Woohoo!!!! You are so excited because you are ready to document your baby's most recent milestones or celebrate your high school senior with a photo shoot. Whatever the occasion, there are some things you need to think about before you begin planning out your session.
If you have already started the search for a professional photographer, then you know just how many options there are. Before you go ahead and pay that booking fee, there are a few important things for you to consider.
What style are you looking for?
Photographers have unique styles, so you need to choose someone who can help you achieve the result you are looking for. This applies to all genres of photography, from weddings to maternity and beyond. Have you thought about style? What do you want your final pictures to look like?
- What are your style preferences? Do you have any? Ask the photographer for some examples of their latest work to determine how they would best capture the style you have in mind. Do you prefer, for example, one of the following styles?
o A clean editing style-
A matte filter effect-
A light and airy look-
A dark and moody approach-
- Perhaps you are interested in studio portraiture. This would be a photography session taken in a professional studio. Does the photographer you are looking to hire have a studio available to them? If so, these are a few things to think about, and ask the photographer, regarding the portrait's backdrop:
o Do you prefer a minimalist image where the photographer uses a simple backdrop?
o Or do you like the idea of an extravagant background set-up?
- Maybe you are looking to book a maternity session. For some clients, the thought of purchasing something to wear for a photo shoot can feel overwhelming, especially if you are never going to wear those clothes again.
o One of the questions you can ask is if the photographer has a CLIENT CLOSET of maternity clothes that he/she offers clients to borrow for maternity sessions.
- Are you specifically looking for a photographer who creates fine art portraits? Not all photographers offer this service, so you will have to be specific in your search.
- Finally, in photography, light is one of the most important components necessary to capturing a beautiful and professional image. The two most common ways a photographer uses light are: natural light and off-camera flash. If you prefer either of these types, you will want to ask your photographer about them.
It is important to know what style you like so that you can find the best suited photographer for your needs.
Research and review:
Before you invest in a professional photographer, you should do your homework. Get online to find a few customer reviews and testimonials, browse around their website to view their most recent work, and have a look around their social media pages to find out what others are saying about them.
These platforms will give you a good idea of the photographer's personality and style. Other important points to consider when researching photographers are:
- Budget: Do their services fall within your price range?
- Products: Do they offer digital files ONLY or do they also offer physical products such as wall art? (Choose based on your personal preference)
- Expertise: Are they experienced enough to give you the results you are looking for?
- Location: Are they based in your area and are they willing to travel to a specific location if necessary?
- Quality: Is the quality of their work good enough? Important details to look for are:
- Sharpness -
- Exposure -
- Saturation -
Create a short list:
Once you have done your research, create a short list of professional photographers that stand out to you. Contact each of them to discuss your needs and to ask any questions that you might have.
It is important that you chat with the photographer over the phone, if not in person, as this is the best way to get to know them and find out whether they are going to be a good fit for you. Feeling uncomfortable or anxious around your photographer will not only make for bad photos but will result in an unpleasant experience overall.
Finally, it is important that you pick a photographer that you have confidence in. Your photos are there to last you a lifetime, so while there is nothing wrong with helping your photographer friend who has just started out, it is best to choose an experienced photographer for momentous events and occasions that you cannot relive.
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