Finding the right Photographer for you.

Choosing a photographer can be an overwhelming task. What if you pick the wrong one? What if they’re rude to work with? What if they’re inexperienced? What if they’re unavailable when I need them? With the market of Photography being so saturated it can be almost too easy to pick the wrong person for the job.

You don’t want to look back at your photos and remember what a miserable experience taking those photos was. So, through my experience as a photographer, business owner and as a family man I came up with some basic guidelines that I hope will help you pick the right person for the job.

1. Picking the right Photography Style

Most Photographers can be described by their style and their style is directly influenced by the type of photographer they are. Meaning, if they’re a portrait photographer you probably wouldn’t want to hire them for a product shoot (and vice versa). If you’re not entirely sure what you want from your photo session I suggest looking for more for a “Jack of all trades” photographer; A photographer who is well versed in all types of photography may be able to help you better your images than one who specializes in one certain style.

Start with knowing what you want from your images. If you’re looking for a portrait photographer in your area, I suggest typing something like “Best Portrait Photographer Near Me” in google. I also suggest typing “Portrait Photographers near me” into your Facebook search bar or finding a local Photography group you can post your inquiry in.

Be sure to check out multiple Photographers and don’t settle on just one. Always Have a backup in mind in case the Photographer you want is completely unavailable for your requested date. 

2. Do some research

After you’ve selected a few photographers to choose from I suggest a thorough look through their website (if they have one) and a critical look into their portfolio. I am not talking about a quick glance here; I mean a full in-depth review of their work. Check the image compositions, subject placements, general color themes, their social media interactions, do they seem like they like their job or do they just take pictures for money, and look for anything that makes a great photo in your eyes.

If you can’t find their portfolio easily or if it has a very limited variety, it can be a sign of an inexperienced photographer. If you can’t easily find your photographers portfolio, shoot them a quick message telling them you’re interested in working with them and you’d like to see some of their work. You never know if they’re in the process of updating their portfolio and that’s why you can’t find it, unless you ask.

Also, check out your photographers on Yelp, Google, Facebook, and any other platform they could be posted on. This is going to be the purest form of a review because the photographer can’t really edit reviews through those sites.

If you’re just using their testimonials on their website as a reference, do so with caution, as most photographers pick the best testimonials to feature on their site.

3. Price/Package Comparing

Most photography clients pick their photographer based on their price and the amenities offered.

We live in a digital world so there’s no reason for your photographer to not deliver your images digitally. The time of film photography is sadly passing, so the package structure of a photographer should have evolved with it. If your Photographer only deals in only physical images, then I suggest a finding different photographer. If your photographer limits your delivered images, you need to be sure that limited number is enough for your needs. Keep in mind there are always other photographers, who may offer more for the same price.

There isn’t really a set pay scale for a photographer. Most prices will vary to stay competitive with the market while also allowing room for profit. Their prices are usually set based on an average workload per session. If an hour photo session yields 100 usable images, then the photographer must color correct/edit 100 images. Which is a lot of tedious/time consuming work. Most photographers spend more time editing photos than they do anything else, while others just do a few clicks and call it a day. If you’re concerned about how much editing will go into your images, just send the photographer a quick message and ask the photographer what they’re average workload is like after a photo session.

Always state your desired budget. Sure, successful photographers have their set prices but not every photographer is successfully busy. You never know if you’ve contacted them during a slow season for them and maybe they’re willing to lower their package price or even meet your budget. I’m not saying you should be haggling your potential photographer (because that’s just off putting) but putting it out there that you’d like to work with them but can’t really afford them may work actually in your advantage.

Here’s a quick checklist of what you should look for with your photography package:

Is the delivery of your digital images free?

Do you get the image rights (printing and posting rights are most important)?

How many images will be delivered?

Are they reasonably priced in comparison to other photographers in the area?

Do they offer multiple packages to fit my needs?

Avoid scams or Photography Loopholes (ex: extra charges for image rights, or any additional/hidden fees)

4. Pick a Person You Actually Like

This one relatively is easy. Like attracts like; if you’re an outgoing friendly person, try to find an outgoing friendly photographer. If you’re an introvert that wants their personal space, find a photographer who doesn’t do as many close-up shots. The world has a plethora of personalities, some mix well, while others clash. Everyone knows what traits in a person they don’t like, just as much as they know the traits they do like.

After you’ve picked a few photographers to contact, contact them. Either through their personal site or on Facebook and try schedule a meeting with them. The good news is it doesn’t have to be in person. In the modern world it’s so easy to schedule online meetings, you don’t even have to get dressed. Once you’ve been introduced to the photographer and gotten to know them and their energy a little bit, go with your gut. If something feels off then keep looking, but if it feels right then I suggest requesting to work with them ASAP.

You don’t want the energy to be negative or off putting during your session. You don’t want to leave your photo session feeling triggered or angry. If you’re going to have to hang out with this person at a minimum of one hour, while they tell you where to stand, sit, or walk to, then you might as well enjoy their presence as well.

5. Don’t settle due to availability

(This is more of a worst-case scenario tip.)

Let’s say you’ve followed these steps and found the right photographer for you. You’ve met them and you seem to really get along. Then when it comes to scheduling with them, they’re unavailable for the day you had in mind.

All your hard work and getting to know them would be for nothing if it wasn’t for this tip:

Be honest about your interest and request to be put on a ‘crawling’ waitlist.

If your desired date is unavailable with your selected photographer, tell them you understand and that you’d love to work with them at their nearest availability. Ask them if they can contact you if anything changes or if they have a cancelation. You could even offer to pay a little extra if they can fit you in. Just don’t take no for an answer.

Don’t settle for a different photographer because you can’t have the one you want. Photographers technically pick and choose their clients, so don’t come off as rude or bossy or else they will just turn you away. But as a photographer myself, when someone wants to work with me personally, I do whatever I can to make that happen. There are photographers everywhere, what separates the good ones from the great ones is their willingness to work with their client’s needs.

Hopefully, these tips help you pick the right photographer for you!

oh, and BTW, if you’re looking for a Colorado based photographer, I suggest checking out Wittful Productions.

Thanks for reading! Stay safe.