How to Choose the Right Professional Family Photographer for You
Where do I start? What to look for? How do I know I can trust them?
These might be some questions you have as you start to look for a professional family photographer. You are busy and photography is an investment, so it’s important to get it right the first time. Here’s an insider peek into what to look for and tips to help you choose the perfect photographer for you and your family.
Check that they are a business.
It might sound obvious, but there is a clear difference between a hobby photographer and a professional photographer. Aside from technical skill, that is. A business will have an Australian Business Number, and be more likely to have public liability insurance, a working with children check and up to date vaccinations. Of course, you are always welcome to check these with your photographer.
Pro Tip: You don’t have to hire a professional photographer, but remember that the old adage, you get what you pay for? Be informed, so you can decide if you are happy to spend a little and get a little, or spend a little more and receive exactly what you love. You can’t rewind time.
Take a look through the Photographer’s Portfolio.
A photographer’s portfolio can provide inspiration for your own photoshoot, with different ideas of what is available and the range of skills they can offer. There are many styles of photography available, from posed/ unposed, indoor/ outdoor, candid/ looking at the camera. You will want to envision yourself in the style that the photographer produces.
Pro Tip: look for images from different families and locations.
Take a look through previous client galleries.
You will want to see what is delivered to clients. For your own family, you might like one standout image, printed for your wall. There’s a high chance this image will be in the Photographer’s portfolio that you have already seen. What did the rest of their gallery look like? You might like to see a mix of posed and unposed images, kids playing and interacting with each other and you.
Pro Tip: Viewing previous galleries will show you the versatility and variety of skills the photographer can offer you. Look for different locations, kids of different ages and beautiful work throughout the gallery.
Personality
The thought of being in front of the camera makes a lot of people feel awkward! Your photographer will be able to help relax everyone during the photoshoot, but in addition to that, having met your photographer prior to your photoshoot will help make such a big difference to feeling more comfortable. You also want to make sure that you’ve spoken with your photographer (preferably in person) so you can share any specific concerns about what you would most love to have captured- or what you would prefer to avoid!
Pro Tip: Don’t let the first time you meet your photographer be at the photoshoot. To feel comfortable with them, I recommend meeting them prior – get the small chit chat out of the way!
Pro Tip: You are welcome to ask your photographer for their client reviews (if they don’t already have them on their website – click here for mine!) or contact details of past clients that you can chat with directly. This will also help you learn more about the photographer’s personality.
Printing
Printing photos is an art form in itself. There’s many factors that can affect how well a photo will print – and unfortunately many walk in, commercial printers are setup for speed, forgoing quality. One of the most important factors is printing for longevity and quality. You want these photos to last. A high quality print also has accurate colours and brightness. So, how will your photographer help make sure you can have quality prints of your photoshoot? What does the process look like? Perhaps you would like a framed print on your wall. Do you have to wing it, or does your photographer help you?
Pro Tip: Digitals are important too, but as time races by, they are easily forgotten about. Prints are beautiful to hold and look at, you will be able to enjoy them as the children grow.
Hopefully these tips have been helpful to learn where to start looking and what to look for as you plan for your next professional family photoshoot. If you haven’t already, make sure you sign up for my fun, non-spammy emails down below!