What if you want to have better photos of your family and you want to hire a professional? Now you have the sometimes daunting task of finding the best family photographer for you. I would separate this decision making process into two categories. Much like we have a left and a right brain, you have the practical and the emotional in decision making. On one side, you want to find the family photographer who fits your price range, is located in your region, and is objectively very good—maybe even the best in their field. On the other side, we make a lot of our decisions based on emotion. So, you will also be picking a photographer based on how you feel about that photographer’s work and personality. We all hear this split between the kind of person who makes choices by facts, and then you have the person who makes decisions based on their feelings. I recommend using both. The amount or degree of each approach depends on your personality.
Choosing The Best Family Photographer Based On The Facts
When it comes to the facts, look to what others say about the family photographers you are researching. Yelp is still a popular review website. I have 53 reviews on Yelp at the time of writing this, with an average of 5.0 stars. If you are searching on Google, the photographer’s Google My Business profile may pop up in the search to the right of the results. When you see this box containing information about the photographer, click on the reviews to see what others say. If your search display my Google My Business, you will notice that I have 70 reviews averaging 5 stars in Google My Business. Here are a couple:
There are also sites that will list “the best” family photographers. For example, I was chosen as one of the top twenty family photographers in Seattle by Expertise, a company which ranks service based businesses and connects them to their community in cities across the USA. At the time of writing this, I am #6 in a list of 19 family photographers that Expertise showcases.
I’m not a big fan of using Thumbtack, but they too have a list of the best family photographers which is based on reviews. Listen to what these gatekeepers say in addition to the reviews made by the general public.
Lastly, there are referrals. Do you know anyone who has hired a family photographer before? Ask some of your friends if you don’t know. Getting an honest opinion from someone you trust is a great way to find the best family photographer for you.
Chosen By Expertise As One of the Best Family Photographers in the Seattle area
There is enormous competition in the field of photography. Seattle portrait photographers and family photographers have to work very hard to be seen, recognized, and contacted by potential clients for family, senior, graduation, and business portraits, or special events occasions.
Aside from artistic excellence, commitment to our craft, and outstanding customer service, success involves many hours of marketing, networking, building a diversified online presence, and staying active on social media.
The daily aspects of business are tougher for creatives who love their craft and enjoy connecting with people in order to create portraits of them. So, it feels incredibly rewarding when all the effort that goes into owning your own business as a visual artist is recognized.
Such recognition motivates me to embrace the next busy season of Seattle Family photography and keep doing what I love best-creating portraits of Seattle’s families. Have a look at my badge at the bottom of my site. Here is the link to check out best family photographers in Seattle:
Best Seattle Family Photographers
Choosing The Best Family Photographer Based On Emotion
When I say “emotion”, I’m talking about feelings, connection, and intuition. Sometimes the facts fall short. I know of a film score composer, Stephanie Economou, who hired the harpist, Emily Hopkins, because she saw her reviewing effect pedals, and just had to work with this person. This was an emotional decision. They ended up working on a film score together, and became friends.
The same goes for hiring a family photographer. Is there a particular way someone is dressing that makes you feel connected to them. Are there films, music, or books they talk about about that has you understand them. In my case, I’m from Poland. If you too were born there, maybe you feel a connection?
Do you like to be in control of the situation so not to have any unpleasant surprises? Look at the photographers sample work. If they are indoor portraits with consistent lighting, that photographer may be right for you. Or, do you like the outdoors and spontaneous energy? Look at the photographer’s portfolio and look to see if there is a lot of movement in the photos in beautiful outdoor settings. I am a photographer who does the later. I specialize in outdoor portraits, and guide my clients, but allow for spontaneous energy to reveal itself.
Hopefully, these tips will help you while searching for the best family photographer for you. And, if that photographer is me, I look forward to working with you!
