We are in the Digital Age which is a good thing and a bad thing at the same time when it comes to photography. The good, cameras are cheaper than ever and film is no longer a major expense. The bad, cheaper fancier cameras are now in the hands of inexperienced people who tag themselves as Professional Photographers. Professional photography does not require a license but it does require that a person be knowledgeable with the camera in their hands and this is where things get tricky for the client, very tricky. Clients have two kinds of choices to make when looking to choose a photographer, go with a PHOTOGRAPHER or go with a PICTURE TAKER. A PHOTOGRAPHER takes time to get it right for his client while the PICTURE TAKER just gets it and turns it over on a cd. A PHOTOGRAPHER will guide you through the process of your wedding or project while a PICTURE TAKER will try not to screw it up while looking totally lost.

Searching for a photographer should be a process that you as the client take very serious especially if you are looking for a wedding photographer. My first piece of advice is to consider your photographer to be an investment in your image, always remember that you get what you pay for. I am not here to say that you should pay a boat load of money but I am saying that if it’s priced very cheap, it probably is cheap. You are paying for what I call the three T  assets, TIME, TALENT and THOUGHT. Photo shoots and editing take time and it takes talent to shoot a project correctly in order to have a good turn around for the client. The Thought process is critical as you must think about your shot in depth while you are taking the picture. A PHOTOGRAPHER knows what he wants to do with an image while or in some cases before he even takes the shot. A PICTURE TAKER just presses the shutter button and crosses his fingers without a real plan of execution. I have people tell me; oh I can get it cheaper because my cousin has a camera. I used to try and discount my prices when I heard that but after years of experience I now tell them to just hire their cousin. Your cousin will show up with his camera that he just got from Wal-Mart as a gift and start snapping photos and those photos will look like, you hired your cousin.

When it comes to choosing the right photographer you must first know exactly what it is you are looking for. Do you want a journalistic style or do you want a traditional style? You have to be true to what you want as you will be disappointed if you choose a photographer that does not shoot the specific style you are looking for. I have been shooting for over 5 years and I have a great client satisfaction rate but I have also been disappointing to some clients as well because they realized that they did not like my style but loved the quality of the images. Take some time to look at the work of the photographer and ask yourself if you like both the style and the quality of the images as they go hand in hand. The time you take in the beginning with this research will assist you in making the right choice. The worst thing you can do is to go with a photographer because he is cheaper and you are not really crazy about the work, trust me this will bite you in the end. 

When you are looking at a photographers work take time to open your mind, photography is art and photographers are artists. Look at the colors of the images; look at the creativity of the image, look to see the versatility of the portfolio. You are in need of a specific type of photography so look to see if the photographer is capable of shooting it. Feel free to ask questions, if the photographer does not take time to answer them by all means avoid working with them. Communication is key as the photographer should be excited about what they do, you should see it in their work and hear it in their voice. Avoid working with a photographer that treats you like a number and makes you feel like it’s all about the money. My clients matter to me, my clients usually turn into friends and associates, my clients make me who I am as they believe in me enough to invest both money and time so they deserve and they get my very best.  

I hope my first Blog of 2013 was able to provide a bit of insight and assist you in the search for a photographer. Take your time, ask questions, definitely look at the work and you should find a perfect fit for a photographer. Your image is important to you so always remember to invest both your time and money into a well experienced photographer and you will have images that you can be proud of. I wish you guys the best in your search and I wish you guys a great day.