SEARCHING FOR A PHOTOGRAPHER?
POV: You have a milestone coming up (engagement, wedding, need a new LinkedIn profile) and are searching for a photographer.
I get it. It can be overwhelming. Like, holy shit, there are a ton of photographers out there and knowing where to start can feel like you're needing to learn another language within a day.
It's a lot.
But fear not, here are several things to do when searching for your perfect photographer match.
- Do your online research. Go to Google, Instagram, Facebook and search for what kind of photographer you need. Ask yourself "Do I need a wedding photographer?" "Portrait photographer?" "Event photographer?" The internet and apps these days are your go-to FREE places to find the right photographer for you.
- Ask friends and family. Reach out to friends and family who may have hired a photographer before. If your friends/family members felt comfortable with a particular photographer, you might too! It's okay if you don't vibe with the wedding photographer you friend hired though, everyone is different and that's okay.
- Look for a photographer whose style you like. I cannot express this enough. You must hire a photographer that has a style you're in love with. Getting photos back after your session with a style you're not a fan of, not only makes you feel crummy and like you wasted money but it also makes the photographer feel crummy for wasting your time. If you like bright and airy, find a bright and airy photographer, if you like dark and moody, find a photographer that does that.
- Talk with at least a few different photographers. You don't want to hire a photographer until you talk with them. I know, I know.... being on the phone and actually talking can cause a bit of anxiety. I'm a huge advocate for emails and texting but if you don't talk with the photographer, you won't be able to feel them out. I'm all about vibes. If you don't vibe with your first pick, that's okay. It may sting but I promise you, there is a photographer out there for everyone.
- Found the photographer but haven't booked yet? Perfect. Now go look at their socials. See how they interact with their followers, what they say about other clients. If you see them talking shit...RUN. Seriously. There's enough bad mouthing, shit talking, controversial stuff in the world, don't work with someone who adds to it.
- Finally, book them. You probably saw I didn't say anything about a budget. Yes, it's important to follow a budget and making sure you're not going more into debt than you already are for that wedding your mother wanted for you but do not 86 a photographer because they're slightly out of your price range. You never know how they're going to make you feel or what they can do to assist you when it comes to your investment. But that's just it. It's an investment. You will always get what you paid for. Remember that invest in the photographer, the photographer will invest in you.
Know someone who is on the search but know idea how? Share this with them to make their lives easier.
