Memories
Find out how far your family and photographer extend their vision of photography in this step-by-step guide.
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When it comes to hiring a family photographer, the number of factors to be considered before making a decision can really vary. The family’s needs, budget, location, and any other factors involved can make the choice difficult. For this Family Photographer Hunt, I have gathered all the information needed on how to identify and hire a family photographer. The first steps to learning what to look for in a photographer is the key to identifying the best match.
Think of this photography style similar to what you see in the newspaper or journalistic magazines. Documentary photography for the photographer is a fairly hands — off approach. You, as the client, shouldn’t expect to receive much direction from this type of photographer. Consider a photographer who is categorized as a document photographer, a fly on the wall. To some younger kids, a photographer that keeps their distance is ideal to minimize nervousness which translates to the final photos. At times, the family photography session appears to be so much fun when a photographer isn’t providing posing instructions at every turn. This is just one of the styles of portrait photography that could make sense for your family’s personality.
A great way to identify if this photographer is for you is simply answering this question. ” Are you good at posing and know which angles look good?” If you answer yes, then any type of photographer will suit your needs. If you answered no, then I’d recommend a conceptual photographer.
Does your personality match one or more of the criteria below: (if so, then a documentary photographer might be the right fit)?
Introvert
Camera shy
Laissez-Faire
Do you enjoy abstract art? Are you more inclined to browse through creative journal magazines? The conceptual photographer is a type of photographer that I find myself aspiring to be. Before each family photography photoshoot, a few days before, you will find me entrenched in feedback from the photography client about their interests and hobbies. I will then utilize this information to construct unique photography experiences for the family. I take pride in capturing my subject’s essence in the photographs. If you want a fun family session, then there is more of a chance with a documentary – style photographer. If you are looking for more studio shots, then this type of photographer is ideal. Remember a conceptual photographer nearly plans the entire experience. To some families, the hardest thing to overcome is posing instructions and this type of photographer can help guide you to look natural in awkward pose.
If you have a family of 5 and larger groups, then you might want a more structured family photographer. There might be a strong possibility that not everyone in the group is able to function in the photography session without guidance.
Extrovert
Ability to easily comprehend directions
Laid Back
A chill photographer can be a pro and a con. Does your potential family photographer appear to be less interested in the planning of the photoshoot and more focused on having a good time? If you’re looking for an unencumbered photographer who captures life as-is, then this photographer is perfect for you.
Highly Engaged
Does your potential photographer sound extremely excited about his/her work and vision? Does the passion for photography ooze out of each photograph produced? The highly engaged family photographer really cares about how viewers admire the work. Therefore, it might be safe to say that the family portraits would most likely be phenomenal or great at the very least. Expect to collaborate on the vision of the family photo session with this type of highly invested photographer.
Lighting Ability
A photographer’s knowledge of how to see and use light in photography is very important. Without light, there is no photography. Emotions and moods are expressed through the use of highlights and shadows in photography, which is important for an interesting family photograph.
Photography lighting could be utilized to hide or accentuate certain facial or body features. An expanded knowledge of light is helpful in poorly lit locations and situations. This skill is a must if you plan on photographing a family session outdoors.
Natural Light only
If the results of your prospective family photographer illustrate most of the photographs are taken outdoors or indoors next to a window, and you only see one light source, then most likely the photographer only possesses that ability to utilize the sun.
If the family photographs you want are mainly outdoors in a forest-like backdrop under shade or indoors next to windows, then a “natural light” family photographer will suffice.
Natural Light & Artificial
When you look through the family photographer’s portfolio and see a mix of images indoors and outdoors with the subjects that just pop because of the use of edge light (halo-like outline that outlines the subject) and a front light that is flattering but adds definition to the photo subject’s features? Now this is the type of photographer you want in outdoor and indoor situations with inherently poor lighting conditions. For example, if you want your family portraits in a building at a location with no windows, then this photographer can “fake” window light with artificial lighting. Simply, the likelihood of a usable family photo is greater with a family portrait photographer that is well versed in all types of light.
