I know what you're thinking. "This photographer is going to tell me to choose him." Wrong buckaroo! Our studio is not for everyone. In fact, we have recommended some callers to find another studio more than a few times. Why? Because a studio or photographer must be a good fit for you to be happy with your senior portraits.
For example, you may prefer traditional over contemporary photography, maybe you would like a blend of the two or you might love edgy, or perhaps you just want to make sure your senior pics don't look just like all your friends. What ever floats your boat, it behooves you to do a little thinking as well as research before you make a decision to let just any studio take your senior pictures. After all, you don't want to be looking at a photograph you hate hanging on your parents wall for the next 20 years now do you? No fun there.
Another factor to consider is your budget. To some people a $15 8x10 is over priced. To others, $900 is a reasonable investment for a beautifully framed canvas wall portrait. If price is your only concern then obviously your options will be somewhat limited but if your budget will allow for an investment in portraits then you can have your pic of the litter so to speak. And even though you may be lucky enough to know of a good starving artist out there senior photography is like most other things in life meaning you pretty much get what you pay for. A bad photographer can get by charging little to nothing for his or her work but a true professional will not last long in the business unless their work is commensurate with their prices.
Service and quality are two other considerations. What happens if you don't like your pictures? Will the studio redo them at no additional cost to you? Will they give you the bum's rush as soon as the check clears? Are the prints guaranteed for years? Do they frame or will they just expect you to staple the prints to the wall? How about reorders? Do they archive and if so, then for how long? These issues may not seem important now, but they take on a whole new life after the fact and any professional photographer should be willing to answer them in a way that you will feel comfortable with.
And last but not least, is the experience itself. I can't emphasize the importance of this enough. The experience can have a huge effect on the outcome of your senior portraits. If the photographer is known for having an attitude, or even being a little less than polite it will spill over into the portraits. There must be a good repoire between the photographer and the senior. Photography is about communication. Every portrait has an emotional element within it and a good photographer is capable of bringing out the best in his or her subject. Whether the image is playful and fun or more serious and dramatic there is an intangible element to what we do as photographers that starts with the right attitude. If they love what they do it will show in their work.
So ask around. Talk to others who have gone to the photographer you are considering and make that an integral part of the decision making process. You will never regret it.
David Mullenix
Comments