7 Important Questions to Ask Your Photographer Before Hiring Them (Part 1)

I know that picking the right photographer for family pictures can be stressful, there are "must have's" for you that you may not even realize and though you can go off of someone else's trusted opinion you may still have questions about the photographer that you want answered first before committing. It's my hope that all my client's feel like good friends throughout their experience with me and of course want to come back when they need updated family pictures in Bend! So here are some frequently asked questions I get from inquiring clients that I hope help you know if we would be a good fit to work together.

1) How long have you been a photographer?

is the price of their session more important or the quality of work and their expertise as a photographer more important? I think this will help you pick someone to take your pictures if you know which is more important to you.

I want you to know that I am confident with lighting, angles, posing, and how to make your family comfortable from the start. I have been working as a photographer for 4 years, I have tried all types of photography (wedding, couples, seniors, etc.) until narrowing down to family portraits. I have been a photographer in Utah, Idaho, Washington, Hawaii (all due to a husband’s medical residency journey) and now Bend.

When I was in Hawaii, I learned to work with FIERCE, strong lighting during all times of the day (weddings don't typically happen during that golden, beautiful creamy light just before sunset). Because of this I feel confident in telling you I can work well with any kind of lighting. Whether this be within your home, up Mt. Bachelor or downtown Bend. And while lighting is a very important part of photography, posing and making sure you look good is also equally as important. I have worked with dozens and dozens of families , invested in educational courses, men-teed from some incredible family photographers and created my own list of prompts that I bring to every session that I base on the vibe of your family. All the poses and prompts I bring to our session will be fun, encourage play and connection and leave you with pictures that are authentic to your family.

2) You’re a little expensive but we love your editing style and type of pictures, can we make this work?

Again is the quality of the pictures and experience a photographer would provide you more important than the price? Some photographers are willing to work within your budget and other’s have payment plans to make it possible for you.

For my pricing, if the total amount seems daunting to all pay at one time, you can absolutely break it up into payments as long as your total is paid by the day of your session.

3) Do you have reviews we could look at?

It can be scary to throw a bunch of money to a stranger, so it’s not weird to ask for reviews from someone who has worked with them. You can also ask to see sessions and examples of their work. Look through their website and see if they have a blog with examples of sessions they have done.

You can refer to my “review” page with some feedback from past clients, and if you want to see more I can send you to my google page where I have dozens more. And my blog page on my website has lots of examples of what a session with me looks like.

4) How often can I expect to hear from you from inquiring to gallery delivery?

Is it important to you to have a photographer who leaves everything til the last minute to communicate or who let’s you know location, outfit suggestions, and what to expect a few days- weeks in advance?

From our first email to getting your final pictures, I really I make my best effort to check in with my clients regularly. You can expect communication on outfits, a family questionnaire to get to know individual family members and the group better, location options, time of our session, getting sneak peeks, a step by step guide on how to pick and download your images, and getting your final gallery. I communicate with clients through email, text or over the phone. Communicating regularly is important to me so you don't feel in the dark on anything, I am always available for any additional questions you have.

5) Where should we take our pictures?

A photographer should have a good amount of suggestions to offer for locations, if you have a spot in mind run it over by them and see if they have ever shot there. A good photographer will have suggestions, and shouldn’t leave you to find a location.

Bend has SO many beautiful spots, and it is centrally located to so many other spectacular locations. I have a whole list, along with previous galleries from past sessions I can send you for reference. But if you have somewhere in mind I am always open, especially if it is sentimental to your family! If by chance, none of the places are what you are hoping for, I am happy to explore outside of my "go to" places for something else that meet your standards. But I don't think we'll have a hard time finding anything. Bend is beautiful.

6) What should we wear to our session?

Does your photographer have suggestions for you on what to wear? Would you like suggestions? This can be really helpful for some.

What you wear to your session is a big deal, and stressful. I don't want you dressing uncharacteristic to yourself, but it is important that you make an effort to look nicer than how you would be at home relaxing. I have written a few guides on how to help you pick out outfits that will photograph well, and help everyone feel comfortable. I have photographed people who want to go more formal, and others who stick to a nicer casual look. My blog posts include tips on what looks best, and places to look if you need to find an outfit.

https://baileymakaimokuphoto.com/blog/what-to-wear-for-family-pictures

https://baileymakaimokuphoto.com/blog/how-to-dress-for-a-winter-photoshoot-bend-oregon-photographer

7) What is your policy on rescheduling a session?

Be mindful that a photographer probably isn’t able to reschedule multiple times, or at least not without charging a fee.

When doing outdoor sessions we always take a risk with the weather. Cancellation or rescheduling a session due to unideal weather conditions, is up to the photographer. I am ready for low temperatures, overcast weather, wind, snow, etc. We do have a few options if the weather really is gross the day of your session. We can switch to an indoor location. Bend has a great studio called White Aspen. But if you are wanting your session outdoors we'll work to find a time to reschedule your session. The best option may be planning a backup location (hopefully nearby) where the weather is better. This would be decided the day of your session if the weather is not looking promising. I would plan for some extra time prior to our session start time, so that way if weather isn't looking good, we can be flexible with changing locations. If for some reason you really can't reschedule you will not be charged for your session, but forfeit your deposit.

I hope these questions are helpful when working together or considering a photographer for the future! Stay tuned for Part 2 where I answer 7 more questions to ask your photographer.