Hiring a reasonably priced photographer
We've all see the posts on social media - "Photographer wanted! Must be reasonably priced, we only need a few pictures!"
Often what constitutes "reasonably priced" is in the order of no more than a couple of hundred dollars, if that, and to be fair there are photographers who can and do takes those gigs. Everyone knows what you gain - photos at a good price - but what do you risk losing with a cheaper option?
Pre-session planning:
I used to think that what differentiated me from other photographers was "Time", but what I've come to realize is not that Time itself was the factor, but what I did with it. For starters, I always set up a phone call to get to know my clients and talk to them - literally asking "How do you want to be seen?" That kind of genuine interest is missing when all you have to do is pay a deposit and click a date on a calendar to secure your session. It can make all the difference - Kiran revealed that in previous photoshoots his bald head and been very shiny and distracting. I was able to reassure him that a polarizing filter would reduce reflections and he would have nothing to worry about. I also made sure to select the kind of color film that would accentuate the bright red of the new car he wanted to use in his session! I might otherwise have selected a more typical "portrait" film stock that has a more muted palette.
Kiran's photoshoot entirely met his expectations, thanks to a pre-session call and good planning
I also want all my clients to have everything planned and in place ahead of time - it's very common for people to text or email me photos of their outfit choices so I can help with advice on selection and fit, choosing clothes that will work best for a photoshoot. I share my blog post on what to wear so they can see for themselves the kind of possibilities - far better than being left to your own devices! Not only does this help the client with narrowing down a selection, but I'm also planning my shot list and what can be done with the time and space we have for the session.
Location also obviously makes all the difference. One client told me how she absolutely didn't want a beach session, as every other local photographer she had seen had similar-looking beach sessions. We ended up going for a modern, urban vibe with a session in downtown Jacksonville! Some people feel peaceful in nature, others feel calm and safe at home. Knowing the strengths and limitations of what a particular location can bring to a photoshoot well before arriving on site helps a lot with planning the kind of images we can get out of it. While I'm happy to suggest different options, and my preferred favorites, I'm also open to whatever the client feels would work for them - and that kind of personalized approach is less common when a photographer is committed to multiple (often short) back-to-back sessions in one location.
This is one reason why I don't offer mini-sessions - the amount of work I put in to customize my photoshoots for my clients means that it would simply be too much to do for 5, 10, 15 sessions in a single day...but if you want photos that look like everyone else's, I guess that's fine too.
The photoshoot experience:
During the session itself I'm not just pressing a button to take the picture, and it goes beyond simply knowing how to use a camera well. I would say that most people who have ended up in front of my camera have never had a personal portraiture session. The standard posing common to most photographers works well for standard portraits, but I coach my clients on tips and tricks for posing that are flattering, make for more interesting photos, and often spark a bit of inspiration for ideas of their own! I love it when a client starts to come alive and suggest poses or scenes to try, not just because it adds variety, but more so because it's those looks that are often the most natural and personal. I also draw on my insights from fashion photography, to use movement and the environment to create a distinctive look that separates my clients from the crowd. And quite apart from having the technical expertise to create outstanding images, if nothing else my photoshoots are fun! It's been a recurring theme to hear that people previously anxious or with a personal dislike of having their picture taken have come away from their sessions with me with a great sense of personal achievement and having genuinely enjoyed their time in front of the camera. I think this comes from helping them feel comfortable, confident, and capable in how they pose and move.
Just some of the feedback I've had after my sessions - often before they've even seen the photos!
Again I think this come down to time - my sessions are usually a minimum of an hour, so there's no rush, no pressure, and lots of opportunities to try something different or practice a particular pose or look to get it just right! For me and my clients, the photoshoot experience itself is as much a thing of value as the pictures you get at the end of it, and you simply can't recreate the same thing with a shorter, impersonal session. What this means at the end of the day is a wider variety of photos to choose from, and images that show a happy, relaxed client instead of just set poses and fixed smiles.
Aftercare:
Any photographer will tell you that more work goes into the photos after the session than it takes to capture them, and that's as true for me as it is for anyone else. Whereas most photographers these days I think spend time retouching and editing their photos - in fact a lot of a photographer's style can come from their edits! - I put just as much time into the hands-on developing and scanning of the film from my sessions. I don't like retouching a client to make them "look better" - I prefer to use posing, angles, light, and lens choices to do that work for me. To that point though, the time and effort that a reasonably priced photographer can put into your images is simply going to be less than someone who can afford (literally) to do more for your photos. It's worth thinking about the fact that many photographers take several weeks to turnaround photo edits, but it's not because it takes that long to do the work - it's because they have a backlog of clients to get through before they can work on yours! Your photos simply aren't a priority to them until they can get around to it, and simple economics means that they have to work with more clients to cover their business expenses.
And it's all too easy, I know, to send a client a gallery and have them chose their favorite photos to download or print. Photographers who are less selective with the photos they capture or cull will present dozens (or hundreds!) of similar-looking photos for clients to choose their favorites, whereas I'm showing them the 1-2 best shots of each specific pose. It makes the job of image selection that much easier when you only have to chose the poses you like the most, not the best *version* of a pose... My approach is more personal - with the switch to my new print vendor I am doing in-person image review and product selection. This includes advice on sizing, print type, and even virtual demonstrations of how the final product will look on the wall or in your hand! Seeing how your final photos will look has proven to be a huge improvement in feeling confident about choosing large-format images and high-end products.
Large prints for the win! Two of these clients bought after seeing examples in real life.
The Bottom Line
You have to ask yourself what you really want out of a photoshoot. Do you simply want photographs to post on social media at the best possible price? Well then, there are plenty of photographers who can do that for you. But do you perhaps want help with planning the session, a personal guide to help you with your vision and concept? Are you a pro with light and angles to capture your best look without thinking, or do you need help knowing how to present yourself? Are you ready to knock out a series of standard shots in quick succession, or do you want time to warm up and find your own unique groove? Do you want to sort through the blinks, squints, and less-flattering photos yourself, or do you want to see a carefully curated selection with a wide variety of different looks? And lastly, do you just want digitals to do your own thing with, or do you want a visual presentation of the best options for displaying your art in your home?
When it comes to photography, you may find that added value is more important than a number on an invoice.