How to Choose the Right Photographer for Your Family

Choosing a photographer involves more than finding someone who takes pretty pictures. The right photographer for you should match the type of session you're planning, the editing style you love, the experience you want, and your budget.

Before you book, have a clear idea of four things: genre, editing style, vibe and price point.

Genres

What do photographers mean by their genre?

You can think of a genre for photographers as their specialty. Here are a few examples:

• Wedding Photographer

• Lifestyle or Candid Photographer (Un-posed & Natural)

• Portrait, General or Traditional Photographer (Posing & Guidance)

• Food, Product & Branding Photographer (Headshots, Business Marketing, etc.)

• Landscape, Travel & Adventure Photographer

Why is a photography genre important to consider?

First, what do you want photographed? Some photographers specialize in families,

maternity, weddings, branding, sports or other types of photography. A photographer may be perfectly capable of photographing several different types of sessions, but their specialty tells you a lot about their experience, approach and the type of work they create most often.

Start by looking for photographers whose portfolios actually show the type of session you want. Someone may be a great photographer, but if their portfolio doesn't reflect the posing, energy or overall style you're looking for, they may not be the right photographer for you.

Editing Styles

Why is it important to consider a photographer's editing style?

Every photographer approaches their work a little differently, from camera settings and composition to lighting and, drum roll please, editing style. This is why three photographers can photograph the exact same moment and produce three completely different final images.

Here are a few common photography editing styles:

• True to Color / Natural / Classic

• Light & Airy

• Dark & Moody (Warm/Orange or Cool/blue)

• Black & White

How will I know which editing style is my favorite?

After you have gathered a list of potential photographers in your area, begin by browsing through their portfolios on Facebook, their website, Instagram etc. (not just one photo - all of them) and ask yourself: can I imagine my family in the photos that I'm seeing, do I like the colors, the focus, the style? Do I like the background blurry (bokeh) or in focus?

Here is my take on a few common editing styles:

Top left: True to Color / Natural / Classic, with realistic colors and skin tones that stay close to the original scene.

Top right: Light & Airy, with brighter exposure, softer contrast and lighter, more muted colors

Bottom left: Dark & Moody, shown here with warmer tones, deeper shadows and richer contrast.

Bottom right: Black & White, removing color to put more focus on light, contrast and emotion.

Keep in mind, I am a true to color photographer, so these are my interpretations of the other editing styles and aren't meant to represent every photographer's work. Every photographer will approach these styles differently.

Vibe

How can photography be a vibe?

I don't mean the photography as much as I do the photographer. Once you've narrowed down photographers whose work and editing style you love, choose someone you actually feel comfortable with.

Are you looking for someone polished and professional, or someone who's going to make you laugh and help your family relax? Maybe you want lots of posing and direction, or maybe you'd rather have someone who lets moments unfold naturally.

Choose someone you feel confident with. If you feel awkward or uncomfortable with your photographer, that can show in your body language and ultimately in your photos.

Price Point

Photography prices can vary quite a bit. Know what your budget is and what you can comfortably afford, but if possible, don't let price be the only factor in your decision.

Photography is a luxury service, but you're paying for much more than someone to push a button and boss you around. You're paying for equipment, editing software, business expenses, creativity, experience, and years spent developing skills and techniques. You're also paying for all of the work happening behind the scenes: scouting locations, studying the light, preparing for your session, culling through hundreds of photos, editing your gallery and occasionally fixing the perfect family photo because Dad blinked. Sorry Dads, but it's always you.

Think about it like going to a salon for a haircut. You're paying for someone's specialty, technique and experience. It's the same reason most of us take our cars in for an oil change or tune up instead of figuring it out ourselves. You're paying for expertise.

Also, make sure you're comparing what is actually included in the price. Session length, number of edited images, digital downloads, print rights, additional people, locations and turnaround time can vary from photographer to photographer. Two sessions with very different prices may also be offering very different things.

Some moments in life only happen once, and then they're gone. Take the time to choose a photographer whose work fits what you're looking for, with an editing style you love, a vibe that matches you and your family, and a price point you're comfortable with.

And if you have to pay a little more to get what you really want, like that cute purse you've been eyeing, so be it.

At the end of the day, the right photographer isn't necessarily the cheapest, the most expensive or even the most popular. They're the one who's right for you.