How to find the photographer that’s right for you
In a sea of photographers, how do you determine who’s the right one for you? In todays world, theres an abundance of photographers. You really could throw a rock and chances are that person is one or knows of one. With so many choices you may wonder “Ok so who should I choose? How do I start?”. The pressure is on to find the perfect match. But don’t worry, I’ll break it down so you’re one step closer to finding the photographer thats right for you.
1. What do you want photographed?
There’s many genres of photography and each one comes with a special skill set. It’s important to find a photographer skilled in the area you wish to invest in. Here’s a rundown of some popular categories:
Portrait photography - Are you looking to have photos of yourself? A portrait photographer is your best choice. These photographers also cater to couples and families. Most often, the sessions is held indoors/ outdoors as a lifestyle session or a studio session with backdrops and pro lighting.
Product photography - If you want products shot for your business then you’ll want to reach out to a commercial/ product photographer.
Branding photography - I like to think of it as a mix of a portrait and commercial session. If you are a business owner in need of imagery this is a great way to boost engagement and solidify your brand identity.
Event photography - Have an event you want captured? Ask for an event photographer
Wedding photography - This is also an event, but there are key differences. If you’re looking to have your special day captured, search for an engagement / wedding photographer.
2. Does their style align with your vision?
Now that you know what type of photographer you’re looking for, its time to focus on the visuals. Lets start with the medium. Are you a fan of the nostalgic feel of film or do you like the cleaner look that digital cameras give? Maybe you already have a particular vibe you want to go for. It could be moody, bright and airy, black and white, vibrant true to color ( my favorite ). Think about how you would describe the style you want and use those keywords in your search. Check out their website portfolio and socials to get a feel of what you can expect for your session. If you have any questions don’t hesitate to reach out to the photographer. Explain your vision to them so they can help guide you.
3. Location
Chances are you’re looking for a photographer in your area for ease of convenience, but its not totally necessary! If you are willing to travel to that photographer, pay to have that photographer travel to you or want to ship your items to them for a product shoot, then those are all viable options. Wherever you dream of having your photos taken, then I recommend typing something like City and genre of photography (i.e “Baltimore portrait photographer”) in your search engine or through IG hashtags for a more narrowed down search. There are also many Facebook groups for photographers in each state. Just go to your search bar and type in the State - photographers.
4. Personality
Photographers are people too. From your digging through their portfolio, did you get a sense of who they are? Hint: read their “About Me” section. If you like what you see, chat with them. Sometimes to get a better sense of your connection you’ll have to talk one on one. Phone calls are even better! They don’t have to be long, but you should get an idea of who the photographer is and what the process of working with them is like. Its a great time to ask questions and get clarity. To be clear, you don’t have to be besties to get the job done and your relationship will likely grow with the more you work together.
I hope these tips provided some guidance for your search. If you have any questions or comments, leave them below!
