We’ve shared a lot of information for budding photographers to help them get their business off the ground, but what if you just want to find a great photographer to shoot your holiday pictures? High-quality pictures are a worthwhile investment, and knowing who to trust with your family portraits or special event can be a big challenge. Here are a few things to keep in mind as you’re looking for a photographer.

Determine What Style You Like

Before you even begin browsing through the portfolios of local photographers, it’s important to figure out what style of photography you like. If you’re drawn to sharp, high-contrast pictures, then you may want to find a photographer that has a flair for the dramatic. If you prefer a classic style with formal poses or a lifestyle, photojournalistic style with lots of candid shots, then you’ll want to find a photographer whose portfolio showcases that style. While most professional photographers can shoot a range of different styles, if there’s something specific that you love, then you’ll want to find a photographer who specializes in that.

Weigh the Pros and Cons of Amateur vs. Professional

Deciding whether you want to hire an amateur photographer or a professional photographer is tough. Hiring a professional photographer doesn’t necessarily guarantee that you’ll end up with high-quality pictures that you love, and hiring an amateur doesn’t automatically mean that you won’t.

Professional photographers are more experienced, but they may also be set in their ways and have a difficult time adapting to new requests. Amateurs may be more flexible and eager to adapt to those new requests, but they may lack the experience to deal with photographic changes, such as different types of lighting.

Generally speaking, amateur photographers are cheaper; sometimes, much cheaper. Unfortunately, you often get exactly what you pay for. A seasoned photographer may cost more, but in most cases, the quality that they provide is worth the extra money.

Read Some Reviews

Most serious photographers have a social media presence, making it easy to see what their previous clients have to say about them. Once you’ve narrowed down the style that you prefer and have found a few photographers that will be able to provide the mood and style you’re looking for, browse through their feedback to see how much is positive, how much is negative, and how the photographer responded.

Schedule an Interview

Meeting beforehand is just as important for you as it is for your photographer. Scheduling an interview will give you an opportunity beforehand to make sure that your personalities are compatible and that your vision for the event is understood and shared. If the date that you need a photographer isn’t flexible, for example, if it’s a wedding or a holiday party, and the photographer you like isn’t available, you may want to ask if they have an associate or can make a recommendation for another shooter who has a similar style.

Review Pricing and Contracts

The cost of a photographer can vary widely, depending on factors like how far they have to travel to your venue, how long you’re booking them for, and their standard rates for the packages that you’re interested in. You should also ask about what is in their standard contract, including who owns the rights to the pictures, whether the photographer can use images of you on their website without your permission, and what their cancellation policy is.

Finding a photographer can be a lengthy process, but it’s totally worth it when you find one you love. Want to enhance your photos? Check out our mobile app to learn how we can make your images interactive.