So you’ve decided it’s time for some nice family photos, or maybe your daughter needs her high school portraits, or you want to capture the beauty of your new baby. It’s time to find a photographer who will give you the images you want at an affordable price.
Relax – here’s a lot of good news! You can get a top-notch photographer for a surprisingly reasonable amount of money. And since every photographer has their own style, you should be able to find someone whose images you admire.
Unfortunately, many people don’t give much thought to choosing a photographer, which usually leads to disappointment and frustration. But if you follow a few simple steps and spend a few minutes online, you will greatly increase your chances of finding a photographer you like at a great price.
First: keep in mind that there are far too many people who bought a large black camera and started advertising professional photography services on Craig’s List. Owning a large camera (also known as a single lens digital SLR or DSLR camera) does not make anyone a professional photographer. The advent of digital photography, combined with the relatively low prices of DSLRs in the last 5-10 years, has spawned a generation of “aspiring” photographers. There are two main downsides to this situation: Clients have become increasingly frustrated with the quality of the images they get from these novice photographers, and the reputation of the photography profession has suffered. True professional photographers shudder at the proliferation of inexperienced and unskilled novices.
Fortunately, there are a few easy ways to spot someone posing as a professional:
1. First, look at the portfolio / gallery of images that they show on their website or ads. If there are no images, watch out! This is a big red flag. If there is a portfolio of images, examine the portraits closely. There must be many images, not just three or four; many images will give you a more accurate idea of the photographer’s style and consistency. There should be a variety of poses and types of images; This shows experience and creativity. There are no two images in the portfolio that are from the same person – this indicates that the photographer is inexperienced and only had a friend model for him / her to establish a portfolio.
2. Are the photographer’s images similar to those he takes with his camera at home? If so, this person is not a true professional. Pictures taken by an experienced photographer with proper lenses and lighting will look dramatically different than anything you can do with a small point-and-shoot camera. Backgrounds should be very blurry, so the portrait subject stands out in sharp relief. There should be plenty of light in the subjects’ eyes to avoid the “raccoon eyes” created by the sun above. Tip: If the subject’s face is exposed to direct sunlight, the photographer is most likely not a seasoned professional. Very few professionals will photograph a subject’s face in direct, full sunlight.
3. Does the photographer have a website? What is the web address? A suitable professional will invest the relatively small amount of money necessary to purchase and host your own domain name. For example, www. photographersname.com or www. businessname.com. If the person has a web address that includes the words “freewebs” or “blogspot” or “wordpress”, then the person has a free site and was not willing to spend even the minimum amount required to have a domain name and a professional website. What does that say about the person’s attitude toward your business and team?
4. What does the photographer charge? When looking for a good portrait photographer, the most important thing is not the price. You can spend $ 50 on a portrait session but you hate all the resulting images. And you can spend $ 200 on a shoot and love all the images, use them as Christmas images, and display them in your home for years. Between these two scenarios, which was the most profitable? To some extent, in photography, you get what you pay for. True professionals will charge based on their experience and equipment level. If you see a free portrait ad, or a $ 50 portrait session, or a $ 100 session that includes a $ 50 credit for impressions, this is an indication that the photographer is inexperienced or in demand.
5. What type of photograph does the person claim to be taking? Generally speaking, you want a photographer who specializes a bit in portraits. It is common for portrait photographers to photograph weddings as well. But I would be wary of someone who says they do portraits, weddings, corporate photography, architectural photography, events, commercial photography, fashion, sports, fine art, and wildlife photography.
Once you’ve used these tips to make a list of legitimate photographers, focus on style. This is the most important part of selecting a portrait photographer. The style of photography is something very personal. Someone who is considered the best photographer in the world could take portraits of your family that you hate, depending on their style. Some photographers shoot exclusively in black and white, or use a tilt / shift lens to blur large portions of the image, or use PhotoShop to significantly alter the original look of the image. Others may take close-ups of your child’s shoe or headband instead of focusing on the face. Some may shoot only in their studio with formal backgrounds, while others shoot outdoors or at home. This is all a matter of style and it is essential to find a photographer with whom you feel happy.
Now is the time to contact the photographers for more information. How long have you been a professional photographer? Do they attend seminars, take classes, read photography books, and constantly seek to improve? Do they teach classes, post articles, or are they otherwise admired by their peers?
More practically, should you do the portraits in their studio, or will they come to your house with all their equipment? How many changes of clothes will they allow? What prices do you charge for the package you want? These details will help you make a final decision.
Once you’ve decided on a photographer and agreed on the details of the shoot, you should expect to sign a contract and pay a deposit to reserve the photographer’s time.
