Getting started – how to find a photographer.

Google is your friend here.  Do a simple search, for example “Brampton Family Photographer” or “Brampton Newborn Photographer” – change the words as needed but be sure to include the location and the type of shoot you want.

Check out the first page on Google and see how many times the same photographer appears on the first page.  This means that their work is concentrated in that particular city/town.

You can also ask your friends and family who have had professional photos done for a recommendation.  Be sure to ask them about what the photographer was like, if they were happy with the service and if they were happy with the final product they received.

You’ve got some names, now what?

Google them.  Go on their website and analyze their work.  Check out their pricing, and ask for a detailed price list if it’s not on the website.  While you’re looking at various websites, there will be some that make you go “wow, those are awesome” and some that will make you go “oh, that’s nice”.  Concentrate on the “wow those are awesome” sites and add them to your short list.

A bit about style.

I asked on my Facebook Page a few weeks ago what people look for when they are researching photographers.  The number one answer that came up was “their style”.  What is style when it comes to photography?  In my opinion, it’s how their work makes you feel. When looking at a photographer’s style, you have to look at all their pictures on their website.  Are most of them in a studio setting or are they on-location?  Are the families posed or do they seem like they’re at ease?  Are the people in the pictures genuinely happy looking or do the smiles seem forced?  All of these things relate to the photographer’s style.

How do I know if they are good?

While you’re looking at the pictures, look past the “oh those are cute” feeling of the pictures, and look for things like sharpness, focus problems, lighting and colour (or black and white).  Do the pictures look clear?  Are there any shadows on their face?  Are the people squinting?  Do the colours look bright, but not over-saturated?  When looking at black and white photos, does the skin look muddy or is it creamy looking?  You don’t need to have a photographer’s eye to see a good picture over a bad one.

Another thing to look at is their overall portfolio.  Does the photographer have a number of different people in their images, or are you seeing the same child, the same family, over and over again?  This tells you how new they are to the business.  Being new is not a bad thing of course – it just depends if you want a more seasoned pro or someone who is just starting out.

Pricing – the big taboo!

Pricing should not be your deciding factor when selecting a photographer. If you plan ahead, you can budget for a professional photo session.  Maybe that means putting $20 a week aside for X number of weeks, but when the time comes to place your order, you won’t feel overwhelmed.  You will know how much you have to spend and can make your selections accordingly.

There are so many different pricing schemes with photographers in a very saturated market.  You will find photographers who charge you XX amount and give you the disc, and you’ll find others who charge a session fee but everything else is extra.  Something to keep in mind is that sometimes, the lower price range photographer may not take the time and effort to ensure every image is perfect before delivering it to their client.   As a paying client, you only want the best images presented to you.  Each image that a photographer presents should be professionally retouched which includes the removal of minor blemishes, colour correction as well as other edits they feel necessary.  This is what gives an image the WOW factor!

Also, a lower priced photographer may not have proper business practices in place.  They may not be claiming the income on their taxes or have proper business insurance.  Why should you care about this?  You should care because you want to deal with someone who is running a professional business, has contracts in place, has the proper liability insurance should an accident happen while on a photo session, and someone who is using professional grade equipment to help produce the best pictures possible.  A good photographer, one that really knows what they are doing, runs a legitimate business, perhaps is part of a photographer’s organization, is going to cost more than someone who just hands out a disc.  It’s quality, not quantity that should prevail here.

The bottom line when it comes to pricing is this – you’re the client, and you are deciding how much of a value this service is to you.  You decide if you would rather have the prints, or a disc.  You decide how much to spend, and I hope this article helps provide you with some background information so that you can make an educated choice.

Are you ready to book a session?  Contact me today for more information.

In the past few months, I’ve done a few impromptu images for people’s Facebook Profiles, Twitter Avatars and blogs.  It’s nice to see not only the reaction from the person I’ve photographed, but also those who see the picture.  People, especially women (oh come on, admit it ladies…), are very particular about how they look in pictures, so to hear the person say “wow, I look good” means that I’ve done a good job at capturing their “good side”!

I’ve decided to add Professional Images to my services.  These sessions will not be the typical “stand in front of a backdrop and smile” sessions.  I want to capture the natural you, your true smile, in the place you’re most comfortable.  That could be in your office, out in a park or even at your favourite restaurant!  Tell me where, and I’ll meet you there!

If you need your picture updated, or need one because you don’t have one, please email me with a date, and we’ll customize a package to suit your needs.  I look forward to hearing from you!

Please take a moment to visit each of these individual’s websites too.  They are all fabulous business people that I have the pleasure of calling my friends.

Amanda & Brent Kinnaird – Inspire Marketing

Heather Hamilton – Social Media Co-ordinator at PTPA Media

Leigh Mitchell – Moms Entrepreneur Network (Marketing for Moms)

Ali Martell, Jen Maier & Carol Enright – Urbanmoms.ca

Amelia Vellozo – Arcadia Music Academy – Brampton North Campus

My advice to the soon-to-be moms is to book your newborn photographer during your third trimester, and here’s why:

1.  You’ll likely be able to book your photographer of choice.

2. It’s one less thing you have to worry about after the baby comes.  All you will have to do is pick up the phone or send an email to your photographer to let her (or him) know your baby has arrived!

Newborn sessions are best done in the first two weeks of the baby’s life.  It is so much easier to work with a newborn when they are between 6-10 days of age.  During the first two weeks of life, most newborns are very mellow and don’t mind being moved around too much.  Photographers that cater to baby posing images must have the baby in a deep sleep to achieve many of the poses they photograph.  Lifestyle photographers, like myself, don’t need the baby to be in a deep sleep.  Personally, I prefer an awake baby so we can photograph his/her beautiful eyes!

Regardless of which type of newborn photography you prefer, researching your photography options in advance will be very beneficial and on less thing to worry about.  For tips on how to select a photographer, have a look at my article “Choosing Your Photographer“.

Please feel free to pass this post along to anyone who you know may be looking for a photographer for their newborn, or anyone you think may find it interesting.

Are you ready to book your maternity and/or newborn session?  Click here to contact me!