In this post, I’ll guide you through choosing your portrait photographer with these three helpful steps. Choosing a portrait photographer to create legacy portraits, to share with your loved ones and celebrate yourself, is no easy task. Often you will follow recommendations from other people, friends and family, but portrait photographers are not interchangeable. They all have their unique style, and what worked for your friend is not necessarily what you want for your portraits. How do you find the right portrait photographer for you? The first step is like with everything else.

Do your research on the photographer you would like to work with 

When you choose a photographer for your portrait session, take time to look at their style,

• What type of people do they photograph?
• Are they a specialist rather than a jack of all trades?
• Do they show diversity?
• Do they coach you in front of the camera?
• Can you see strong connections with their subject?
• Does their style speak to you?
• Does their image style work for your home interior?
• Is this the way you see yourself in a portrait?
• Are they open about their pricing structure?
• What type of products do they offer? Once you find a portrait photographer you like, you can start working with them. Have a conversation with them to understand the process, ask them about the session, the portrait photoshoot location, their style, whether they can help with styling, their pricing, and what you get after the session.

Clear communication, understanding your expectations, and the process will boost your confidence in being photographed. There’s nothing worse than booking a portrait session and being left wondering what’s going to happen before, during, and after the photoshoot once you’ve made a decision.

Trust your photographer

Being at ease during your photoshoot will help create a great connection with your photographer, not only will this show in the images but also make a great experience to remember. The idea of sitting in front of the camera can be daunting at first, even for experienced models, as they had to start somewhere. It is therefore essential that you trust your photographer, knowing that you are in great hands. Following their directions will help put your mind at ease when being in front of the camera. Let the photographer take care of everything, guiding you to make you look at your best and feel like a star for the day; you will have images for you and your family to treasure as a result.

Trust their knowledge and experience.

A good photographer will know how to make the best use of lighting in portraits, to let your beauty shine through and how to coach and guide you in front of the camera.

Light is a fantastic tool; don’t think it only works for 17-year-old models. Knowing how to use light is such a beautiful skill that I can’t stop learning about it, it is like a painter playing with a brush, you can decide to add a touch of light to shape a face or with shadows and make it look more defined. I can’t get enough of playing around with lighting and challenging myself. 

Whatever the source of the lighting, natural light or studio light, your chosen photographer will know exactly how to light your portrait to create a signature portrait and trust me, you will be mesmerised by the results. 

Are you closer to booking a portrait session? If you have more questions about what you can expect from a portrait session, please do get in touch.

Get in touch to learn more about a photoshoot with Rachel.