Looking to find the perfect photographer for your senior portraits, but overwhelmed by the options? I’m here to help! Here are the top four things to consider to help find the right fit for you and help you hire the best photographer to capture your unique personality.
Four Questions To Ask Yourself When Hiring Your Senior Photographer
1. What is their photography style?
Every photographer has a unique style, just like you have your own fashion sense, taste in music, or hobby you enjoy. Look through the photographer’s work with past seniors and note editing style, posing, and overall energy of the seniors. Do their past images capture the energy you want with genuine smiles or fierce poses? Does their editing style fit an aesthetic you like and will you like it long term?
Don’t settle for anything less than a style that resonates with your personality and taste! Your senior session is supposed to be an experience to celebrate all of your accomplishments and how much of a rockstar you are!
2. Will I enjoy the experience of working with them?
Your senior photos should be a fun and enjoyable experience from start to finish. Choose a photographer who you’ll vibe with both during the planning process and the actual shoot. Take a peek at their about page, stalk their Instagram and TikTok, or reach out to them to chat to get a feel for their personality.
If you’re not going to be 100% comfortable with the photographer during the session it will come across in the images. It would be such a bummer to have gorgeous, luxury images where you know it’s not an authentic smile in the photo because you weren’t able to be your full self.
3. Are they offering what I am looking for?
There are so many different types of photographers out there! Some offer hands on help styling, location resources, or a makeup artist. Others have a mandatory location list or leave the styling up to you. Some offer physical products while others just deliver images digitally. Decide which services are important to you and see what photographers near you offer.
Assuming this is your first time getting your senior photos done, you may not even know what you want or what the extent of services offered by photographers are. Take a look at a handful of photographers websites and note what you admire and gets you excited. If you make a note that you love all the outfits, chances are you’ll want to work with a photographer who offers help styling so you know your outfit will photograph well.
4. How much value do I place on my senior photos?
Just like different brands of clothes or coffee, photography services come in a range of prices. Consider how much value you place on this experience and find a photographer whose pricing aligns with your budget. Most photographers will list a starting price on their website or welcome you to e-mail them for pricing.
Remember to keep in mind your senior photos are a once in a lifetime celebratory experience and you won’t be able to return them if they don’t fit (like the cheap bathing suit you bought on the internet).
Does it feel like a lot to balance? Sure! But investing up front to find the right fit will save you time in the long run when the rest of the process moves smoothly. Prioritize what you want from the experience, note where you are and are not willing to compromise, and see who fits in to your needs (NOT the other way around)! At the end of the day this is your experience, your photos, and you deserve to love every minute of celebrating your journey so far!
While you’re here, check to see if Slowey Photography is a good fit for you! You can check all four points by looking at what The Senior Experience offers (hint: way more than just digital images), looking at my photography style, and learning more about me!
Hey! I’m Mary – the girl behind Slowey Photography. If you’re trying to find me in a crowd, I’m the one with the camera wearing something leopard print. There’s very likely crystals in my fanny pack, over 300mg of caffeine in my bloodstream, and an extra jacket tied around my waist for when I inevitably start complaining about being cold.
Now it’s your turn! Contact Mary to introduce yourself and learn more about The Slowey Photography Experience. Then, head to my Instagram below and slide in to my DMs to say hey!
Based in Nashville, TN and frequently servicing the South Shore of Massachusetts, Slowey Photography is owned and operated by photographer, Mary Slowey. Slowey Photography specializes in senior photos, family sessions, and Irish dance photography.
