How to choose your photographer
You need family photos but you don’t have your-forever-family-photographer yet? Or maybe you have just moved to a new area and there are so many photographers out there so how to pick one? Here are 3 easy steps to help you out.
Love the style
There have been photography trends going around the photo world. Light & Airy photos, Dark & Moody, Lifestyle, Posed, Documentary photography….. I can go on and on. But you don’t need to follow any of these trends. Choose the kind of photography that is the best match for your family. A lifestyle photographer will assist you with posing throughout the whole session but she will take pictures “in-between the poses” too to capture candid natural moments. During a lifestyle session you don’t need to look into the camera and say cheese, rather than that you should interact with your family. Whereas a documentary photographer is there for you to capture your family in its natural habitat.
2. Love the personality
Ok, most probably you don’t know the photographer. But you can check out her (or obviously his :) website and read about her, follow on social media, see what she has to say, or what other people say in the reviews and hopefully you will get the vibe. To me, the personality is even more important than the quality of the portfolio, to some extent! You want to get along and feel comfortable during the session (and also before the photoshoot when communicating) and you want your children to like her!
3. Be OK with the budget
Having your family photos taken is a luxury. It’s not cheap and it’s something you will do once or twice a year but will treasure the photos forever! There are some lifestyle photographers out there that I just looove and they charge $$$$ for a family session and I get it. In my opinion, their work is just the best. But if spending $$$$ for your family session is way over your budget at the moment, don’t be disappointed. Look further! There are more affordable photographers who hasn’t reached the peak of their career yet and their prices are super affordable.
If you are currently on a strict budget, you can wait for a special offer that every photographers puts out at least once a year. Look out for off-season (aka winter) prices, military discounts or do a session for the photographer’s portfolio. For the last one there is normally a super low fee. Watch out for model calls! Even thought it feels like there is hundreds of moms responding to these, you never know, whom will the photographer choose. She might be looking for a family with small kids, teenage kids, no kids, puppies, LGBT family or an inter-race couple. Photographers’ creativity is endless. You bet, they are always on a look out for “models”.
