🤍 HOW TO CHOOSE A PHOTOGRAPHER (Even If It’s Not Me)
There are so many talented photographers, and the truth is — style and experience matter just as much as skill.
When you’re looking through someone’s work, pay attention to how the photos feel, not just how they look. Do the families seem relaxed? Can you feel connection and movement, or does everything look carefully posed and still? Neither approach is wrong, but they create very different experiences.
Notice how children appear in their images. When kids look free to move, cling, laugh, or even be a little wild, it usually means the photographer knows how to work with real family energy instead of trying to control it. That changes everything.
Also listen to how photographers talk about their sessions. Some focus on perfection, posing, and polished portraits. Others focus on emotion, interaction, and helping families feel comfortable. The language they use tells you what they truly prioritize during your time together.
The most important question is this: What kind of experience do you want?
Do you want traditional portraits where everyone is clearly posed and looking at the camera? Or do you want a more relaxed experience that feels like time spent together, where movement and connection shape the images?
Neither is better. But one will feel more like you.
You’ll also want to choose someone you feel safe with. Being in front of a camera with your family can feel vulnerable, and the photographer’s energy plays a huge role in how the session unfolds. When you feel comfortable and unjudged, your photos reflect that.
Price is part of the decision, but it shouldn’t be the only one. You’re investing in how your family is remembered, and in the experience that creates those memories.
The right photographer is the one whose work makes you pause and think, “That feels like us.” If you feel that here, I’d be honored to photograph your family. And if another photographer’s work feels more aligned, that’s okay too. The goal is for you to walk away with images and memories you truly love.
❤️ 📸 — Candace