There are many things that go into choosing the right photographer to capture your family’s yearly, seasonal, milestone or holiday photos.  I know when I have gone to choose a photographer the first things that come to mind are what is the photographer’s style? What do they charge and what is included? Where will the session be located.

Being a photographer I know the more in depth questions to ask the photographer I plan on hiring so that I get all the information I need or that may be useful. Today I am sharing some of those questions so that when you are looking to hire a photographer, you can ask these questions as well so you can make the most informed decision possible!

5 QUESTIONS TO ASK YOUR PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHER:

What is included in the session price?

This is a question that is fairly common.  Most people want to know what they are getting for the $XXX when they hire their photographer.  Some photographers employ a “shoot and share” model.  This means that their packages are all inclusive and you will be getting your digital images as part of your session price.  For me, as I employ this model, that means my clients get a PASS gallery of their images and they can download them, share them on social media and print them through an awesome pro lab right from their gallery.  Other photographers use “In Person Sales.” This means that when you pay for your session you are generally only paying for the session time and the photographers time and talent.  This generally does not include any digital images or prints unless the package you choose specifies so.  There is general a separate viewing session when you will sit down with the photographer and view your images and order which prints you would like.  Photographers who employ this model generally care significantly higher for digital files and they prefer their clients to have printed images.

What time do you shoot?

Generally speaking most photographers like to shoot at what is known as “golden hour.”  This time is 60-90 minutes before sunset and lends the most beautiful lighting.  I personally prefer to shoot at this time of day, but in cases when I am traveling and only have a couple days to have session and I have multiple clients wanting sessions I will shoot outside of this time.

What should I bring?

This is a great question.  I advise my clients that if there are any “props” that they would like in the photographs with them that they should bring it with them to their session.  This includes but is not limited to pets, blankets, furniture etc.

Timeline for getting photos back?

This can vary dramatically from one photographer to another.  I guarantee my portrait clients will have their images within two weeks for standard sessions and one week for mini sessions.  Some photographers may take 6-8 weeks so it is important to ask so you can have clear expectations.  If you need the images back in a certain time period it is also important to communicate that with your photographer.

Can I print my images?

For photographers who use the shoot and share model they will generally provide their clients with a print release.  A print release is very different from a copyright release so be sure to clarify this with your photographer.  A print release allows you to print your images through any lab you wish.  A copyright release would allow you or a third party to edit the images.

Are there any questions you have? I would love to hear from you!