How to Find the Right Photographer for Your Family
Finding and hiring the right photographer for your family photos can be a daunting task. If you ask friends and family, you are sure to get a lot of referrals but when you start looking at them you will find that they are all wildly different. So how do you go about picking the “right” one? While there is no clear cut answer to this, the guidelines below will help get you started.
Know Your Photography Goals
What’s Your Photography Style? Documentary…lifestyle…posed…fine art…fashion…
What is Your Quality Expectations? Composition…lighting…framing…posing….simple prints…museum quality products…
Does the Experience Matter? Just send me the pictures…I need some guidance….I need someone to hand-hold me from start to finish…
What is Your End Goal? A ton of images to share on social media…A nice variety of digital files…A photo book or album…A huge display piece for my wall.
Think through the questions above. The clearer your goals, the easier it will be to choose the right photographer!
Establish A Budget
A large part of choosing a family portrait photographer is cost. When figuring out your budget for hiring a family portrait photographer, there are some considerations to keep in mind. There are different classes of photographers, all fall within a different budget range.
Novice Photographers: Novice photographers are among the least expensive options when it comes to choosing a family portrait photographer. These photographers are in the process of honing their craft and are looking to build their portfolio, making the photo experience mutually beneficial to the photographer and your family. While novice photographers are budget-friendly, some drawbacks are that their style may not be consistent, their experience is lacking, their customer service may not be up to par and they may not hav all their legal business practices in place. These photographers typically charge anywhere from $75-$300 for an all-inclusive session (digitals included).
Big Box Store Photographers: This may be a great option for families looking to get an in-studio, professional look out of their family portraits and because they are often backed by the store, they may run some pretty awesome sales that can save you some money. One thing to note about these types places is that the photographers are hourly employees and may not be very experienced which may result in a lower-quality image and experience. These companies charge anywhere from $50-$600 with a variety of product options (digital-framed prints) available.
Professional Photographers: Professional photographers typically have years of experience, can handle most challenges with ease, offer a reliable, consistent style and provide a higher quality service experience. Of course, you can expect to pay for that expertise. A professional photographer charges for their experience, and if they have one, their studio. You can expect to pay a session fee or retainer before your session in order to secure their time. You will then need to pay for any digitals or printed products you desire. Pricing can range anywhere from $500-$4000+.
High Profile Photographers: When it comes to photographers who have made a name for themself in the industry through education, service or media, you can expect to pay top dollar. If hiring one of these guys, pricing can be $5,000+.
No matter your budget, in order to find the right photographer, you still need to do your research!!!
Research
I can’t tell you how important it is to do your research when it comes to photographers. Please do not rely on a few photos that you saw at a friend’s house to seal the deal. Begin by reviewing their website and reviews. Check out their portfolio. Is it consistent? Is it creative? Does it fit your style? Do they offer prints? Do they sell the digital files? Can they satisfy the majority of your session goals?
If they pass your initial screening, it’s important you reach out to the photographer and inquire about their services. You can get your first idea about the experience they provide by how they respond to your inquiry. Are they personable? Do they offer to talk on the phone? Do they have a contract? Are they interested in finding out about your particular goals and needs? Or do they just send their price list with a booking calendar….
Here are some questions you can ask:
> What is your style?
> What is your pricing range and what does that include?
> What is the portrait process/experience?
> How long does it take to receive the photos?
> Do you help with session planning?
> How long does the session last?
> Do you have experience dealing with children?
> What happens if it rains or my child is sick on the day of the session?
> Do you retouch the photos?
Asking an open-ended question is a great way to help determine if that photographer is the kind of individual that you want to work with or not. Remember, your comfort level and ability to connect with the photographer can make or break the session, it is important to take the time to see if you jive with them or not.
Make It Happen!
Once you decide on your photographer you need to take the reins and book the session! Pick up the phone or send the email and get the ball rolling. Keep in mind that when working with an experienced professional photographer you will probably need to do this weeks or even months in advance. Novice photographers are typically easier to book with last minute notice and high profile photographers may have a wait of a year or more!