How to choose the right photographer for you
5 tips to choose the right photographer in Seattle
Spring is upon us and so starts the rejuvenation of the beautiful PNW. Soon we will have beautiful flowers and temps will rise. You may be thinking of having photos taken of your family and wondering who to choose as a photographer. I have 5 tips on how to choose the right Seattle Photographer for you.
Decide what your budget is, determine if the photographer fits that.
This is probably the first question that you should be asking yourself. It would be a shame to fall in love with a Seattle Photographer that is well outside of your budget. You should check a couple of things, do they have a payment plan and what is the payment schedule. A payment plan is one way to hire a photographer that might be on the high end, but that you absolutely love. Also check what the payment schedule is, do they have a deposit and when you are expected to pay the balance. This will help you not get surprised when payment is due and help you save. Also determine if you want one session for the year or a few milestone sessions and if the photographer offers what you are looking for. This will help you plan your year.
2. Determine if the photographer specializes in the type of photography you are wanting.
Let’s say you are looking for a family photographer that has experience photographing small children but the photographer you are considering only has photos of high school seniors, they may not be the right fit for you. Or if you are wanting a downtown city theme and the photographer you are interested in only has images of scenic landscape locations, they may not be the right fit. If you are looking for an In-home photo session see if they have images of that in their portfolio. A good determination of whether they can offer you what you are looking for is to see if they have photo examples on their website or instagram.
3. Think about what experience are you looking for? Does the photographer offer it?
There are a wide range of offerings available. You might want a mini session that lasts 30 minutes or less. Or you might want a hour or longer session to achieve a more story telling gallery. Some photographers offer an all inclusive experience where you receive all your digital files. While other will offer a certain amount and you can choose to purchase more. There are photographers that offer a consultation over the phone or in person before a session. Some photographers offer styling guides or client closets to help you decide on what to wear for your session. It’s always important to ask the Seattle photographer you are considering what their photography experience is like and most the time you can find a page on their website that describes it. But you can always ask as well.
4. Check out the Seattle photographers portfolio.
This is an important piece of the puzzle that you do not want to over look. Seattle Photographers have a wide range of styles. From styling to locations to editing there are so many styles to look for. Make sure to check out their portfolio to see how they shoot. Do they have formal portraits where everyone is dressed to the nines and looking at the camera? Do they have a more casual style where they shoot outside and have lots of movement and no one is really looking at the camera? Look at their whole portfolio because you should expect to receive a gallery from them in that style.
5. Ask them about their availability up front
If you know that you want a fall family session then make sure to ask the Seattle Photographer if they have availability. Some photographers have high demand or book their calendars in the last quarter of the year. But as a Seattle family photographer I suggest to be a little flexible. When you find a photographer that you absolutely love and connect with its important to be flexible.