Finding The Right Photographer for You

     Let me begin this blog by saying....I am not a good blogger.   When looking at past blogs you can see it may or may not have been a few years since one has been shared.   Do not judge me on that.   The art of writing is one form of art that is absolutely not a skill of mine.  So bear with me throughout this blog as there may be some lovely run-ons, rants, and babbles.  :P

     Last week I was away on vacation and since something has really been stuck on my mind that occurred while there.   Because of it this blog has specifically been on my heart and mind that it needs shared with all of you who may follow along with Follow the Light Photography's journey as we go.   My family was on the beach multiple days and the usual kaleidoscope keychain people would come around offering to take your photo for you.  Most accepted the no thank you and continued on to ask the next family, but one specific day after we said no the girl was still persistent.  We stated that I am a photographer and had my camera there so we did not need it but thank you and she snarkily responded with, "It seems like everyone is nowadays." and walked away.   Is it possible she was having a tough day?  Absolutely!   Did I respond back rudely?  No chance because where would that have gotten either of us.  What it made me think though is that this blog might be important to point out a few factors.   First and utmost I see necessary is to say that kindness really does count.  We live in a world where sometimes we spurt out what we are thinking before we even consider how that could affect the person on the other side.   Maybe because we may never meet them, may never see them again, or just quite honestly forget to think about how it could impact someone.  In this case I would assume the girl was not having the best luck selling her product for the day and it was getting the best of her.   

     With that being said, she may not be wrong in stating that there are a lot of photographers.   Could I walk around and talk to people and they would mention that they have a friend, a friend of a friend, an aunt, or an uncle's niece that is a photographer?   Yes, yes I could.   Think about it like this: I could also walk around and find someone whose friend or aunt is a nurse, teacher, electrician, hairstylist.   So what does that have to do with any of this ranting that I have going on in this blog.   A lot!   Think about how you go about choosing your hairstylist, electrician, maybe even teacher if you tend to special request ones for your children.   The same goes for photographers.  While some may have similar looks or styles there are a few things that should be taken into account when picking the one who is right for you.   Photography is an art and much like painters each has their special stamp that they put on what they do.   For instance, some may be specifically lifestyle, completely posed, or a combination.   Some photographers may have a minimalist style while others like to add to the setting.  For a photographer, what is incredibly important is finding a way to make yourself stand out and be unique.  All fields of work require you to do this in some way, shape, or form.   Whether it is through your work ethic, commitment, how people refer you because of your reputation, or your style.  This is where my main point comes in in case you are struggling with following along.  Kindness matters was just an added perk!  Choosing your photographer should be something that is considered prior to booking.   How can you go about doing this?  

Know their style.  

   My style is a combination of both posed and lifestyle because I like to offer a variety.  That is truly a personal preference of mine, and that is why I have chosen that style.   It  has always been important to me to stay true to myself.  As I stated above there are many types of photography styles ranging from posed to candid/lifestyle.  Everyone's style very much shows a certain expression and emotion through their artwork.

Take a look at their work. 

   This a huge key point.  I could explain my work to you, but the only way to truly know is by seeing it for yourself.   Check out the photographer's website and social media accounts.   Looking at their edited images will allow you to see how they edit and if it is suitable to your style.  Most photographers edit the same throughout all sessions, so if you are not a fan of their editing style then that just might not be the photographer for you.

Know the session you are booking.

   Due to my background in art my style sometimes involves a larger setup, while other shoots might rely strictly on the beauty of nature for the setup.   One other thing I have done since high school is murals, so when the opportunity arises I love to be able to create an original setup that no one else would be able to buy and offer.   A lot of times this is for birthday sessions, but can always be for any shoot if requested.  Most photographers will provide a sneak peek ahead of time or more information about whether or not it is a  minimal setup shoot.   It never hurts to ask and you may be asking the question someone else is afraid to.  

Mini or Full Session?

   While this might have a little less to do with the style of the photographer it is important to know before you book.   The difference between a full session and mini session is typically length of time and how much you will receive back product or image wise after your photos are edited.   Mini sessions are usually set dates at a set location where multiple groups are booked back to back.   These are shorter in length.   A full session can be booked at any date or location you choose.   This is a longer length of time and is great if you have something specific in mind or would like more images in the end.

What does the photographer offer?

   Some photographers charge a sitting fee and then will offer prints or the digital images for an extra fee.   Some may offer the digitals as a whole or only so many.  Others may offer a certain amount of prints with their total cost, and others may offer a specific number of edited digital images with their final cost.   This is important to know what all is included.   For instance my sessions require a deposit down and then final amount is due on or before the day of your session.   You receive back a handful of sneak peeks and then your final gallery is a link where you can download a designated number of edited images you receive in the gallery.   There is also the option if you would like to order from an online photo lab that will ship directly to wherever you would like.  This has a lot to do with what your end goal is with your images and how you would like to go about ordering prints and projects in the end.  

Referral 

   What do I mean by that?  Word of mouth has always been one of my biggest ways of receiving new customers, and I have always felt it is one of the best ways.   Look at the reviews or referrals given by others.  Having repeat customers shows that there is a trust in the relationship that the photographer will follow through on their end.   A person's background history will really tell you that if it is a tougher session for your kid at the time they will still come out on the other side of the session with successful shots.   

     Honestly I could probably continue to list a few other things, but another day another blog maybe.   In my honest opinion these are the prime areas to focus on when you are finding a photographer for you.  You may think, all of this because some lady told you that it seems like everyone is a photographer these days?!   Yep!  All of this because of that.   Some areas may seem like they have an oversaturated market, but I think it is important when you are in that specific area to remember everyone is unique.   It is also important (to any of my photographer friends reading this) to know that just like anyone else some ideas and concepts may not be as successful as you expected.   But what do you do then?   You learn from it.   Adapt.  Alter your idea slightly and try again.   For those of my current clientele reading this, thank you so much for always being willing to support me.   It is because of you that I continue to pursue this adventure that I love.

I will leave you all with this because it is something I reiterate to my Seniors when picking out their outfits.   "In a world full of copies, be something original."  or another one like it is, "In a world full of trends, be classic."  Choose what is you and best for your family and your photos, not what you think everyone else will think looks best and certainly not because everyone else is doing it.  

Happy Thursday everyone!

~Em