Friday Fives: 5 Tips on How to Choose Your Photographer!

You’ve decided it’s time to get some family photos taken…or engagement portraits, or maternity photos, or back to school pictures. Whatever the occasion, you’ve decided to pull the trigger and invest your time and money in capturing your life right where you’re at. Ok, so now what? Today I’m going to share with you 5 things you should think through before you choose your photographer.

#1: Style

Are you someone who likes a more natural, everyday type feel to your photos? Then I would suggest looking at photographers who shoot more lifestyle, meaning they try to capture you in your everyday element or in more natural environments and interactions. Do you prefer a setup that is much more structured, posed, and propped? Then maybe studio photography is your jam. Inside or Outside? Have a scroll through Instagram and search local photography hashtags to see who’s nearby. Get referrals from friends who’ve worked with people in your area. It’s one of those “you’ll know it when you see it”…that style that resonates with you. So look through Instagram profiles and for sure pop over to their websites to see who they are, what they do and how they shoot.

#2: Specialty

What kind of photos are you in need of? Maternity? Family? Engagement or couples photography? Wedding or boudoir photography? A lot of photographers will do many different styles. I myself do families and maternity but I really love working with couples and doing portrait sessions. Many photographers have a niche: they only shoot families or they only do portrait sessions. Do your research because you may like the vibe of a photographer that has amazing boudoir shots but you want a family session. I’m gonna say that won’t be a good fit. So know what you’re looking for and remember to use those location specific hashtags to see who’s doing what in your area.

#3: Customer Service

You’ll want to work with a photographer that has not only good people skills but also knows how to conduct business as well. Photographers are amazing artists, artists are not always known for their business skills. But photographers have to wear many hats as an entrepreneur, business goes beyond the camera. They should have a solid customer experience from beginning to end. Are they easy to contact and do they get back to you in a short amount of time? Are they collaborating with you on your photo shoot to make it a customized personal experience? Are there questionnaires or zoom calls to get to know each other before the event? What is their turn around time on photo delivery? Has their cost and their services been clearly communicated? Is there a contract? Not every photographer will do all of these things or have all of these things in place but many of these things add to the client experience. You may not know everything you need to ask or be aware of going into a photoshoot, but a good photographer should be able to kindly walk you through it.

#4: Budget

Finally, what are you able or willing to spend on these photos? This may be your first filter or this may be your last, but regardless of where is falls in order of importance, your budget is a huge determining factor in who you can work with. Each photographer is sure to have a different pricing / cost structure. Some will charge you a flat fee and deliver all of your edited images. Some have a deposit up front and payment due at the session. Some will only release 20 images with additional ones available at a cost. Some will charge a travel fee. This can all add up so be sure to know what you’re willing to spend and what is too much.

#5: Go with your Gut

After you’ve done all of this my last bit of advice is to just go with your gut. Sometimes we can do all the research in the world but nothing beats that butterflies in the stomach feeling we get when we know something is right.

Good luck finding the right photographer for your next experience, I hope these tips were helpful. If you’re looking for someone in the Tempe, Arizona (AZ) or Burlington, Vermont (VT) areas, and you want a more natural lifestyle session with someone who is fun and will be your biggest cheerleader then give me a shout. I love meeting new people and am always up for an adventure!

All My Love,