Finding a family portrait photographer sounds easy enough, but it can become a daunting task. Photographers, much like families, come in different styles, sizes, and personalities. Great family lensmen require a certain intimacy and openness from both the family and the person behind the camera. If you want to walk away with images you will cherish for a lifetime, here are a few simple tips to help find a photographer that will work well with your family.
Tip 1: Ask friends and family (who have similar taste to you) for photographer referrals. Many photographers also have referral programs with special discounts, so be sure to let the photographer know how you heard about that.
Tip 2: Check out a photographer’s website prior to calling about a session. Make sure their style is in line with your own. If you find yourself looking through their website “oohing” and “aahing,” that is usually a great sign.
Tip 3: Take a few minutes to call the photographer (rather than email). You will get a better sense of who they are, and it will open up a dialogue for any questions that might come up during your conversation.
Tip 4: Sometimes it is easier to know what you do not want in terms of photographs or your session. Let the photographer know if there are certain things that you want to avoid or if you had a bad experience in the past.
Ultimately, you want someone you can go back to annually or every couple of years. When you find a photographer that your family loves, each session becomes an event that you look forward to rather than one that you anxiously await.