How to Choose Your Family Photographer: A Comprehensive Guide

Family photographs are cherished mementos that capture special moments, preserve memories, and tell the story of your family’s journey. Whether it’s a newborn’s first smile, a child’s graduation, or a milestone family reunion, finding the right family photographer is crucial to ensuring those moments are captured beautifully. In this guide, we’ll explore the essential steps to help you choose the perfect family photographer for your needs.

Define Your Photography Style

The first step in choosing a family photographer is to determine your preferred photography style. Do you want candid, natural shots, or do you prefer posed and formal portraits? Are you more drawn to vibrant, colorful images or subdued, timeless black and white photos? Clarifying your style preferences will guide your photographer selection process.

Candid Moments:
- Definition: Candid photography is all about capturing spontaneous, unposed moments. It seeks to document genuine emotions and real-life situations. The photographer’s role is to be an observer and capture people in their natural state without any intervention.
- Characteristics: Candid photography is characterized by authenticity, unscripted moments, and a lack of forced poses. These images often reflect the true personality and emotions of the subjects. They can range from a child’s laughter to a couple’s stolen glance.
Portrait Poses:
- Definition: Portrait photography, on the other hand, involves more staged and posed shots. The photographer has greater control over the composition, lighting, and subject’s posture. The goal is often to create striking, artistic, and aesthetically pleasing images.
- Characteristics: Portrait photography emphasizes the subject’s visual appeal and can involve various poses. It aims to make the subject look their best and can include individual, family, or group shots. Lighting plays a critical role in achieving a polished and professional look.
Moody Styles:
- Definition: Moody photography focuses on conveying a specific feeling or atmosphere in the images. This style often employs creative lighting, color grading, and composition to evoke emotions and set a mood.
- Characteristics: Moody and atmospheric photography can vary widely in terms of emotions conveyed. It might include dreamy, romantic, dramatic, or even dark and mysterious tones. The choice of lighting, editing, and scenery can strongly influence the overall mood of the photographs.
Light and Airy Styles:
- Definition: Light and airy photography is known for its bright, well-lit, and soft aesthetic. This style often features pastel colors, gentle contrasts, and a sense of freshness.
- Characteristics: Light and airy photography typically uses natural light and soft, diffused lighting techniques. It creates images that appear airy and ethereal, which is particularly popular for newborn, maternity, family and wedding photography.
Black and White (Monochrome) Styles:
- Definition: Black and white photography strips away color to focus on form, texture, and emotion. It offers a timeless and classic look.
- Characteristics: Monochrome images are known for their simplicity and elegance. They can bring out the fine details and expressions of the subjects, as color distractions are eliminated. This style is often used for artistic and documentary photography. Most photographer will include black and white photos inside your gallery.

Research and Recommendations

In today’s digital age, social media has become a powerful tool for researching and connecting with family photographers. Here are some steps to consider:

Leverage Social Media Platforms: Social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and even Pinterest are treasure troves of visual content. Many professional photographers maintain active profiles showcasing their work, style, and personality. These platforms are invaluable for getting a sneak peek into their portfolios and daily activities.
Follow and Engage: Once you’ve identified potential photographers, follow their social media accounts. This not only provides an opportunity to see their latest work but also to gauge their personality and interests. Engaging with their posts, liking, commenting, and asking questions can help you establish a connection and assess if your energies align.
Story Highlights and Stories: Many photographers use Instagram Stories and Story Highlights to offer behind-the-scenes glimpses of their work, personal life, and even client testimonials. Pay attention to these to understand the photographer’s working process and values.
Google Reviews: Google reviews are often a trusted source of feedback, and they can be especially informative when evaluating a family photographer. People who have had a photography session with the photographer may leave detailed reviews on Google, covering various aspects of their experience. These reviews are typically visible when you search for the photographer’s business name or visit their Google Maps listing.
Diverse Perspectives: Google reviews often come from a diverse range of clients, including those who may not be active on social media. This means you’re likely to find a broader spectrum of opinions and experiences, which can offer a more balanced and comprehensive view of the photographer’s work.
Look for Consistency: When reading reviews, be on the lookout for consistent feedback on aspects that are essential to you. Whether it’s the photographer’s ability to work well with children, the quality of the final images, or their responsiveness to client inquiries, consistency in the reviews can be a good indicator of what you can expect.
Ensure Your Energies Align: It’s not just about the quality of their work; it’s also about personal compatibility. When following a photographer on social media, pay attention to their tone, values, and interests. Ensuring that your energies align and that you share a similar vision can be crucial in creating a comfortable and productive working relationship.

