Not All Photographers Are Alike - {Utah Photography}
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| Sarah Stiles www.sarahstilesphotography.com/weddings |
I know a lot of photographers. No, let me rephrase that. I know A FREAKING TON of photographers. All kinds of photographers! Some photograph weddings, others prefer babies, or families, or the family pet. Some of them love shooting landscapes, or wildlife. Some love architecture, while some love fashion. There is such a HUGE variety out there!
And even within one genre, there is such a huge variety of styles. Take wedding photographers. There is such a vast variety. Maybe you want something more dramatic, with awesome lighting, fantastic posing, and with a little fashion flare. Then I would recommend the incredible Jerry Ghionis, Kevin Jaraj, or Elizabeth Taylor Frandsen. These artists really know their stuff! Masters of lighting, posing, details, and they know how to make every couple look like supermodels. But what if your wedding has a vintage theme? That high-fashion style is stunning, but may not be the right fit. So maybe you would rather work with someone like Terra Cooper or Ashley DeHart. Or maybe you are looking for something a little more photojournalistic, like Tomas Kornas or Storey Wilkins.
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| Elizabeth Taylor Frandsen www.etfphotography.com |
And that's just weddings! What if you are looking for someone to photograph your new baby? Do you want a birth story? Maybe a cute lifestyle session of those first 48 hours in the hospital? Or maybe you want a professional studio session. But do you want soft neutrals, or bright and cheery colors?
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| Sarah Stiles www.sarahstilesphotography.com |
Okay, what about your family? Lifetsyle or posed? Classic or modern? Outdoors or studio, or even in your own home?
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| Allison English Watkins www.englishphoto.com |
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| Heather Pickett heatherpickettphotography.com |
It is also important to note that not all photographers do everything. Some specialize in a very specific area. For example, my friend Heather Pickett works ONLY with newborns. She loves snuggling with those babies! She has no interest at all in photographing families or weddings. Whereas my friend Elizabeth Taylor Frandsen loves loves LOVES weddings, but can't stand the thought of photographing a newborn (even though she loves babies and has quite a few adorable little munchkins of her own). They are just very different genres. And I am willing to bet that neither one of them would have any interest at all in photographing a sports event!
Think of it this way. You would not ask a professional football player to play in a professional basketball game. They are both sports, but they are completely different types of sports! Can you imagine a big beafy football player running around on a basketball court? Or how about a tall lanky basketball player on the football field? Or let's take it even further: a 5 foot, 100lb gymnist trying to play either basketball OR football. It doesn't really work, does it? We all play to our strengths. It's the same way with photographers. You may have one photographer who photographed your wedding, but they may have no interest in photographing your new baby. But then again, they might! Some photographers really are versatile, and do all kinds of photography!
Here is something else to consider. Photography is a business, like any other. And you know that you can have very different businesses even within the same general field. Let's take the example of buying a car.
The other day, my husband and I went out car shopping. We happened to go in to a Mercedes-Benz dealership to look at a used vehicle they had on the lot. From the moment we walked in, the whole place practically screamed HIGH END. It was spacious and spotlessly clean. It was not overly ostentatious, but being in there just made you want to stand a little taller. It even smelled nice. We were warmly greeted by a receptionist at a desk, who showed us to a delightful little kitchenette, fully stocked with a dozen different beverages and a full array of snacks. When we were greeted by our sales associate, she was warm and friendly, and took the time to get to know us and our needs. She was not pushy or haughty. When they pulled the car up inside (because it was snowing outside), they went over all the important details and answered all our questions. It was a seriously awesome experience, and I wanted to buy the car regardless of how I really felt about it, lol. They just made me FEEL important.
Then we went to another dealership. This one specialized in restoring damaged vehicles. The cars were much cheaper. The staff seemed friendly, but they did not take the time to really ask about our needs. The main showroom was smaller, more cramped, and had an older, more tired feel. There were no snacks or drinks. The car we tested was just fine. But we felt overall that something was lacking. There was nothing at all wrong with that dealership, it was just a very different experience.
It is the same way with photographers. You may find one that is an all-service boutique, that offers a fully customized experience. They will go over every detail with you even before the photoshoot or event, to make sure everything is perfect. They will also bring you back for an in-person viewing of all your images, and help you choose the best products. Many will even have your portraits custom framed. It is so fun to be pampered by these photographers! Then there are those photographers who may simply do everything through emails, and send you home with the digital files so you can print whatever you like on your own. This is much simpler experience. There is nothing wrong with this, it is just a different way of doing business. Both of them serve a purpose.
Oh, and then there is that budget thing. Yeah, the money. It's art. No, it's CUSTOM art. Any time you hire someone to do a commissioned piece of art, you should expect to pay some pretty good money for it. But that said, there is a huge range of pricing, even within the same genre! Generally speaking, the lower the price, the less experience that photographer likely has. Someone who is just starting out as a photographer may have a very low cost, whereas someone who has been around for a while and has the best equipment, education, and experience will likely cost more. Or, you may find that hiring that photographer who is going to pamper the hell out of you and make you feel like a superstar costs a lot more than the photographer who will meet you on the wedding day and then Dropbox all your photos to you. It takes more time, energy and money to pamper someone, but you may find it is totally worth it, especially for something big, like your wedding, or the birth of your child. You can't get those moments back, so if it is important to you, think about splurging a little more. Use the other photographers for the little moments in life, like birthday photos for your kids, or if you update your family photo every year, or maybe for those cute holiday portraits.
Hopefully you have learned a little about different photographers, and why it is so so so important to do your research before hiring anyone. Decide what type of photography you need, think about the style you love, know your budget. Then spend some time looking at all the different photographers who fit all of your criteria. Talk to them - on the phone or in person. Get to know them. Then choose the one you love the most. Your memories are important, so it is worth taking the time to do a little extra research.
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