Kids grow up fast, and it’s wonderful to have photographed memories to capture some steps along the way. Hiring a professional to take family photographs is something many people have on their to-do list, but how do you go about finding the right one?
Discover the Photographic Style for you
Photography is part science and part art, and it’s the artistic side of photography that makes choosing a photographer a personal one. Get on the websites and Facebook pages of family photographers in your area, and simply start browsing their work. Make a note of the photographs that jump out at you. After a while you will start to recognise a common theme across the photographs you like, and you’ll get a good feel for the style of family photography that appeals to you.
Make a Photographer Shortlist
Armed with the knowledge of the photographic style you like, it’s time to shortlist photographers. The key is to give yourself options. Sometimes you will find a photographer whose portfolio of photographs seems perfect for you, but you may not know their price, their personality, or if they’ve even available. Having a shortlist will give you options and the ability to compare a number of photographers you know you like.
Get Prices and Availability
The next step is to contact all the photographers on your shortlist to get their prices and availability. Let them know your budget, where you are (a suburb is fine initially), and when you want them. Do you want the photographs on a DVD, printed out, or presented in an album? It’s also helpful to let them know of any particular examples of photographs that you like.
Make the Choice
Once you have all your quotes, the final step is to make a choice and close the deal. You may want to meet photographers in person before you make a final decision personality can make a big difference. Work out the payment particulars in advance (do you pay a deposit, or everything at the end?), and confirm how long it will be before you get your photographs.
Simplifying the Process
A quote comparison site can help simplify and speed up the process of finding a family photographer. Photo Portal is a free service that allows you to find, compare, shortlist and get quotes in one place. You start by entering a suburb into Photo Portal, and you’re shown details of all photographers within 200 km of the location. You can then create a shortlist directly on the website, and request quotes from all the photographers on your list. All quotes are emailed to you, and Photo Portal will also provide you with a unique website address to review all your quotes on a single page.
