Interviewing Your Potential Photographer Pt. 1
I’ve been talking about how to find the right photographer for YOU. I understand it can get too overwhelming... photography business has been so saturated more than ever.
No, I'm not saying that it's me lol. Just like everybody has different preferences in foods, there's no 1 photographer fits for all.
Preserving your family history for generations to come is my passion! That's why I want to help you! Today, I want to talk about what to ask a photographer when you’re looking for the right one just for you!
If you’ve found a photographer whose portfolio strikes your fancy, the next step to take is to pick up the phone (or zoom) for a little interview. Don’t be afraid to ask the questions you want to be answered and feel out if it’s a good fit for you and your family. It's all about human connections.
I’ve created a little interview outline here for you, but feel free to add your own questions and ideas to the list!
There are no right or wrong answers here. It’s about how you feel about that photographer. I put my answers for example. It’s a little long… so I break it down to 2 blog posts!
Q: How long have you been in business?
This is a good indicator if that photographer is a real business or hobbyist. Another way to ask that is "Do you have insurance?" Any professional photographer would have business insurance. Do not settle on a photographer solely based on a low price. "You get what you pay for" is very true for the photography industry.
A: I’m in the photography industry for a while. I went to college to learn commercial photography. I used to be in a studio for hours, playing with lights. I then did some assistant jobs and landed a job at an ad agency as an assistant Art Buyer (the department that hires artists). There, I got to see many worldly famous photographers’ portfolios every day. I wasn’t working as a photographer there, but that experience really grew my eyes for photography. After I had my 2 kids, my passion for portrait photography blew up. My kids made me realized what is my true passion and my propose in life. Photography is my way of contributing to the world. If I can make anybody smile with my photographs, I’m happy. I’ve been shooting as a family photographer for about 4 years now and I am loving every minute of it! And yes, I do have business insurance!
Q: What type of photography do you specialize in?
It is common for a photographer to be specialized in a few different types of photography. But please know that doesn't necessarily mean that photographer is a super photographer. You can look at that photographer's portfolio on the website/Instagram, see if her/his style is consistent in all the photos no matter what the subject is. It's a bit extreme but would you have a general physician to operate on your brain surgery? Specializing = craftmanship.
A: I specialized in glowing natural light images in a relaxed, contemporary portrait and lifestyle setting. Mostly family and kids. That means I can take photos of you all smiling at the camera that all grandparents are waiting to hang on their walls, and also photos of those raw moments that you know you'll cherish looking back in the future. I can capture split-seconds of emotions in an artistically way that you don't usually notice in a busy life.
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