How To Pick A Family Photographer

Ashley Newman Photography

“A happy family is but an earlier heaven.” And heaven on earth is this precious family! I just love their spirit and sense of adventure. Big brothers clearly adore their little sister and there is so much love between them.

Picking a family photographer can be daunting. You are trusting someone with your memories and your family. It’s time you cannot get back- it’s moments that will tell the legacy and story of your family. You want it done right by someone you feel connected and comfortable with.
Here are my top tips for selecting a photographer for your family!

• How long have they been in business? An established business owner who has built rapport with the community is someone you can put your trust in. A new business isn’t bad, but you know what you are getting when you hire someone who has a long standing history with their business.

• Do they pay taxes? Businesses should pay their taxes and be current. No matter how big or small, make sure they are legal.

• Are the insured? And do they have a contract? Your safety and the protection of your images is important. How are they protecting you and their equipment? A photographer should be able to easily show you that they carry insurance. And, some venues even require photographers to do so.

• Check reviews. What are other people saying? Don’t just look at the star rating, but really dive in to what people are writing about their experiences. Does the photographer engage with them and respond? A responsive photographer is an active and involved business owner.

• Who are the associated with or have they been published? Do they have awards and publications. It doesn’t have to be in a magazine or book- but if they are active in their community, submitting their work to grow their craft and actively promoting the families they work with, you will see their work.

• Are they accessible? How involved do you need your photographer to be? If you want someone who offers their advice, styling and will text with you or have in-person meetings, you want to make sure you are looking for someone who is responsive to your needs. Not all photographers communicate or make themselves available, and not all families want or need that.

• Do you feel connected? Check out their “about me” page, contact them or follow their social media. You can learn a lot about their personality this way. At the end of the day, you will feel more comfortable if you feel connected in some way to the person responsible for documenting your family.

• Look at their portfolio. Is it consistent? Do the images seem to match in color or tone? Do they have a variety of work and subjects to show their skills? Do you lie their style and posing? A portfolio is a great place to look because not only will you be able to see what you can expect for your own pictures, but you can see their strengths.

At the end of the day, it’s a very personal choice. Who you pick to work with your family may be the person you want to stay with for as long as you can. Or they may be someone that you splurge on. Either way, make sure you like their work and you do your research so that the end result is something beautiful.