Review Portfolios

Once you have a list of potential photographers, it’s time to review their portfolios.When evaluating a photographer’s work, it’s essential to take a two-step approach. Firstly, explore their website to get an initial sense of their style and capabilities. Following this, consider requesting a full gallery for a more in-depth assessment:

Start with the Photographer’s Website

Begin your evaluation by visiting the photographer’s website. Their website is often a curated space where they showcase their best and most representative work. This initial visit can give you a sense of their style, artistic approach, and the quality of their images. However, it’s essential to keep in mind that a photographer’s website should be regularly updated.

Photographer’s websites serve as an ongoing showcase of their skills and recent work. An up-to-date website not only reflects their commitment to their craft but also provides a current and accurate representation of their capabilities. It’s a sign of professionalism and dedication to their clients.

If a photographer’s website is not regularly updated, it may indicate a lack of attention to their online presence or a gap in their recent work. In such cases, it’s especially important to check their portfolio carefully to ensure that the showcased work is still representative of their current abilities and style.

Check below a few examples of what a portfolio looks like:

Request a Full Gallery

After perusing the website and identifying a photographer whose work resonates with you, it’s a good idea to request a full gallery. A full gallery is a collection of photos from a single session, providing a comprehensive view of their work. This allows you to see not only their best shots but also the entire body of work from that session.

Look for Variety: Pay close attention to the variety of photos in the portfolio. A skilled family photographer should be able to capture a wide range of images, including:

Family All Together: Shots that feature the entire family in one frame, showcasing unity and togetherness.
Mom and the Kids: Individual shots of the mom with the children, capturing the unique bond.
Dad and the Kids: Similar to the above but focusing on the dad’s connection with the children.
All Kids Together: Group shots that highlight the sibling dynamics and interactions.
Portrait of Each One: Individual portraits of each family member, showing their personalities.
Candid Moments: Images that capture spontaneous, genuine emotions and interactions among family members.
Posed Portraits: More formal and structured shots that emphasize the family’s appearance and overall aesthetic.
Creative Composition: Look for creativity and innovation in how the photographer composes and frames the shots. This can add a unique touch to your family photos.

Budget Considerations

Determine your budget for family photography and discuss it with potential photographers. Be transparent about your budget limitations, but also be open to negotiation. Keep in mind that the cost of a photographer often reflects their experience and the quality of their work. it’s essential to remember that a good photographer won’t be cheap. Here’s why:

Quality Comes at a Price: Photography is an art and a skill that demands not only creativity but also professional equipment, editing software, and time. A talented and experienced photographer invests in their craft to deliver exceptional results. Quality photographers typically charge fees that reflect their expertise and the value they provide.
Investment in Memories: Family photographs are a lasting investment in your memories. While it’s tempting to seek budget-friendly options, it’s important to prioritize the quality of the images. A skilled photographer will capture the essence of your family, creating photographs that you’ll cherish for years to come.
Consider the Full Package: When assessing the cost of a photographer, keep in mind that it often includes not only the session itself but also the post-processing, editing, and the final delivery of your images. A professional photographer ensures that every aspect of your experience, from the shoot to the final product, meets high standards.
Comparing Value, Not Just Price: Instead of solely focusing on finding the lowest price, consider the value you’ll receive. A higher-priced photographer may offer a more comprehensive package, including better equipment, a skilled team, and a commitment to delivering exceptional results.

While it’s understandable to have budget constraints, investing in a reputable photographer is often a wise decision. The quality of the photographs and the overall experience will likely be worth the expense. Prioritize the value and memories that a good photographer can create for your family, and consider it an investment rather than an expenditure.

Hiring a Photographer With a Legitimate Business

When hiring a family photographer, it’s vital to choose one with a legitimate business and insurance. A registered business assures professionalism, clear contracts, and adherence to legal requirements, while insurance coverage, including liability, equipment, and professional indemnity insurance, offers protection against unforeseen incidents or accidents. These elements provide peace of mind, mitigate risks, and reflect the photographer’s commitment to their craft, ensuring you receive a secure and high-quality photography experience.

Get a Contract

Never hire a family photographer without a clear, written contract. The contract should outline all the details, including the services provided, pricing, delivery timeline, and any other terms and conditions. It protects both you and the photographer and ensures that you have a shared understanding of the project.

Trust Your Instincts

Trusting your instincts is a vital part of choosing the right family photographer. It involves assessing your comfort and chemistry with the photographer, ensuring a shared vision, gauging professionalism and reliability, aligning with their portfolio, and being vigilant for any red flags. Your instincts help you find a photographer who not only possesses the technical skills but also resonates with your family’s personality, ensuring your moments are beautifully preserved.

In the end, your instincts can serve as a valuable guide in selecting a family photographer who not only possesses the technical skills but also resonates with your family’s personality and values. Photography is not just about capturing images; it’s about encapsulating emotions and telling your family’s unique story. So, now that you have all this knowledge, trust your instincts in choosing the photographer who best aligns with your vision and makes you feel confident that your moments will be beautifully preserved.