Where On Earth Is My Professional Photographer? At some point, you may need a professional photo taken for yourself, family, sporting event or just because you feel the urge. Obviously, the first step in identifying a potential photographer is to review his or her credentials. Since most professional photographers post their work on their websites, you could gauge their camera skills without initiating conversations - yet. If not, the photographer should be able to send you digital pictures via email when you initiate contact via their seemingly plain website. Here are other parameters to analyze when vetting potential photographers to work with, regardless if for weddings, magazines or getting your professional acting career launched: Captivation You should be captivated by a photographer’s work, period. End of discussion. If you’re turned off by anything you see, albeit angles, lighting or poses, run away quickly. Great personal photography has an energy that draws you in. For instance, if you’re so enthralled by the work of top personal photographers like Peter Hurley, you could find someone that closely resembles his technique. You should be inspired by the portfolios of your potential photographers, and captivated by their expertise. Naturalness In the world of personals, there aren’t many things worse than an over-retouched, stiff photo. Professional photos should look comfortable and natural in their pictures. Photographers should avoid unnatural, bland white settings like high school yearbook photo poses at all costs. Retouching should enhance the features of the item or person being photographed and almost be unnoticeable, if even evident at all. Conversely, retouching should not be so minimal that common nature, skin and hair imperfections are still visible. Ambience Lighting plays a huge role in personal photography. Be aware of unflattering effects caused by poor lighting such as overexposure, otherwise known as “washed out” photos. Excessive shadows should be controlled by ambient light selections, or by leveraging nature’s natural lighting through proper aperture usage. Blurry, out-of-focus shots are also “red flags” to look for when viewing a photographer’s portfolio. Diversification Professional photos, and the photographers behind their creation, will vary in look and style. Of course, your customary ‘modelesque’ performers will usually be photogenic by nature, yet how will the photographer adapt to an array of sizes, races, ages, and types? Are your physical features or type represented well in the photographer’s portfolio? Will they be able to snap photos in various wedding or beach settings, and adapt to changing scenarios? After narrowing your list of top photographers, call and schedule an interview or initial consultation to determine personality compatibility, review the cleanliness and organization of the spaces being used (if any apply), learn their professional experience, see additional portfolio work, and, if possible, review their direction of another client. Meeting with your photographer before officially booking their time is
imperative. Do not work with photographers who are apprehensive in meeting you, or ones that hand you over to their ‘trusted assistant’. It’s a ruse that won’t end well financially for you. Remember, My Friends… Your photo experience should be comparable to a rehearsal for a musical theater production, or something out of National Geographic. The photographer is your director, and is there to guide you, the participant of your own photo show, toward the best angles and expressions to accentuate your desired end results. Photographers must give direction during the shoot whether it be through a conversational approach or a more aggressive coaching style. It’s imperative that you discuss specifically what you would like captured during your photo shoot, before and during your session. You should be very comfortable communicating your ideas with the photographer, and they should be receptive to your feedback.