Maybe you have worked with a professional photographer before and maybe you have not. You know whomever you decide to work with, there is going to be an investment involved. Depending on the photographer and their offers, that investment may be small, moderate or large.
You definitely don’t want to waste any money on something you are not happy with, right?
So how do you figure out who you should work with? Especially if you have not had this experience before?
Let’s start with the typical:
1. Search on-line for photographers in the genre you want (very important to seek out a professional who specializes in brand photography or whatever it is you are looking for.)
2. Ask any friends, or people that may have used that photographer’s services how their experience was.
3. Look for google reviews (take this with a grain of salt) but they can be helpful.
4. Search on Instagram so you can get a quick snapshot of their work.
This is normally how a typical search starts.
Lastly, make sure you take a good look at the photographers website. Do you like the images you see? Does their site look professional? Do they have more than a couple images or projects for you to see? Do they clearly explain their process, packages, pricing etc?
If so, great. If you get a good vibe from that, then continue the steps listed above. The final step should be to contact the photographer.
I almost never work with anyone unless we’ve had a chat or a zoom call to see if we are a good fit for one another. Your photographer should give you a good feeling when you speak to them. They should be able to answer your questions, give you an idea of what it will be like working with them and hopefully, they will calm your nerves and reassure you that they can create your vision.
Once you go through this and you choose someone to work with, your brand photographer should have some sort of planning process to walk you through.
I spoke with someone recently, who liked her photographer and the images, but the client had to do all the work. There were not many suggestions from the photographer on how to prep, etc, so she was looking for a different take from someone else.
A good brand photographer will have a process, help you prepare and brainstorm ideas with you. All of the onus should not be on you to come up with ideas. Two heads are always better than one. Your brand photographer should be an extension of your business and work with you to bring your vision to life as well as fill in the blanks for the ideas you could not come up with on your own.
The good news? Once you find the photographer for you, future planning sessions get easier. You are more relaxed, you feel less intimidated about offering suggestions, you know what to expect and your photographer can read you better and know what you are willing or not willing to do in front of the camera.
The key to loving your photos is planning, compatibility, communication, and knowing your photographer’s shooting style through research and liking that style before you begin.
With this knowledge in your back pocket, I am certain you’ll find a photographer who will help you create images you love.
