Four Tips for Choosing Your Photographer
Tip #1 - Understand Industry Prices
This is such a big topic that it really deserves it's own blog post. Understanding industry prices can help you know what you're paying for, set expectations, and financially plan for your session and photos.
When you are working with a professional photographer, you are paying them for their technical skills, their experience, their creative abilities to compose and edit beautiful photos, and their time.
Pricing varies greatly between photographers. Some photographers offer all-inclusive packages (these include digital images and the session fee), while others might offer the session fee and sell their images separately. Some photographers offer prints and add-ons, some only offer the digitals.
Photographers who are just starting out might only charge $25-$75 for an hour-long session, while the intermediate level charges closer to $150-$300 for an hour-long session, and an advanced photographer will charge $600+ for a session.
There is no shortage of photographers, so with a little hunting you can find someone who best fits your needs- whether that’s saving for a top tier photographer or working with someone who has more affordable pricing and less experience.
The most budget-friendly option is working with someone who is still building their portfolio- these photographers offer heavily discounted or free sessions to gain experience.
Tip #2 - Know What You Want
It's difficult to settle on a photographer if you aren't sure what you're looking for. I would make a list of what you'd like, then rate those items in terms of importance. Here are some questions to get you started:
Do you want digital images or prints?
Do you want your photographer to provide prints through a professional printing lab?
Do you want to be in a studio, outdoors, or another location (i.e. your home, a museum, a pumpkin patch, etc?)
How much time do you want to spend on your session?
Do you want to use props?
Do you expect your photographer to provide props?
Do you like being posed or do you prefer candid style images?
What do you like in editing styles? Bright and airy? Dark and moody? Vibrant colors?
Tip #3 - Look for Signs of Professionalism
There are a few green flags that will tell you if a photographer is competent.
They are honest about their experience. There can be a culture of "fake it till you make it" in the entrepreneurial world. A photographer that is truly professional will be transparent about their experience.
They have boundaries. A professional in any industry understands their boundaries and business limitations. They aren't afraid of losing your business by being honest with you regarding services they are unwilling or unable to provide.
They have a consistent style. When you look at their portfolio you should be able to pick up common elements across images. These elements might include a similar mood, common poses, even uses of light, consistent edits of colors, etc.
They have good business practices- they have a contract, they can provide proof of a business license or insurance if needed, they have clear and consistent communication with you, and so on.
Tip #4 Trust Your Gut
You need to work with someone you vibe with. If you feel comfortable with your photographer, you're less likely to feel and look stiff in your photos. You can get an idea of a photographer's personality through their website and social media pages.
Reviews from past clients can give you an idea of what it might be like to work with that photographer as well.
A lot of photographers also offer free consultations where you can talk more about what you're looking for. While it can feel a little daunting, this is a great opportunity for you to interview that person to see if you feel like it's a good fit.
