You’ve just scheduled your first consultation with your photographer and you want to make sure your photoshoot session is a success. Whether you are a model, someone who has worked with a photographer before, or someone who has no photography-booking experience its important for you and your photographer to be on the same page. That is one of the best ways to ensure you walk away with a great service. Here are five questions to ask your photographer during your next consultation, whether it is over the phone or via email.
- When will my pictures be ready?
Every photographer has their own editing style and editing speed. Depending on how many photos a photographer has to edit, how long it will take to edit each photo and how many clients the photographer is currently servicing, your photos can take anywhere from one week to three months. I have seen a few cases where photographers have had photo turn-around time longer than three months. The last thing you want is to leave a photoshoot expecting to receive your images in 2 weeks while the photographer is planning to have them ready in 4 weeks. When choosing a photographer his or her turn-around time for images is something you may want to consider.
- How to Pose?
This is a question a lot of clients do not go over with their photographer. It is expected that most clients are not models and therefore have little to no posing experience. I will guarantee that if you book a photographer that knows what he or she is doing, you’ll be the one confidently directing and commanding your own poses halfway through the photoshoot. My advice would be to look up different posing forms on Instagram, Pinterest, and Google that strike your interest and share them your photographer. This lets the photographer know that you have done your homework and you are a serious client.
- What is your style?
You’ve seen their work on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook or their website. A lot more goes into the final images than what you see on social media. Although this question isn’t a determining factor on whether you will choose the photographer, you may gain insight on how the photographer achieves their final results. After all, the final results on social media is what brought you to the photographer. This will also keep you engaged in the conversation. The more you know about the photographer the more comfortable you will be on your big day.
- Can I see some images from your portfolio?
This may seem like a no brainer but not everyone asks for images. What is posted on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter isn’t always encompassing of the type of photography the photographer has captured. Let them know you’ve seen their work on social media and you were wondering if they could send a portfolio, a website link or a few images to you. Any photographer that gets defensive is not worth booking. This is how you can differentiate between amateurs and professionals.
- Can you take my pictures like this?
Just as it is important to ask to see a photographer’s portfolio, it is important to visually convey the style and portrait that you want. This leaves no room for assumptions and this allows a photographer to decide if you are the right fit for them while you are also deciding if they are the right fit for you. If what you are asking is outside of their ability, they may be able to refer you to another photographer that can capture your vision.