How to decide on a Family Photographer
Howdy friends! Back in front of your eyeballs sharing some of my thoughts around all things PHOTOGRAPHER DECISIONS. One quick scroll on your socials and you can see there are sooo many kick-ass, amazing humans are out there capturing incredible images and content these days. It’s awesome to have so many choices, but it can be super intimidating to try and decide who you trust to capture your family, and who to fling your hard earned cash at. I’ve put together 5 things you can think about before pulling the trigger and booking your family photographer. Let’s jump the heck in!
Do you like their work, but more importantly do you like them?
So you’ve been scrolling your feed, maybe thrown a few fab humans a follow, and started to discover creative work that you LOVE. Maybe you’re looking at dark moody images, editorial style shoots, or light and playful outdoor sessions. You do you. Before you decide based solely on some photos in Instagram, spend a little time on their page or website. Jump right on in to their ‘About me’ and personal content. Take a beat and check - do you actually like the vibe of the human behind the lens? You’ll be hanging out with them for quite a while during the shoot, do you feel like you (and your partner/kids/pets) will be comfy with them? More than anything, the magic will come during your shoot if you are relaxed, enjoying the company of your photographer and responding to how they run the sesh. Liking their pics is one thing - liking them is just as important.
Are they upfront about costs, including any additional costs?
Don’t know about you guys, but if there’s one thing that grinds my gears - it’s hidden costs and vague information. A professional that doesn’t make their prices, packages and inclusions clear and accessible is defs a red flag. Last thing you want is to go through the whole process and be surprised by extra charges needed to actually get your images. There are obviously many methods for structuring a biz for clients, and some photographers won’t have their prices on their website. No stress! The next question is, are they easily accessible? Does a quick email or DM flood you with info clearly showing prices and what you’ll actually receive if you go with them? As you search for your creative sparkly photographer, keep an eye out for how transparent they are and whether it suits your budget. You work hard for your money - find someone who respects that.
How clear is their communication / process?
Being bamboozled is SO not a vibe. Once you start reaching out to photographers it will become clear very quickly how well they communicate, how engaged they are with you as a potential client and whether you understand how their whole shebang works. You don’t want to experience a process that breaks you out in an anxiety sweat and forces you to send a billion emails to your photographer asking for guidance. What we're looking for babes, is a red-carpet-smooth-AF start to finish so that all you feel is joy and confidence about the whole thing. Pick the photographer that makes the whole thing so easy you barely realise it's happening. Don’t be afraid to ask questions at the start about this to get the lay of the land.
Do you feel like you can ask questions?
Remember back in school, we all had that one teacher that you would be positively terrified to raise your hand for? Yeah. School trauma is a special flavour of trauma, lordy me. Looking for a fab human to capture your family - that doesn’t give you school flashbacks - is definitely a plus. Does the photographer you’re inquiring with respond happily, eagerly and with no judgement to your questions? If you're chatting away and feel any resistance from the photographer, perhaps this is not the one for you. The photographer will hopefully be with you to create magic, provide incredible service and leave you all with smiles on your dial. Not make you feel awkward or silly for asking questions about something that you may not know too much about. Let’s all avoid triggering our question related PTSD and go with someone who is a frickin delight to talk to.
Do they have the specific experience / understanding you need?
Here’s hoping the majority of photographers you contact before booking are incredible, neuro-affriming, inclusive creative souls. It is always worth asking for flexibility and understanding if you have a specific concern or anxiety. Would you feel more comfortable if your photographer had a working with children check? Or specific shots before your newborn shoot? Or perhaps you have some family members that are neurodivergent or need wheelchair access at a location. It will be so worth your time to find that special individual that works best for you and your family - so don’t be afraid to check with them at the beginning. A silver lining to this conversation will always be that the photographer can plan a tailored shoot just for you and take your experience to the next level. And if your specific need is that you all want to wear pink tutus, I’m bloody here for it. Live your best life.
There is always a photographer out there that is suited to you and your family perfectly. Let me know if you applied these questions to your selection process and found the bestest, most incredible human ever to work with your family! Most of all, be who you are and enjoy the bloody thing. Photos are the bees knees and never a waste of time. Happy searching, lovers x