With so many photographers out there it can be overwhelming to find the right one for your senior. And, typically, it’s a big investment. This only happens once!!! Senior pictures are an important milestone and a celebration of your kiddo coming into their own. Likely the next time they will be photographed professionally will be on their wedding day (a long, long time from now, right? haha)
So to help in your search to find the perfect Atlanta senior photographer match, here are some tips I’ve come up with after 15 years of experience, both as a professional photographer and as a portrait client.
1) The best place to start in your search for a great senior photographer is with referrals from friends.
Some of your friends will have already had their child's senior pictures created. Ask your friends if they were happy with the way the photographer interacted with their senior. Did they get their images when promised? How was the quality of their gallery as a whole? And the most important question, would they use their photographer again? Someone who has gone through the entire senior portraits process with a photographer will be able to gauge the experience from start to finish.
That being said, don’t choose a photographer just because your friend did. Your senior's needs could be very different. Which leads me to point two…
2) Not all photographers are created equal.
Photographers typically have a unique style and one or two specialties. Look at their body of work and gauge whether or not their style matches what you are looking for. Is there a variety in the images or are they all basically the same? Do you want a big sky artistic shot of your senior? Then you probably don’t want to choose a photographer whose website only displays light & airy, overexposed (white) sky images. Look at the eyes and expressions too. Do the seniors look comfortable and like they are having fun? Choose a photographer who specializes in what you want done. Not doing so could lead to disappointment with your child's senior photos.
3) Ask to see an entire gallery.
Almost anyone can come up with a handful of decent images from a session to post on social media or their website. However, not all photographers can produce an entire gallery of great images. To get a better sense of the scope of a photographer's work ask to see an entire gallery from a recent session. See if their work is consistent. Does the editing look natural or more porcelain doll-like? How about the poses? Candids are fun, but a true professional photographer will know how to use light and shadow and how to pose a person to look their absolute best for their body type all while making it look effortless and fun. Angles and perspectives are important too. Any disproportionate heads, hands or feet? Seniors shouldn't look like bobble head toys! Are their images sharp and in focus? Look at the background of the images. Are there any distracting elements? Can they use light well? This is most noticeable in the eyes. They should sparkle! Were they able to tell a story? Do you feel like you got to know the senior from that session just by looking through their gallery?
4) Price
Price can be a big factor. Sometimes it can be the deciding factor. I get it! Senior portraits are an investment and you will want to invest wisely. One of the most important things to figure out is what is included in the cost of the session.
Sometimes a photographer may look inexpensive. However, once you factor in prints, digitals, and any additional fees (like retouching) they could end up being the most expensive of the photographers you are looking into. If something is unclear ask for clarification before you sign a contract.
And know that if a photographer is very inexpensive you may want to ask yourself, “why are they so inexpensive?”.
A professional will have invested in quality lighting, great camera and BACKUP equipment, not something that can be purchased at a wholesale club.
Let's talk about what might happen years from now if you need quick access to your images again. Will your images truly be safe over the years if they need to be reaccessed? Will that photographer still be in business? Doubtful if you are bargain shopping for senior pictures.
Do they have liability insurance? What happens on the off chance that someone is injured during a session? This certainly isn't something anyone wants to think about, but anything can happen in life. Who would be responsible in that event??
Are they booking ten sessions a week and won’t have the time to give your senior the attention he or she deserves? You must factor in a photographer's time invested in your session (we average about 15-20 hours per senior from start to finish here at our studio), their expertise and time in the industry, as well as their overhead costs when taking into account their pricing.
If a deal is too good to be true it probably is. And like all things in life, you get what you pay for.
6) Get to know the photographer.
Be sure to visit the photographer's About Page on their website. You can usually get a good sense of their personality there. Check out their blog and social media pages too. Are they current and posting recently and consistently? Do you like them? Have things in common? Feel like you could be friends in real life? If yes, you are usually on the right path. The clients that I click with best are the ones that feel like they know me before we even meet in person for the first time. And we usually end up being friends. If you are still unsure if you click, schedule a phone call to chat. If you don’t feel a connection, move on down the road. You want to feel confident and comfortable with your senior photographer!
7) Most importantly, your photographer should be someone you trust.
If you feel the need to send your photographer a Pinterest board with your favorite poses for them to follow, you probably don’t trust them. Do you want unique and artistic images that are true to your child? Or do you want the same cookie cutter images that other people already have? Your photographer should have a vision for your senior. And if you’ve chosen the right photographer you will trust them and their vision.
Once you find a photographer you love, stick with them! I love documenting all the siblings' senior photos as my families grow. I love when everyone is excited to see me, even though I may only see them in person every few years. And I feel each session gets better because I am connected with that family on a deeper level every time we shoot. There is nothing better than feeling as if you are a part of that family.
So there you have it. I know it can be intimidating and a little stressful. There's a lot to consider and I know you only want the best for your baby. All that being said, I would love to be your senior photographer! And if it's not me, hey that's ok! We're still cool. Best of luck to all of you upcoming senior parents in choosing the photographer that fits your child the best! If you are interested in a custom session for your senior, please let me know :)
You can give me a call at 678.565.8101 or click the button below to receive our Senior Magazine!
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