First Hand Experience
Regardless of the type of photographer you choose, their knowledge of locations can make or break the family photography session. By break, I mean the location can ruin your family portraits.
The reason a family photographer of choice should have first — hand knowledge of the location presented to their clients is, so they know the best time to arrive at the location to account for increased foot traffic. Doing research on the area ahead of time will help you plan where you want to go for family photos. In short, a family portrait photographer with dir
ect experience at the location truly knows the best place to photograph your family.
Second Hand Experience
In the world with resources such as Google Earth, the need for first — hand knowledge is becoming less important. You will, of course, need a family photographer that places great importance on planning a photoshoot. I wouldn’t trust a capture of the moment type of photographer.
When deciding on whom to place your trust in regard to your hard-earned cash, you know that family and friends can provide you with unbiased feedback. If you are fortunate enough to get this type of referral, make sure to take advantage.
If you’ve recently gotten married or have friends in the field of party planning, they should have a wealth of family photographers in their address book. These referrals aren’t as good as friends’ or family’s direct experience but still good as at least there is a history of positive performance. Please inquire about the recommended photographer’s portfolio and make sure that family photos exist in their work and match your desired photographic style. Search their portfolio and make sure there are also examples of newborn photography. This is especially important if you have a newborn. Take it from me, capturing a good photo of a newborn is extremely difficult. Baby photography not only requires skill on how to operate a camera and capture an image, but also interpersonal skills to ensure the baby pictures look natural and not forced by providing a comforting experience.
One way to find a photographer who will be a good fit for you is to seek out a photographer group and see which photographers are helping other photographers. Once you’ve identified the helpful photographers, check out their portfolio and see if their style fits your needs.
Most working professionals take advantage of social media like Instagram to showcase their work. This is your opportunity to stalk some of your favorite photographers. Try to select photographers that frequently post their past clients.The frequency in which this photographer gets booked in the local market is a good indicator in terms of how in demand they are in the market. If they are constantly getting booked, there is likely a good reason for it.
Prior to describing what kind of photography style you want, you’ll first need to research the various photography styles and various ways to achieve the desired looks. The research will provide you with an understanding of photography in general and give you insight into the difficulty of photography. You’ll come away with a new-found respect for photographers.
Ideally, you want to be as specific as possible about the style you want to give the prospective family photographer an idea on how to best achieve the family photos you desire. Do some research on what to look for in a family photographer by reading the “What to look for in a family photographer” section. This will provide a good starting point on the topics of photography to further quiz the prospective photographer before the booking.
After you’ve ironed out all your wants and the prospective photographer is able to satisfy the needs of the family photoshoot, then and only then can you talk about price.
When you do talk about price, try to give the impression that you understand why the family photographer priced the services a certain amount. If you do find the price for the family photos a little higher than what you can afford, just come out clean. Let the family photographer know that you love the work, but the cost is just a little out of budget and follow up with what you can afford but yet not unreasonable.
What method of payment is decided upon is really up to the photographer. I will at times use the method of payment the photographer has available to judge if the person is legitimate. If the only legal tender the photographer allows is cash, then this is a red flag. If the photographer is able to provide an invoice, then, cash might be acceptable. At the same time, I would be careful to employ a photographer that only accepts cash. To determine the specific price to pay the photographer, I’d first research the national average cost of a family photographer and then reference the local average cost. This information will come in handy during the family photography price negotiation.
If your family photographer went above and beyond, then a tip would be highly well-received.
Careful planning of the photoshoot.
Amazing customer service
Provides bonus offerings at no additional charge.
To conclude, when it comes to hiring a family photographer, the number of factors to consider in determining the most appropriate selection can be very difficult. For this Family Photographer Hunt, I have listed the necessary criteria and the reasons why you would want to hire a family photographer. The most important factor when hiring a photographer is for them to be highly engaged in photography and knowledgeable about locations in order to take amazing pictures. Make sure your family spends quality time learning professional photography to better appreciate the outcome of the family portrait photography session.
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