how do I pick a photographer?

If you're finding a replacement for a photographer who is unavailable for some reason, or this is your first time getting non-studio portraits done, it can be a little overwhelming deciding who to hire.  Your pictures are an investment, and you should shop as wisely for a photographer as you would a home.  This post will help you narrow the field down.

Step 1.) Decide what kind of pictures you want done.  If you are looking for family portraits, obviously hiring a wedding or boudoir specialist isn't your best bet.  You also want to carefully consider the photographer's artistic style - though most photographers have a little of everything thrown in there, most tend towards a specific style.  Review their portfolio of images - are they photoshop-perfect or more natural?  Are they funky colours and textures, or classic and simple?  Are they broody and stylized or are they bright and playful? Are they mostly candid or mostly posed?  Do they have work from a studio or do they shoot on location?  If you like minimal post-processing or a photographer who is into putting humourous cartoon thought-bubbles, make sure the one you hire isn't into creative post-processing or doesn't have a single image sporting a thought bubble, don't hire them because asking a photographer to change an image they've presented to you is no different than asking Picasso to change a painting.

Step 2.) Decide your budget.  I suggest being at least a bit suspicious if they don't list any prices - what are they hiding?  Expect to pay more for established photographers with extensive portfolios and several years of experience, but be cautious of basing your investment solely on price: more expensive doesn't always mean better.  There are often very talented photographers who are early on in their careers and looking to build their portfolios whose prices will be substantially lower than more experienced or established photographers.  You may want to take a risk on an up-and-comer.  Buyer beware - as they are exploring their style, homing their skills, and experimenting with different processing techniques, you may get a mixed bag.  And a word to the wise - expect their prices to go up very quickly as they gain experience and build a clientele!

Something to note:  If the photographer you want is totally out of your price range, don't be afraid to contact them anyways - often if you give them a dollar amount they are able to tell you if there's anything they can provide for that price, or suggest other photographers they know or work with who they feel would be a good option for you. If they outright snub you, chances are you didn't want to work with them anyways.

Step 3.) Get some reviews or feedback about the photographer you are considering.  No photographer ever puts bad reviews of their work on display, so testimonials on websites aren't always the best place to start - talk to former clients if you can.  If you don't know anyone the photographer has already dealt with, blogs not only show the photographer's most current work but often reveal a bit about the photographer's personality as well as their service.  Check for things like turnaround time - are summer weddings popping up as the snow flies and fall leaf pictures being appearing as the trees are budding?  If so, expect a lengthy wait for your pictures.  Check for repeat offenders - if a photographer has regulars and/or repeat customers, it's usually a good sign.  If they are new photographers this may mean nothing, but if they've been around for a couple of years and no one's coming back, there's probably a reason.

Step 4.) Spend some time talking to the photographer before deciding to hire them.  Whether you do this over the phone or via email, the photographer should be friendly, helpful, and open.  You should feel almost immediately comfortable with the person - when you click you will have fun at your session AND get some pictures to boot.  However, if there are inexplicably long lapses in communication, curt unfriendly responses, or you just don't feel comfortable 'chatting' with the person, it's unlikely you are well suited for one another, and this will show up in your pictures.  Especially when you are considering making a large investment such as wedding pictures or large canvas prints of your family, you want to make sure you aren't wasting your time and money, so suggest a meeting.

Step 5.) Go get your pictures done!

Hopefully this gives you a bit of help in choosing a photographer.  If you'd like a more in-depth look at what most customers are unhappy with in a photographer, you may want to read this.  But if you're ready to start shopping (and because we conveniently have a list of our associates handy) we suggest you check out these photographers.  Happy hunting!