Yeah, reminds me of a friend who asked for a "rustic" table but got upset when it had actual saw marks. I sent them photos of three different finishes next to different wood grains before we even started. Sometimes you just have to show, not tell, and let them point at what looks right to them. It saves a lot of hassle later.
William's photo idea is smart. I've seen customers get mad over stain colors that looked nothing like they pictured. A visual sample cuts out all the guesswork.