Choosing a family photographer can be a big decision. There are so many to choose from, with varying styles, prices and personalities. We’ve put together this guide to help you choose the right person for your family photography.
Style
The first thing to look at when choosing a family photographer is their style. Are you looking for natural style shots outdoors or in your home? Would you like a studio backdrop? Are more formal, fine art images what you’re looking for?
Most photographers have a distinctive style, so it’s important to find one that fits with your needs. If you’re unsure of the style you like, start by gathering ideas. Pinterest is a great place for this! Take a look at our family photography board to help you get started.
Reviews
Word of mouth and getting recommendations from family and friends is a good way to start when looking for any service, but it’s also important to read the reviews from others too. You’ll find reviews on Google and Facebook, as well as places like Netmums.
When reading low star reviews, always make sure you read the entire text. We once found a 1* review of a restaurant because there were no spoons on the table. Everything else was perfect (and spoons were brought out with the soup!).
Final Products
Before your session, think about what it is you’d like to do with the images. Are you looking to create a photo book? Do you want a large piece of wall art? Do you want several prints to put into a family photograph album? When you know what products or prints you’d like, make sure your photographer can provide them.
If you’re considering creating your own prints or products make sure you set the time aside to actually do it. Having a photography session and then never creating the final product you’d like is a waste. If you don’t think you’ll be able to commit to creating your final products, allow your photographer to do it for you.
Get Along
Getting along with your photographer will help you capture the best images possible. You’ll be more relaxed, and if you have little ones with you they will be too. From the first communication you’ll know whether or not you’ll be a good match.
Turnaround Time
The turnaround time is how long it will take to get your final images. In some cases this may not be important, but if you’re looking for gifs for Christmas or birthdays, you’ll need to make sure that the images will be ready in time. Every photographer will have different lead times, so make sure you ask.
How To Choose Your Final Images
Choosing your final images generally happens in one of three ways.
1. An in person sales session. This is where you meet your photographer to view all the edited images and choose which ones you’d like.
2. A private gallery. Your images are uploaded to a gallery for a set amount of time and you choose the images you’d like from there.
3. The images are all included. There’s nothing to choose, as you receive digital copies of all your images.
There are pros and cons to each of these methods. Think about what you’d prefer as a customer, and then ask your photographer if that’s a possibility for you. If it’s not their standard practice they may make an exception.
Price Isn’t Everything
Everyone loves a bargain, but it’s important to understand that with family photography, you generally get what you pay for. That being said, you should always know exactly how much the session and your final products will cost before booking.
Photographers may offer different packages at varying price points so be sure to read what’s included in each one. If there are no prints or products included, you can always ask for a separate price list for these.
Sometimes it’s worth spending a little more to know you’ll have family photographs that you’ll treasure for a lifetime.
If you’d like to know more about our family photography packages, take a look at our studio and location sessions.