How to Find the Right Photographer for You

Trust me, the odds are in your favor.

In the Kansas City metro area alone, I estimate that there are hundreds of photographers. Thousands, probably. I've actually never done the math to be completely honest. But the point is that there are a lot.

No matter where you live, the market is oversaturated with people who claim to produce professional photography.

But with so many possibilities, finding the right photographer can feel like a daunting task.

Get Down to Basics

Let's start with an obvious question. What type of photo shoot do you need? Like most professions, photography has its own genres, and most photographers niche down to a few specialities. More than likely, the perfect photographer for you will have significant experience in the genre of photography you need.

For example, a product photographer would be the best person to reach out to for product photos, while a wedding photographer would be the best for wedding photos.

It sounds simple, but sometimes clients like a particular photographer's work and think it will translate into the type of shoot they need, and that's not always the case. Sometimes it is, but not always.

Hire a Professional Photographer

We all have a cousin's boyfriend's sister who owns a DSLR camera and offers $50 mini sessions. It's extremely common, and I am definitely not knocking it. All professional photographers, myself included, start out as a cousin's boyfriend's sister (or brother).

But at what point does a photographer cross the line from an amateur to a professional? Is it as soon as they charge their first session fee? Or is only based on experience?

As defined by the Washington Post, a professional photographer is someone who makes at least 50% of their income from photography. Now I don't know if I agree with that narrow of a definition, after all I know some fabulous pros who work days jobs as well, but in his recent post, Charles Levie broke it down further into some easy-to-follow guidelines. A professional should:

• Have a website (or some type of online presence) with a portfolio filled with professional-quality images

• Have business insurance

• Be accomplished (Have they been published in a periodical? Do they use their skillset to educate others? Have they won/placed in an international photo contest? Do they present their work in a gallery?)

• Make money from their work

My advice: don’t gamble. Hire a pro.

Check Their Experience and Credentials

In any profession, continuing education is extremely important, and it's no different in the photography industry. A good photographer is always trying to improve, whether that's through online classes or in-person workshops. You can expect a skilled photographer to have certificates of achievement and credentials from extensive coursework.

And remember, the photographer you select should also have experience in the genre for which you are hiring them.

Be on the look out for reviews. Read what their clients said on Google. Take a peek at the Facebook business page. Reading about the experience of former clients helps to determine the skill level of a potential photographer.

Are They Insured?

Hiring a photographer with business insurance is yet another sign that you've chosen a true professional.

To perform at an expert level, photographers require expensive equipment such as cameras, lenses, lighting, computers, and software. Business insurance ensures that their assets are protected against lawsuits and property damage.

Is business insurance necessary for them to do a good job? Nope, but it does show that they value their artwork and profession, and that they've made a significant investment in themselves.

View Their Photography Portfolio & Make Sure You Love Their Art

Every photographer has their own style and approaches their art in a unique way. Even though you might be the subject of the images, your final products will be infused with artistic eye of your photographer.

Do you want something fine art? More of a lifestyle approach? How about true documentary? Or are you more of a traditionalist?

You'll also want to look at the way they use light. Does it seem more dramatic with a mixture of shadow and light? Or are they images all well-lit and have more of a light and airy feel?

Most photographers, myself included, don't fall firmly into one category.

If you haven't seen their work before, make sure you check out the photographer's portfolio.

Discuss Your Editing Goals with Them

You should be able to tell a lot about a particular photographer's editing style by looking at their portfolio, but now that face tunes and filters are the norm for social media, it's best to have a quick chat with them to be sure their style matches up with your expectations.

Here are some questions to consider:

• Do they edit true to color or are the colors stylized?

• Does their work skew warm or cool?

• Do they retouch skin? (This includes smoothing fine lines and wrinkles, removing blemish, etc?)

• Do they do any photo manipulation? (Examples include composites and altering the actual pixels in an image)

• Or do they believe natural is best and have a more body-positive approach?

Do You Want Prints, Digitals, or a Combination of the Two

Depending on the photographer you select, you can receive anything from hundreds of downloadable images in a digital gallery to one, museum-quality framed piece of artwork.

Selecting the right artist for your needs depends a lot on what you want from the session. Do you want to share your images on social media? Or do you want a few favorites to hang them on your wall?

Why Get Prints?

I love getting out old photo albums and turning the crisp pages looking at pictures of my friends and family. It's pure nostalgia. Shelves in my home are filled with boxes of loose photos. I think of them as tangible memories.

Fill your space with framed artwork, and once you hang it on living rooms walls or place it on mantels, you’ll be able to flashback at any time. And because it is so easily displayed, you (or any visitors) can see it on a daily basis.

With proper care and maintenance, photographs printed on quality paper can last for generations.

The Lowdown on Digitals

Most of us have spent a bit too much time scrolling through our friends' (and sometimes frenemies') social media feeds. Digital images are far better than prints at sharing images to large masses of people. One tweet or post can be seen in every corner of the world. To do the same thing with a print would be cost prohibitive and damn near impossible.

Theoretically, digital images can last forever if, and this is a huge if, you properly backup and store the files. You will also have to transfer the images to current hardware. For example, I got married 12 years ago. But all of the images that I didn't print -- and unfortunately, I didn't print most of them -- are on a CD. I'll give you one guess who doesn't even own a computer with a CD slot anymore? This girl. So I'll need to track down a CD slot and transfer them to the Cloud. But who knows what's after the Cloud? Maybe nothing. But probably something.

My point is that while digitals might outlast a print, there might be a lot of work involved to keep them accessible.

My Thoughts

As a professional photographer, I am a huge fan of printing your professional photos. All of my packages come with high-resolution digital downloads and store credits so that you can print the images that you truly cherish.

Do You Like Them as a Person?

By this point, you've scoured the web and narrowed in down to a few different photographers whose style you like and who fit the criteria outlined above. But personality is also a huge factor in selecting your photographer. After all, you'll be spending an hour (or more) with them on the day of the photo session. You don't need them to be your next partner or best friend, but you do need to make sure that you trust them and feel comfortable in their presence.

But how do you do that without meeting them? You can:

• Read their About page

• Follow them on social media

• Learn about their brand. Chances are, it reflects their values.

• Email, text or call them. (A lot of photographers offer pre-session consults via Zoom, phone, or text).

The most important piece of advice I can give you is not to be afraid to have an open and honest dialogue with the photographers whom you are interested in hiring.

Liz Davenport of Sunshine and Shadows Photography is a high school senior and family photographer based in Kansas City, MO. She offers portrait sessions throughout the Kansas City-metro, including Leawood, Overland Park, Shawnee, Lenexa, Mission, Belton, and Raymore. Her sessions are fun and relaxed, using primarily natural light and a lot of movement. She loves to work in both rural and urban environments and definitely looks to her clients for location inspiration, which means that she wants to hear your crazy ideas.