Portrait & Wedding Photography

Q. What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?

A. Find someone whose style fits with what you are looking for. Go for people whose pictures you will be happy with at the end of the day. I believe that it's worth paying a bit more for if that's what it takes to get something that you are going to love.

Also, be sure to communicate clearly if there is something specific that you are looking for. A photographer isn't always going to give you a specific image or pose that you are looking for if you don't let them know that you want it. Communication is key.

It is also good to trust your photographer, trust does need to be earned but you can earn trust by seeing their other work. If you trust them then you will most likely have a better experience and get better photos.

Last but not least, be willing to try things that seem new or maybe a tad uncomfortable. If you are really uncomfortable be sure to inform the photographer but if it is just taking you a bit outside of what you think would look good, be flexible. You may be surprised at what comes out!

Q. If you were a customer, what do you wish you knew about your trade? Any inside secrets to share?

A. A big one is that it usually takes a quite bit of work and time behind the scenes in order to get you the finished product. It is a lot more time than just the specific time you spend with the photographer. When I do a shoot I've usually spent time researching ideas for it and/or finding equipment and/or practicing new techniques. I always try to arrive early so that I can scout out the area and plan out ideas of what shots to take and where good areas are. Then I take the photos with you. Then I go home and upload them onto my computer, delete blurry ones and sort the good from the best, and then I may do some editing to the colors, and then I have to export them and get them to you which can either mean burning a disc or sending it to you digitally. All of that takes time, some estimates are that it is about two hours of behind the scenes work per hour of shooting.

One other note is that if you find a photographer whose work you love, you are paying them more for their creative eye and ability to capture you in a certain way than for the actual time they spend with you. Creativity is worth the investment.

Q. What questions should a consumer ask to hire the right service professional?

A. If you are forthcoming at the beginning with what you are looking for, how many people will be involved, what the end goal is of the photos, etc then you will be able to ask the photographer if that is something they can do much more easily.

Don't be afraid to ask questions of things you are curious about, photographers work with people all of the time so they should be easy to relate to and willing to talk.

Ask about their prices up front and whether or not your images are included in the price or if you will have to purchase prints later. This will make a big difference in your ability to work with your photos after the shoot.