How to Deal with Ghosts (No, Not the Halloween Kind)

AKA: When someone messages you about a session and then disappears into the abyss

So you’ve just received a message:

“Hi! I’m interested in booking a session — what are your prices?”

You get excited. You respond. You give all the juicy details. You’re polite. You’re prompt. You even throw in a light joke, because hey — you’re charming like that.

And then…
nothing.

No reply. No follow-up. No “thank you” or “let me think about it.”
Just straight-up ghosted like a bad Tinder date.

First Things First: It’s Not You. It’s Them.

Seriously. Repeat after me:
“It’s not personal.”

Sometimes people reach out just to gauge pricing. Sometimes they’re price-shopping. Sometimes they saw a TikTok that said, “You should book a fall family session!” and got impulsive, but then remembered they have four kids under six and one of them just puked in the minivan again.

Whatever the reason — their silence has zero to do with your talent, value, or the quality of your work. It’s just life.

The Follow-Up — But Keep It Chill

Yes, you can follow up. No, you don’t need to write a novel or beg for their business.

A simple message like:

“Hey! Just checking in to see if you had any other questions about the session! Let me know either way — happy to help if you need anything.”

That’s it.
Don’t overthink it. Don’t spiral. Don’t assume they hate you.
(Unless they said they hate you — in which case, fair. Move on.)

Track It. Then Let It Go.

This is where that handy spreadsheet comes in — track your contacts, even the ghosty ones. It helps you measure your reach and follow-up efforts without guessing or driving yourself nuts. Plus, you can spot patterns. Like maybe Tuesdays are cursed. Or maybe people who say “I just need a few pics for Christmas cards” are secretly not serious. You’ll learn.

But once you’ve followed up and logged it — let it go.

No chasing. No guilt. No shame.
They’re not your client — yet. Or maybe ever. And that’s OK.

The Right People Stick Around

Here’s the deal: the right clients? They don’t ghost. They reply. They ask real questions. They send screenshots of outfit inspo and get genuinely excited about location ideas.

They don’t just want pictures.
They want you — your style, your eye, your editing, your vibe.

So let the ghosts float away. There are living, breathing, awesome humans out there who are ready to book with you and have the time of their lives doing it.

Final Thought: Ghosts Can Come Back

Sometimes they circle back three months later. Sometimes they say, “Sorry! Life got crazy but we’re ready now!” Sometimes they book the next year.

So always be kind. Always be professional. But never tie your worth to their response.

You’re not ghosting material.
You’re full-season Netflix binge material.

Stay classy. Stay charming. Keep the porch light on.