Choosing the Right Photographer for You

By Susan H. Robichaud, Fine Art Maternity and Newborn Photographer
www.susanrobichaud.com      816-260-1529

So, this is it..you are pregnant and LOVING it. You decide that you want to have Maternity and/or Newborn Portraits made to document this time in your life. So what do you do? Pull out the Yellow Pages? Or Google “maternity photographers”…oh boy, there are about 150 in this city alone. So how do you choose?

  1. Think about what TYPE of maternity images you wish to have made. Are you an “artistic nude” type person? Are you more conservative and want just fully clothed images? Are you open to trying something different? Do you want “backdrop and studio” type images? Or would you prefer “environmental” images? (using your home, your furniture).
  1. Once you have an idea of what TYPE of images you want, think about what kind of products you will want. Do you want prints for your walls? Do you want a coffee table-type book? Be sure your chosen photographer can provide the products you want, not all photographers offer the same products.
  1. Ask for referrals from your friends. These are the people who know YOU the best…they will know if the photographer they used would be a good fit for you.
  1. Check credentials. The Professional Photographers of America (www.ppa.com) is the Professional organization which “governs” professional photographers. We are able to achieve our Certification and our Master of Photography through this organization. We are supported in Congress by the PPA, and the PPA provides continuing education opportunities for the industry. You can check the credentials of photographers by clicking on the “Find a Photographer” link on the PPA home page. (Note: some photographers choose not to be a part of the PPA; it is not required, only recommended by most professionals.)
  1. Research the web sites of several photographers whose work you like. Compare the offerings of each studio in turn. Are the images shown images that YOU want of yourself and/or your newborn? (if you want color and the photographer only shows black and white, you may not be a good fit for each other). Read the About Me section of the web sites…does the photographer “sound” like he/she would be a good fit? Can you get a general idea of the session details/investment/timing of the session from the site? You should be able to get at least a basic idea of these things from the web sites.
  1. Call each of the chosen photographers on the phone. Make sure your talk to THE PHOTOGRAPHER when you call. You need to get a feel for whether or not you will be a good fit personality-wise. You will be spending a lot of time together…you MUST mesh well.
  1. Make sure you know what you are purchasing. Does the Session Fee go towards your order, or is it for the photographer’s time only? If you purchase a “plan”, make sure you know how many sessions you get, how long they are, if a minimum order is required for each session, and what happens in the event that you or the photographer wish to cancel the plan (read the contract carefully)
  1. Pricing should NOT be the most important consideration when choosing a custom photographer. While it is certainly important to choose a photographer that you can afford, sometimes being open to a little more investment than you THINK you want to make can make the difference between portraits that will last your lifetime and ones that will be in a drawer within a year.

In conclusion, Portrait Photography has become a VERY popular career choice since digital technology has evolved so much. There are a LOT of photographers out there who may not be the right fit for you and your portraiture needs, so be sure you do research before you invest your time and money!

Enjoy your pregnancies and your beautiful new babies!