Choosing Your Next Family Photographer

Fall is finally upon us with cooler mornings, shorter days and the leaves changing colors and falling off of the trees. Are you one of those people that put off planning their portrait session and you’re scrambling trying to find a photographer with availability? Let me tell you, now is not the time to procrastinate planning your fall photography session, maternity, family or baby milestone sessions. And while I get that the thought of having fitting in a family photo shoot can seem like a daunting or overwhelming task, it doesn’t have to be. Continue reading for my top three recommendations and considerations for you to keep in mind when choosing your next family photographer!

Consider Photography Style When Choosing your Next Family Photographer

The most important thing you need to do or consider when selecting your next photographer is to make sure that the photographer’s style aligns with your taste and style. I know, I know, this sounds obvious, but there are two very simple ways people can miss this point. First, you may find a photographer who’s style you absolutely love, and who’s photographs are gorgeous. “Perfect,” you think, “Let’s see if he or she is available!” Before you do, you might consider a few things:

1. What are you going to do with those photos?
2. If you’re going to print and hang those photos on your walls, does his or her style match the style of your house? Modern & moody? Minimalist? Light & Airy? Traditional or classic in nature?

You want to make sure that those gorgeous photos that you will pay for are photos that you will hang on your walls or leave out in a coffee table album.

The second reason people will select a photographer who’s style does not match their own is because of availability or a lower price point. Again, if the photos you receive are not photos you will showcase in your home, then you’ve wasted a fair bit of money. So, review the photographer’s portfolio, even hold up your phone on blank walls to see if their portfolio aligns with what you had in mind. Be sure your style aligns with the photographer’s style.

Pro Tip

If you find that perfect photographer but cannot get on their schedule or cannot afford them, ask them if they can refer you to someone else. The photography community can be a close-knit community, and I will always refer potential clients on to someone else if we establish that I’m not the right fit for them.

Consider Services & Products When Choosing your Next Family Photographer

The next important consideration focuses on services & products. Refer back to my early comment on how busy spring gets. The last thing you want to do is to make life more stressful by adding “family photo session” to your to-do list. This is where finding a photographer with the right services comes in to play. For those of you who love to just show up, get hair/make-up done, have clothes handed to you & go take photos, a full-service photographer is the way to go. If you want complete control over planning your session and are looking for a lower price point, maybe look for an all-inclusive photographer.

You also should consider the products the photographer offers in comparison to what you’re looking to get out of your session. Do you just want the final digital negatives of your photos? Again, an all-inclusive photographer may be the way to go. If you’re looking for tangible products that are designed for you and your home, consider a full-service photographer. In this case, your price point will most likely be higher, but you’re not just paying for digital negatives or prints, you’re paying for the service of having all work done for you; and in some cases, this may even include hanging your artwork in you home for you!

Consider Availability & Flexibility When Choosing your Next Family Photographer

One thing to always keep in mind is that all photographers are not just artists, but business owners as well, and most have families at home. They’re ordinary people just you and me. With that in mind, it is important to have clear communication with your photographer on their availability, their flexibility and their cancellation or rescheduling policies. While a lot of photographers try to be flexible, with reschedules due to illness or unplanned business travel, all photographers should have reschedule and cancellation policies in place and in their contracts. It is important that you understand these policies prior to scheduling your session with the photographer in case the unplanned does occur and you do need to reschedule!

Molli Dill is a natural light photographer who provides her clients with timeless photographs of their families throughout each stage of life. As a full-service photographer specializing in maternity, newborn, children and family portraiture, Molli’s stress free process allows her clients to enjoy capturing life’s precious moments. Molli is based in Atlanta, but her work as a destination photographer takes her across the United States and the globe. She cannot wait to connect with you and document your family’s story!