There are photographers everywhere, Where Do I start
So, you're wanting some updated family photos for the wall, or maybe you really want maternity photos before baby is born. Maybe, you're an overwhelmed fiancé who never knew there was so many options and price ranges. Let's dive in to a couple of simple questions to ask yourself that can help you find what you need quickly and efficiently.
Where do i find a photographer?
Let's start by finding someone whose work you love. There are a couple of places to look. I would advise staying away from large groups on Facebook to find someone as that is where the market is most saturated and can be overwhelming. The first place I would suggest is Instagram or Facebook searches. Social media has started to work as a search engine and this can be incredibly helpful. Try searching something like "Photographers in Lake Placid NY" and check out the first couple profiles or posts that catch your eye. You can even be really specific with your searches like "Moody Maternity Photographers in Upstate New York". The second place you'll want to search is Google. These are trusted sources that can help weed out some unhelpful options. If you're not finding anything in your area you like, then you can try the groups on Facebook. Post something like "I need a photographer in this style, in this budget, for this day" and see what comes up. Make sure you are VERY picky in choosing who captures your moments.
What to avoid in a photographer?
In my opinion, these are the things that may be a sign to find someone else. First, if there is not much work shown recently, that is not ideal. You want a photographer who is active and always trying to do their best and improve. Second, you want a photographer with real engagement from real people on their posts, signs to look for are comments like "thanks for taking these" etc. so you know that the work is not stolen. This one is huge, as finding trustworthy vendors has become increasingly difficult. Third, you want someone with good reviews. This seems obvious, but sometimes it's overlooked. Lastly, try to avoid someone offering lots of free or incredibly cheap work. This is okay and great if it's a younger photographer trying to grow their portfolio, we all start like this, but if you're choosing the more inexperienced photographer for budget, you may need to be okay with a couple different outcomes. In my opinion, if they don't have a lot of followers that's not too important as long as their active and engaging with people, and you like their work.
What to look for in a photographer?
The first thing is a must, you must love their work. If you find a photographer with nice crisp images, but you don't love their editing, don't do it. You and your photographer need to align on vision. This is very important. Another thing to be aware of is if they are involved in community. I always see this as a plus, but some don't think it's important. It's nice to see they're open about who they work with and see them have good things to say about their clients. You want to pay close attention to how they interact with clients, will they make you feel comfortable? Will they be able to pose you in a flattering way? Have they worked with different body types and skin colors?
Lastly, What questions should I ask myself before booking a photographer?
There are a couple of things you will need to consider. Firstly, do you want traditional posed photos, or candid photos? Maybe you want something fun like editorial portraits that speak to the soul. You'll have to find the best photographer who will be used to and comfortable capturing what you have in mind. The next one seems obvious but sit with it and think, what am I willing to spend? how much will these mean to me? I think your photos are a very important investment. I spent the more on my wedding photographer than anything else for my back yard wedding and I have not regretted it once. Those photos are on my walls, in photo albums, I show those photos off years later, and can't wait for my future children to see them. I've shared the album with friends and family that could not make it and they've cherished every detail captured. These are for more than just instagram posts. Really think about it. The last thing you'll need to consider is how will my photographer make me feel in front of the camera? Will they do their absolute best to capture my unique beauty? Will they make me more comfortable? This is very important, and you can often tell by the types of subjects they're showing on their page, look for genuine smiles and laughs, or comfortable posing that looks natural.
That's all I have for you today! I hope this was helpful.
Signing off,
~Sharon Rose
