Hello, OSSS readers, it’s Amy here once again!
Family photos is something very high on my list of priorities, probably because growing up I don’t have a lot of pictures of my family. Now that I have a family of my own, we save up money every year to hire a photographer (or 2) to document our life.
Speaking from experience, here are some tips to help with hiring a family photographer that is a right fit for you.
Look at their work. What do you like?
Looking at their portfolio, what do you like about their work? When you chat with the photographer, make sure to tell them what you like about their work so they could create photos with the same elements.
What Kind of Photos Are You Looking For?
A lot of people will go into a session knowing they want ‘family photos’. Sure, you want photos of your family, but what else? Do you want your family to be cuddling together having a good time? Do you want pictures of you in your home doing what you would normally (documentary style)? Do you want photos of how you hold your children?
Communicate this to your photographer and make sure they have the same vision you do.
Image courtesy of Images By Bethany
What Do You Want To Do With The Images?
This is a really important question to ask yourself. What is the goal of your photo session?
Do you want to display these photos in your home? Do you want all the images to be in an album? Do you have family that would love pictures of you in their home?
Once you figure out how you want to enjoy the photos, your photographer can suggest products that will suit your need.
What Type of Products Do They Offer?
When you chat with your potential photographer, ask them what type of products they offer.
What are their wall art options? Do they offer matted prints in frames, or do they offer canvas also?
What are their album options? Is it leather (which is a problem if you’re vegan)? Or does it come in linen or silk?
Get them to show you in person or online so you could see what they look like. Make sure their product works well with your home décor.
How Will You Display The Photos?
I’m a firm believer that photos should be seen and shared. Why go through all the trouble just to have the images sit on a jump drive or your hard drive?
Perhaps you have a blank wall in your dining room that could use some personal art. A good photographer will help you use the images from your session to design a collection that will work for that space.
Some photographers will even come to your home when the prints are ready to hang it for you =)
Work Within Your Budget
Since you’re going to love most of the images from your session, it is easy to get carried away when choosing your images and products (I always do….).
Some photographers will offer you the digital files after you’ve purchased a certain amount of products. This is a good way to get wall art or other products you want to display from them, then use the digital files to print gifts for families and friends.
If you’re doing it this way, make sure to frame the prints so they are ready to enjoy when you gift them.
If you want to include more photos than just a couple prints, you could create a photo album for them. Personally, I use Blurb to create photobooks I gift to family and I always add quotes to personalize the book.
I haven’t had family pictures taken since I had my daughter. I want to remember the stage of life she is in, so I should probably hire a professional photographer who knows how to capture the essence of children. I like how you mention that you should know what the goal of your photo session is before you choose or hire a photographer. If you have an end result in mind, you’re more likely to get it if you share that with your photographer as well.