How to Choose YOUR Senior Portrait Photographer
If you're a rising senior chances are you've been planning your senior portrait session since the beginning of time! Okay that's a little melodramatic, but you've probably been thinking of them for some time now. I’ve put together some pointers for choosing the senior photographer for you!
Number one: Just stop looking and book me already! HA!! Kidding! As much I would love for every single junior/senior to book me it's important that you find a photog that FITS YOU! Here are a few things to help your search:
STYLE - I'm not talking about the clothes your potential photog wears; I'm talking about the actual photographic and editing style that they use. Some photographers are light and airy while others are more natural or moody. You want to look at each photographer's style so that in the end you're not disappointed with the one you choose. I think, a big thing to consider is timelessness. You want an editing style that will stand the test of time, and will not be out of trend five, or ten years down the road. You want to be able to look back and still be excited to show off your old self.
WHAT IS OFFERED - You want to make sure that the photographer you're looking out offers what you're looking for. If you want to multiple locations, multiple outfits, personalized sessions or just show up for pretty pictures, be sure that's something your potential photographer offers. Planning assistance and easy communication, multiple outfit and location changes, quality products to display your images; whatever you like, whatever you value, make sure you choose the photog that offers what YOU WANT from YOUR DAY.
CHOOSE A PROFESSIONAL - Don't skimp on the quality. There are many photographers out there now days that charge little to no money for a session and a promise of tons of digital images. Many of these individuals are not licensed/insured business people. They purchase a DSLR, set up a Facebook business page and that's all she wrote. I know that everyone starts somewhere, but you may not want to trust this important time in YOUR LIFE to someone who is not a true professional. Included in that is a friend’s iPhone or Galaxy that takes amazing pictures! Phones these days do come equipped with awesome camera specs, but the possibility for large, high quality prints is simply not as great as full sized files that professionals give.
PRE-SESSION PLANNING - Make sure you are a good fit for each other. Some people just aren't a good fit to work together and meeting, even if it’s a web based conference to meet “face to face” or to grab a cup of coffee, it can help you decide if you want to move forward or if you should keep looking.
PRICE SHOPPING - Senior year is expensive, trust me I get it, but you don’t want to base your decision solely on money. Keep all of the above things in mind because you don’t want to be disappointed in the long run. Remember these are a big deal. These are likely the last professional photos you’ll get until your wedding day. You don’t want to be ashamed of them down the road, and you don’t want to look back and be able to remember the awesomeness that was your senior year.
Choosing your senior photographer can be a bit overwhelming when there are so many choices; just keep in mind what it is that YOU want for YOUR photos and don’t compromise on the quality.