Choosing the Right Photographer
Anyone with a camera and computer should be fine to shoot and edit any project, right?
Nope.
Finding the right photographer for your vision is -key- to getting images that everyone will be happy with. Every photographer has their own unique eye, artistic style, strengths, weaknesses, experience, and gear. All of those things will have an effect on the final product. Now, you don’t need to know what kind of camera they have, what kind of editing software they use, or even how long they’ve been shooting. All you really need to do look through their portfolio a bit and see if the work presented aligns with what you’re wanting. Anything that doesn’t align, you don’t need to contact them. For example: The photographer that specializes in family portraits is most likely not the best fit for a boudoir shoot. The photographer that specializes in shooting live events in nightclubs is probably not the best fit for your high glam headshots. Catching the ball I’m throwing here?
So, what are some ways that we can find the right photographer for “The Vision”. Here are a couple of my methods.
Get clear on your vision for the photos. Decide on a few key words that encapsulate the story, vibe, and style that you want for your pictures. Then make a mood board, pull together some outfit pieces, and find some inspiration example photos. After you’ve collected these things, go through them and check that they are falling under your key words. This will help you narrow it down and get a clear vision.
Use your narrowed down key words and inspiration examples to help you sift through photographer portfolios. You can type your key words in to any of your search bars and receive a smattering of options. I find Instagram to be a great sourcing tool for this. I type in “key word(s), Photographer, Denver” and start the process of clicking through varying profiles til I find the right fit. I have also found and connected with photographers by looking at other peoples photoshoots posted to Instagram and finding the (usually) tagged photographer in the caption.
Bonus! ALWAYS make sure to vet any new to you photographer that you’re thinking of working with. If you know someone who has worked with them, reach out and ask how the experience was. Do they have a website? Any reviews or testimonials? What kind of captions and comments are under their work? What kind of work are they showcasing? Trust your gut, if something feels off then it probably is. Your safety and comfort is paramount, no photo is worth sacrificing that.
Was this helpful information? Do you want to learn more about this topic, modeling in general, AND get to work with an amazing photographer? Check out my Modeling 101 Workshop in the -Shop- tab at the top of the page!
