There are so many photographers that this choice can be daunting, but rest assured, there is a good fit for you. Not all photographers are the same, so you’ll need to decide what’s important to you! I’ve listed 5 points I think are important to consider.
1. Have a clear idea of the style that you like. This will help you narrow down your selection of photographers. Make sure you pick a photographer based on the way they shoot and retouch. Do you prefer your images to be light and airy, dark and moody, or do you prefer your image coloring to remain true to life? Do you love black & white photographs, but one of the photographers that you are considering has none in their galleries? Do you feel comfortable enough in front of the camera to choose a documentary or lifestyle session (unposed), or do you want your photographer to use his or her experience to pose you or your family in a way that they know you will look good.
2. Knowledge of local locations is a huge help if you do not have a specific location in mind. Or even if you do, your photographer may have knowledge of the best area and best time of day to shoot at that location. You want your photographer to be able to knock out several varied looks at one location without sacrificing quality or time. The time of day your session is scheduled can be a huge factor in choosing the right location, the same location shot at different times a day can look wildly different.
3. Your budget also needs to be factored in. There is a photographer out there for every budget. When deciding what your budget is, make sure that you are looking at the entire price for the session and the images that you want. Some photographers sell digital image packages, or print packages, where you pay all costs up front before the session. Others charge a session fee (which only includes your photographer's time and expertise, but no product digital or print), and you purchase your digital images or print product separately after your session. Make sure that your senior portrait photographer can include their yearbook headshot, or this will be an added expense. You will be able to find photographers ranging from fee to thousands of dollars per session, and there is a reason why. Some cost more because they invest in themselves – in training, equipment, and promoting themselves. Photographers running a legal business also have insurance and taxes to pay, which means that their price will be higher, and gives you the security of knowing that they are fully invested in making sure they have happy clients. The saying, “You get what you pay for” has hung around for a reason. Some clients even include a client closet.
4. Experience is another thing to consider. All photographers have to start somewhere, which may be fine for seasonal mini-sessions or family portraits that you update yearly, but you probably don’t want a beginner to use your once in a lifetime senior session, engagement, wedding or newborn photos for practice! It’s imperative that your photographer have a proven track record of consistently producing quality work that you will love . Otherwise, you may end up with only a few good images, or none at all. This is extremely important for newborn sessions! Please be sure that your newborn photographer has taken safety courses and knows that some of the most popular poses are actually composites of multiple images and not safe to do otherwise.
5. Once you’ve found a photographer whose work you like, be sure to also check out their client reviews and recommendations. Just like there is a client for every photographer, there is a photographer for every client. Once you’ve found the photographer for you, it’s time to book! Do not wait. A lot of photographers book up quickly, especially if they are in high demand.
This blog is written by Jessica Butterworth, a senior and family photographer at Behind the Shutter LLC in Grand Blanc, Michigan.
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