If you’ve wondered how to find the perfect photographer for you, here are a few things to keep in mind.
You have to first decide what you love and then find a photographer who meets your vision. You’re looking at three primary things:
- What is his or her shooting style?
- What is his or her editing style?
- What is their experience like?
What is his or her shooting style?
Do they have a more documentary style approach? Meaning, do they shoot like a fly on the wall?
Do they have an editorial approach? Heavily posed and magazine-like? Or perhaps they have a more traditional posed style?
Do the photos look like they are in a movie? ie: cinematic
Do they use a lot of flash or natural light only? Are they shooting film? Is the lighting heavily contrasted or more natural?
You are looking for how they are actually taking the photos, how they are directing their clients, and how they use lighting. This is one of the pieces to piece together on what your personal taste is. For some photographers, like me, they might intermix styles depending on the feel of the moment and heart of the client.
What is his or her editing style?
Here is what they do to the photos after they take them. How are they editing them? Dark and moody? Light and airy? True to color? Do they photos have a more cinematic filter on them? Are their photos very warm or cool-toned?
For reference, I would consider my photos light and moody, with a balanced mix of lighter styles and moodier styles, while still editing true to color.
What is his or her experience like?
This is arguably the most important piece to finding the perfect photographer. This is who the photographer is as a person, how his or her personality is, what their deliverables are like. These are questions you’ll find out mostly in the consultation or vetting their reviews. You want to know you’d love having his or her presence. You want to know how long you’ll wait for your photos and what all is included in the package. Overall, what is the experience like?
I hope this helps and serves you well! Photography is not a one-size-fits-all. It is personal, important, and should be deeply considered. You want to feel 100% comfortable and confident that you are a great fit, visually, personality-wise, and experience-wise.
I hope you find the perfect photographer for you. And if you’re looking for a photographer who loves to laugh, take photos that make you go *WOW,* and shoots with an artistic, tailored style–I’d love to talk with you! 🙂
Keep smiling,
Victoria
The Journal
