... this was me contemplating the other day ...
There are so many ads popping up on my pages and feeds these days on social media, many of them advertising Holiday Photo Shoots. Glittering studios, snow and fake snow, Christmas trees and special offers trying to lure the customer into having their holiday portraits taken by a specific studio or photographer.
I had to stop and think, if I was the one wanting to commit to a portrait shoot these days, and suppose I did not know much about the topic, how would I choose to get what I want, and to be a happy client?
Well no differently than in any other area in life, the number one key to success is to know what you want. The more defined your vision about your end result is the better chance you will end up getting it.
"But how would I know exactly what kind of photos I want to see myself in? All I can think is I want beautiful images of myself (my loved ones, insert the relevant)."
Well let us pause here for a minute. Portraiture as a term needs some clarification at times. When you are the main subject of an image, it is most likely a portrait of you. Now, Portraiture has a lot of sub-genres, too. A portrait can be posed, candid, indoor, outdoor, environmental, business, natural light, studio, fine art, etc. They all fall in the category of Portraiture, so long as it is about you as a subject. Any other element in the image is only secondary, and supporting your character. For instance, if you are a hair stylist and we take your business portrait in your salon, the salon and all its furniture, decor, everything in it are secondary. It is YOU who remains the main subject.
Let's imagine that you bump into an image taken by a certain photographer, and you like it. In fact, you like it so much that you soon you have a strong desire to have a similar image of yourself. What should you start with?
You go to the photographer's website and have a look at their other images, gallery or galleries, if there is more than one.
"Why is that important? If she/he has a great image, she/he surely can produce many more of a kind."
When you look at the work of a photographer you get an idea of what they like to shoot. What is it that they are proud of? What do they specialise in? What are they the best at? A professional photographer would not showcase anything else but the best on their business site.
So, if you see that the vast majority of XY photographers' work was taken in studio of families, perhaps she/he is not your best choice if your idea is to get candid style images of you and your husband, outdoors. Similarly, if you see a lot of images of newborns on a certain artist's website, you may want to consider having your boudoir images taken at an other studio, as it may not be their forte.
In doubt, of course it is good to ask.
Your next question would surely be about pricing. This would be a topic of a separate blog post, but let's tap into this as briefly as we can.
If you see the Pricing List displayed on the photographer's website, read it. Read it again, and carefully. If the photographer does not have it on her/his site, ask her/him to send it to you.
Do not let quantity take over quality. The offers that talk about 100-200- ... 500 images from the same session may sound great if you follow the numbers' game (out of 500 I may find 5 that I like). But then again, apart from when you spent hours over your wedding photo collection, when was the last time you flipped through hundreds of photographs of the same person(s), from the same day? We are not talking numbers here.
Also, pay attention to how many of the images taken will actually be retouched, as per the deal. Ask what the photographer means by "retouch", is it the basic correction of colours, contrast and sharpness, or are they going to individually and artistically work in details on every image they deliver to you?
Know that a professional photographer would not give out RAW images. That would be like the baker sending you the cake base and wanting you to put the cream, toppings and final finish to it.
Finally, it is worth giving a thought to "image per time". If you are promised to be given 30 images from a 30 minute shoot, that means that every minute there will be an outstanding photo created - not a mediocre snap shot, but a photograph that is to be proud of, and to be cherished for long years. Well, the artist who can create an outstanding piece of art every minute ... well he/she is a genius, for sure.
Try to think price for value. Of course a huge part of this is being determined by how much you value your images. How important are they in your life? Is it the image only that matters, or perhaps you want to enjoy and remember the process, the experience of being the star in a photo studio for the day?
When you enter a fast food restaurant, you want a quick menu to eat, and surely will not order creme brûlée. Similarly, you will not expect the price of a burger for your meal in a Michelin star restaurant, as you go there for a special experience. Again, price and value.
Know what you want. Know how much you want it. Know what value it represents. For you, not for anyone else.
Oh, and if all else fails in your thought process, there is always the option to talk to us photographers. Ask. As many questions as you'd like.
We all would love for you to leave our studios as the happiest client.
There is no perfect photographer, but there is a "perfect photographer for you". Do your homework so that the right paths cross.
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