With so many photographers out there, it can be overwhelming trying to narrow down your choices and select the right one for you! I put together some tips that can help you take the guesswork out of making your decision.

1. First ask yourself this: What are you looking to capture?

What are you looking to have photographed? Are you looking for someone to take ethereal newborn portraits while they sleep? A google search of ‘dangerous newborn photography’ will help you to see exactly just how risky many of those poses can be. It’s one area where you definitely want to stick with the experts!

Are you getting married and you have a friend with a nice camera who takes nice pictures? It's risky. Just because someone takes nice snapshots, don’t assume that they'll be able to capture amazing images on one of the most important days of your life.

Whether you’re in the market for maternity & newborn, high school senior, family photos, wedding photos, or even event photography, you want to do your homework so that you know exactly what to expect from the photographer you hire. Browse through their portfolio to get an idea of exactly how they capture what you're looking for.

2. What's their photography style?

Are you in need of a head shot and you’re a fan of images with a dark and moody feel? Then you'll likely want to shy away from someone who specializes in natural light photography and someone whose images tend to be bright and airy. Do you want a perfectly posed photo with everyone looking at the camera? Then you may find a photographer who offers mini-sessions might be just what you're looking for!

Conversely though, if you are looking for images that capture your family dynamic that are full of laughter, intimate moments and candid happenings, you’ll be on the market for a different photography style. You'll want to find a photographer who will be able to spend a greater length of time with you so that you’ll all have an opportunity to warm up, let your guard down, and let your true light shine through.

3. Recommendations & Reviews

This goes without saying, doesn't it?! Ask your friends and family for their recommendations on who they worked well with (stylistically and personality wise, both of which are probably equally as important) and read up on the photog's online reviews. Don’t base your decision on a small percentage of less than perfect reviews, as if the majority of them are favorable, you're likely in good hands.

4. Price

Most of us have a certain price point that we'd like to stay within, right? Price is a very important factor! You want to make sure that the price you pay is in a general area of where you're comfortable with, but don't let it to be the only determining factor. I have fallen victim to prioritizing price selecting a family photographer and, for me, it has NEVER.WORKED.OUT.

There were two occasions where I got a 'great deal' and hired a photog for around $100. There were two problems with it: First, the photographer probably felt undervalued and underappreciated (even though they set their own price, it didn't matter). This can prevent the client and the photographer from being able to completely connect on a personal level. If that connection or comfortability doesn’t occur, how can you let your guard down to allow them to capture your sincerest personality? Second, if the photographer doesn’t feel they’re adequately being compensated for their time, are they going to be able to completely tap into their creativity? In my own experiences of hiring photographers because of ‘great deals’, I found the images to be flat and lacking emotion, rather than treasures I would have ever had enlarged and displayed on my wall.

Hiring a photographer should feel like an investment, because it is! You are hiring someone to capture moments of you and those you love, that you will hold on to forever. Personally, I prefer a photography style that captures who a person is, rather than just what they look like. And with those photographers you may have to pay a bit more for that. But if your intent is for the images to be passed down to your children, their children, and future generations, it will be worth every penny.

Personally, I prefer a photography style that captures who a person is, rather than just what they look like.

5. Ask Questions!

Don’t be afraid to ask some of these questions to make certain that you know exactly what to expect!

Are prints included or is it strictly a digital download?

If prints are included, how many exactly? What is the cost for each additional print? I had a friend who hired a photographer for $350. He explained that they were delighted as it was a 'great deal' and they were absolutely thrilled with the images. But there was a caveat! They hadn't realized there weren't any prints weren't included, and there was a premium fee for them. When they were done with everything, their total investment was over $700! I'm not saying the photographer wasn't worth $700, but what I'm suggesting is to read the fine print before hand so you don't end up at the end with a total cost that ends up being double what you thought you were paying!

How long will your gallery be posted online before it is removed?

Most photographers use an online gallery to deliver images to their clients. Unfortunately, many times that gallery space is limited, so the images ultimately need to be taken down in order to free up space for other galleries. Ask ahead of time how long you'll have to download all of your images!

What is the cancellation policy?

In many instances, you'll need to pay a deposit to reserve your scheduled date and time. In the event of emergency, is this deposit refundable?

If your scheduled shoot is planned for outside, what happens if there are weather problems?

Confirm that you will be offered another date within a reasonable period of time, especially if you are on a time crunch for your photos!

Are you looking for more information on my photography? Feel free to contact me here!

5 Tips to Help You Choose A Photographer