feel more confident and prepared the next time it happens, and find some solutions to help you in the here-and-now if it’s something you’re currently facing!

Hold Up…Why Do Clients Ask for All the Photos, Anyways?

First, take a breath…

When we get a request like this, our gut reaction might be emotional—fear of upsetting the client, anxiety about a bad review, or even worry that our business is at risk.

I’ve been there…

But most of the time, the situation isn’t as dire as it feels in that moment.

Clients ask for all the images for various reasons.

Maybe they’re hoping for different angles or shots of moments they felt were missed—like specific guests at a wedding or detail photos.

Sometimes they simply want more because they love what they’ve seen and are curious about the rest.

And sometimes there’s a little FOMO that kicks in, even after getting a great curated gallery they already love.

The key is to pause and assess why they’re making the request. Don’t assume it’s because they hate your work. Ask clarifying questions to get to the heart of their concern.

6 Tips for Navigating Requests for ALL the Photos!

Tip #1 – Don’t React Emotionally—Pause and Assess

Before you fire off a response, give yourself a cooling-off period. Whether that’s 10 minutes, an hour, or a day, take time to collect your thoughts. Reacting in frustration or defensiveness rarely helps.

Once you’ve calmed down, it’s time to assess the why of this request. Sometimes, it’ll be obvious and someone might tell you right in there message (“I don’t like the photos and want all of them!”), while other times it’s less obvious.

In my experience from what I’ve literally experienced as well as observed in conversations with others, most of the time these requests come in because their client doesn’t love the sneak peeks or full gallery of images that were delivered.

Whether or not this is warranted will vary (sometimes you deliver amazing work and someone doesn’t like it, on some occasions I’ve seen galleries that were significantly lacking in quality – it’s important to look at your work objectively in this phase).

Keep in mind 2 important things when you look to address problems like these:

1. All images will not “fix” the problem they want fixed (if they don’t love what they’ve already received)
2. All images likely hold more liabilities for you to provoke more questions from the client

At it’s core, getting clear on why someone is making this request is hugely important in order to address it properly.

Tip #2 – Review Your Agreements

Once you’ve had a chance to regroup, review the agreements you have in place. Look at your contract, emails, and any other communication where you outlined what the client would receive. This helps you anchor your response in facts rather than feelings.

It’s important here to avoid waving the contract at the client like a weapon. While your contract backs up your boundaries, leading with it can escalate tensions. Use it as a tool to reinforce your position if needed, but start by aiming for a collaborative, empathetic tone.

If you don’t have a solid contract in place (if so: check out some good contracts for photographers) or are struggling to set and manage reasonable expectations around your deliverables, these are important things that can make it less likely to receive requests like these at all!

Tip #3 – The Power of Setting Expectations (Early and Often)

If you’re facing this situation, take it as a reminder of how vital expectation-setting is.

Ideally, you’ve talked through image delivery during your consult call. But don’t stop there…

Reinforce it in your contract, your welcome guide, and even follow-up emails.

By bringing it up in multiple places, you create a clear audit trail that supports your boundaries and makes it easier to stand firm if a client asks for more than what was agreed upon.

I like to say: set expectations early and often...

This is especially true for common issues like requests for RAW or unedited images.

The clearer you are upfront, the less likely these requests are to cause friction.

Tip #4 – Communicate with Care—and a Little Strategy

When you respond, be positive and professional.

I often recommend using the “compliment sandwich” approach:

• start with something positive
• deliver the necessary boundary-setting message
• and close with another positive

To see an example of this –

“I loved photographing your wedding—it was such a beautiful day, and I’m thrilled you’re excited about your images. As we discussed in our consult and outlined in your contract, I deliver a curated selection of edited photos to ensure you receive the best representation of your day. I can’t wait for you to see the final gallery!”

This frames your boundary in a way that’s caring, not confrontational and is a valuable communication skill to learn for general life use and especially in business!

Tip #5 – If Things Escalate, Take It to a Call

If email exchanges aren’t resolving the issue, or if you sense the client’s frustration is growing, suggest moving the conversation to a phone or video call.

Why does this matter?

This allows for human connection—you can ask open-ended questions, hear their tone, and better gauge their concerns. It also allows you to actually resolve the issue in a timely manner, instead of waiting and going back and forth via email (sometimes being dragged out into weeks of messages and ensuing anxiety).

I’ve found this often diffuses tension that can build in written communication.

On these calls, let the client speak and share their concerns fully before you jump in with solutions.

Tip #6 – Know When (and How) to Hold the Line

Not every request needs to result in you giving in and sharing extra files.

If delivering additional images wouldn’t solve the core issue—or could compromise your brand quality or workflow—stick to your boundaries.

Remember, you’re allowed to say “no.”

If you do choose to provide extra images, ensure you’ve set clear terms around their use, especially for unedited or RAW files as most photographers don’t want these circulating online as examples of their work.

In my own business, I’ve navigated all sorts of outcomes—from upselling RAW images to realizing the client just needed reassurance. The key is staying calm, curious, and clear about your boundaries.

Final Thoughts

Requests like these are common when you work in the photography industry, and they’re not a reflection of some problem with your talent (most of the time).

Instead, requests like these (annoying as they may be) can be looked at as an opportunity to strengthen your communication, contracts, and client care.

By preparing in advance and handling these situations thoughtfully, you’ll come away feeling more in control and confident—and that’s a win for both you and your business.

Christian Romans

Chris is a business strategist at Shoot and Thrive and co‑owner of Hand and Arrow Photography alongside his wife. With over a decade of professional shooting experience (and a passion for photography since high school), he helps creatives grow through smart websites & SEO, blogging, branding, and sales strategies. When he’s not behind the lens or refining a marketing funnel, you’ll find him playing guitar, skateboarding, or planning his next adventure—his favorite so far was campervanning around Iceland. Chris holds degrees in Psychology and Philosophy, which inform his human‑centered approach to both art and business.

www.shootandthrive.com