Picture this (no pun intended), you google “Dallas Family Photographer” and you are hit with 100’s of options and you have no idea how to choose. Maybe you have even been there yourself. If you have, you know how overwhelming it can be. In this post, I highlight a few things to look into when you are figuring out how to choose your Dallas Family Photographer.
I will be the first to tell you that meshing with your photographer will make a HUGE difference in how “successful” your session will be. There are two key factors to research when choosing your Dallas family photographer: their personality and their shooting/editing style. Of course, there are other factors that go into this, but I find these two to be the ones that make the biggest difference.
Choosing Your Dallas Family Photographer Factor One: Their Personality
If you are a family who likes a lot of direction and aren’t super comfortable in front of the camera, you probably need a Dallas photographer who gives a lot of directions and is very good at “setting up” shots. If you are a family who have free spirited kids who thrive on being able to explore and march to the beat of their own drum, you may need a photographer who is a great observer. This is someone who has a keen eye and is very flexible. Someone who sees moments as they happen and know how to effectively and beautifully document that.
Now you may be thinking, okay that sounds great. Or, that makes sense, but how do I know which a photographer is? Here are a few tips!
- Read the about me section on the photographer’s website! I know sometimes people skip over this and just jump straight to looking at the photographer’s portfolio. Don’t make this mistake! You will be able to get a sense of a photographer’s personality by reading what they have to say about themselves.
- Read their captions! A lot of times Dallas photographers will describe how they got some shots in their captions. If you notice photographer’s mentioning letting kids play and be themselves, they are probably someone who does a lot of observing during sessions.
- Look at the photographer’s portfolio. If you see a Dallas photographer highlighting photos that are playful and seem to be “in-between”, they are most likely someone who enjoys observing and documenting families as they are. If you see that the photographer is highlighting a lost posed photos and classic smiling shots, they are probably your more traditional “shot list” type of photographer.
Choosing Your Dallas Family Photographer Factor Two: Their Shooting/Editing Style
If you are someone who has researched photographer’s before, you know there are a wide array of photography styles out there. There are photographers out there who are really versed in your classic shot. You know, the ones that grandma wants to frame over her fireplace. Then you have photographers who want to tell a family’s story. They do so by capturing the in between moments and the details.
Shooting Style
So, one of the most important things you can do as a client is decide what you value in a session and what kind of photos you want. If you were to receive a gallery from your photographer and you are disappointed to see a lot of shots that are candid and moment focused, you probably need to be looking for someone who focuses more on the “classic” portrait shots. If you look at your gallery and are sad to see a lot of posed, smiling photos – you should probably be looking for someone who tells a story with their photos. This is probably a photographer who uses terms like “lifestyle/documentary/candid” photos when describing their style.
So, how do you figure this out before booking?
- Look at what they are posting on Instagram. As a photographer we are told to “post what you want to shoot more of”. So, if you are seeing a photographer posting mostly candid, playful images that’s more than likely what they want to be shooting. Now, I am not saying that they only take these kind of photos – this is just most likely what they value the most.
- Take a peak at galleries they are featuring on their websites. A lot of photographers will feature some of their favorite sessions on their websites, and this will give you a great idea of what they put the most value in.
- Ask the photographer! Yep, you read that right! A photographer will be so happy to know that you care about what they value. So, don’t be afraid to ask “what kind of shooting style would you say you have?” or “I am value xxxx when receiving a gallery, would you think that is something that aligns with how you shoot?”. I promise the photographer (if they are good) will be HAPPY that you asked before you book! If they aren’t, well….that’s a good clue as to whether you should book them or not.
- Ask to see a full gallery! A lot of photographer’s will have a few galleries that they send out to give you an idea of what a complete gallery looks like.
Editing Style
A lot goes into a photographer’s editing style. Truth be told, how a photographer shoots a photo before they edit plays a huge roll. I won’t go into the technical side of things because you will probably find that to be boring, but I will give you the highlights.
Most photographers fall into one of two categories: strictly soft light/golden hour shooters or photographers who like shadows, contrast and enjoy playing with different lighting variables. However, you will sometimes find a Dallas photographer who values both, I like to think I fall into this category!
Other Factors to Consider
- Pricing Structure
- All Inclusive Pricing: Pay total up-front and images are included in this price
- Session Fee + A la Carte: A fee to reserve the session and book your spot, but then there will be additional required costs for digitals and prints.
- Experience
- How long a photographer has been shooting will tell you a lot about how much they are worth. Experience is worth more than its weight in gold!
- Trust
- As a Dallas family photographer, I cannot emphasize enough how important trust is. Ultimately, trusting who you choose to photograph your family will go a really long way. A photographer can sense whether or not you trust them by how willing and relaxed you are during a session. So, please, choose someone that is easy for you to trust their expertise!
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Lakin Stearns is a Dallas and Fort Worth photographer who specializes in at-home newborn sessions and relaxed, documentary style family photography. She prides herself in being able to observe families and naturally capture special moments between all members of the family. She offers a client closet full of dresses for moms, shirts for dad, and outfits for babies and young kids. She has a joyful personality that puts families at ease. Check out Heartful Magazine to see some of her featured work.