How Do I Choose a Photographer? ~ Choosing the right photographer can be overwhelming these days with the amount of photographers there are to choose from. I’ve broken down for you, in eight steps, things to think about when deciding on the best photographer for you.
1) Pro vs. Amateur Photography
It takes many hours of shooting to become a good photographer and many more to become a great photographer. If you choose an amateur you will be getting someone who doesn’t have as much experience as a pro. If you are only looking to find an inexpensive photographer and are not as concerned about image quality, then you may want to go with an amateur. If you are concerned with experience, knowledge, quality of your images, then definitely find a pro photographer.
2) Style
Next you will want to look around and find several photographers whose work appeals to you. Some photographers do posed shots, some do candid, some do both. You need to decide what you want and choose someone who shoots the kinds of images you are wanting out of your session. You also need to decide if you like their style of shooting. Some are more straight-forward while some are more creative.
This is a posed family portrait lit with 2 umbrellas in Kapalua on Maui.
3) Knowledge, Experience, and Image Quality
Look at the images on their website. Do the images have good contrast, color and nice lighting? Does the photographer know how to compose the photos, pose people properly?
4) Personality
Have a phone conversation with the photographer and see if you like their personality. Do you click with them? Do they seem to have good people skills and a pleasant personality? Do you think they will be good working with kids or older adults? If you cannot arrange a phone chat, you can always get a good idea of their personality from their reviews and testimonials.
5) Check Reviews and Testimonials
Most photographers these days are on review sites such as Yelp and Google. You can also find reviews directly on their website or Facebook business page. These are a great way to see what previous clients thought of their personality, style, work habits.
This is a candid moment during a family session on Fleming’s Beach on Maui.
6) Availability and Accessibility
Is the photographer available when you need them? Are they willing to travel to you? Some photographers do charge travel fees. Make sure to find out!
7) Pricing and Products
Is their pricing affordable for you? Do they offer products that you want? Will the images be edited?
8) Turnaround Time on Images ~ How soon will you get to see your images and products? Two to three weeks is reasonable for the images, up to six weeks for products.
When considering all of these things, you should be able to find a photographer who will be the best for you!