The art of choosing your photographer..
We can all agree that there are an abundance of incredible photographers out there today, making it harder and harder to choose who to book with - but what I want you to know is that there is an art in making the decision on the right one for YOU.
Yes, of coarse - I want to be chosen to photograph every single mother on the planet - although I stand in my truth knowing that I am NOT the photographer for everyone and that is ok.
The art that I create is not for those that love the plain and simple point and shoots, or the over crowded station of props setup in a studio. Those who adore all the blues and bright summer tones..
I am a photographer who strips things back - I adore what photography looked like back in the day where there was only film. I adore everything close & intimate, for you to be feeling emotion running through your veins when viewing my work.
“Seeing is not enough. You have to feel what you photograph!”
While you may see a fabulous photographer flooding your feeds, taking images of friends & family or simply popping up in your sponsored posts - I want you to ask yourself; is this MY photographer?
Truth bomb: One photographer is NOT the photographer for everyone!
Why? Because we all have different stories, different styles and different values and I believe that your photographer should tick EVERY one of your boxes… not just have the ‘right’ price tag!
So let’s break down some simple questions to check in and ask yourself before booking your next photography session:
1. Is this photographer going to tell MY story?
Are you confident that this artist is telling each client’s story? Or are they simply comfortable in their own style? Unfortunately we see this a lot and while it is okay for some, for those who thrive to be different - it just won’t cut it.
At the end of the day, the images that you want to walk away with are the ones that tell YOUR story - not somebody else’s.
The story that begins and ends with you.
A story that nobody else can bring to life but YOU and your loves, in whatever way that comes to life at your session.
While every photographer can capture an image of a family - I don’t believe every photographer can capture the elements and emotion that documentary / portrait imagery should entail and that is simply because not every photographer is a story teller.
What do I mean by this? We have a variety of photographers - portrait photographers, lifestyle, documentary, landscape, commercial, travel… the list goes on. But not EVERY photographer is going to be able to tell the story of a family like another.
If you are drawn to the imagery you see within my work - you will be striving for a Documentary Lifestyle style of session - where each and every session is brought to life by the participants in-front of the lens allowing their story to unravel.
2. Am I booking based off of the look of someone else’s session, or because I have connected with this artists work for sometime?
One thing I would always recommend to a dream client of mine is that they are comfortable in allowing themselves to be seen - not in a ‘strip down, naked’ type of way (totally ok if so!) - but that they are ready to bring their vulnerability to the table because they have simply connected with my art for sometime and are confident that I am the right person to bring their story to life. They have viewed my work online and have FELT something each and every time.
If you haven’t connected with the photographer in some way - be it having followed them on socials and LOVING what you see, seen the artist behind the business; emailed them and received an email response back that LIGHTS YOU UP from the minute you see their response - then chances are you are going to feel nervous around them and find it hard to really open up infront of their lens.
*Of coarse, it is totally normal to feel nervous about your session, but if you are working with the right photographer for you - you will feel at home pretttttty quickly!
Remember what I’ve mentioned above about the artist telling YOUR story - you want to ensure this is going to be the case from the very beginning, not questioning if you’ll be able to get great images with this photographer.
So, sit and ask yourself - Am I booking this photographer purely based off of what I have seen from my cousins session - or have I felt their work for sometime and am comfortable in knowing they connect with each of their clients in the way that is meant for their session?
*HINT: If you don’t get a full body YES when going to click that booking button - then it is a NO! Give yourself more time to find your perfect match.
3. Do I admire the style of this photographer’s art or am I booking them because of their price?
The greatest gift a photographer can give to you is the true value of their art and them owning that in themselves.
While yes, some photographers are cheaper than others (in their own choice), let’s not take away the fact that a lot goes into each aspect of a photography session.
So let’s ensure you’re confident in the style of art that this photographer produces and you’re not going to sit in a pit of regret later, wishing you had invested in the more pricier one that you admired that bit more.
If working with your dream photographer means saving a little bit more - then I promise you, it will be worth it!
““Owning your story is the bravest thing you can do””
Sure, we as photographers often have a vision for how we would like to see images come to life, but we as artists are only the ones bringing the vision to life of the story in front of our lens.
I will always leave a session trusting that the imagery that we captured, was the story that wanted to be told. There isn’t a “shot list”, “everyone sit and smile”.. there is a sense of warmth and spontaneity within each session I bring to life and it is a true honour to capture the memories of you all in this very moment in time.
