How to choose a Phoenix Family Photographer

With today’s infinite resources at our fingertips, finding a family photographer can seem wildly overwhelming. If you head down the google rabbit hole, there are pages upon pages of options to peruse and choose from. Let’s be real, these google rabbit holes we head down as parents can be panic inducing. After all of that scrolling, you may decide to ask your friend who they used. 

Here’s the thing though- that photographer may not be the right choice for you!  

That may should shocking- I mean, why shouldn’t you ask your friend who they used for their Phoenix family photography session?

A recommendation can be wonderful (and lets be real, I am truly grateful when I am referred to others!). After all, your friend can vouch for their Phoenix family photographer’s integrity and tell you about their personality.

However, what you want from a family photo session can be very different than what your friend wants.  If you want a session that has a clean, styled, posed, themed, or editorial vibe, or an in-studio session, then you don’t want a photographer that has a lifestyle or documentary vibe. 

So what do we do to find a family photographer in Phoenix?

Do your research.

If you receive a recommendation from a friend or ask your local mom group for options, the first step is to type the photographer’s business into google. You want to make sure that this person has invested in running a solid business. First, do they have a website or just a facebook/instagram profile? Anyone can look like they’re running a solid business with a social media profile, but that doesn’t determine their business credentials (ie. registered as an official business, have contracts in place, etc). Do they have positive reviews from other people? Are the reviews recent or from a few years past?

Check out their portfolio

A photographer is going to place their best work on their website portfolio. Take a look through the images and make sure you like the look of 90% of them.  Notice if the person has a lot of the same type of poses or if there’s a variety.

If you love photos of the entire family looking at the camera, but you don’t see many of those photos in the family photographs you see on the site, then this photographer may not be for you. 

It’s also important to make sure that the photographer edits consistently- do the photos look cohesive? Every photographer also has their own artistic style, and you should find one that matches what you like. If you like the look of a light and airy edit, then hiring a photographer who has bold colors or primarily black/white images isn’t the best choice. 

Assess your budget

We all have a budget we are working with. Simultaneously, the cost of a family photography session in Phoenix can widely vary. You’ll often find newer photographers in the budget range and experienced photographers on the higher end. With a large number of family photographers in the Phoenix area, you will definitely find what you are looking for- it is important to note what the photographer is offering and compare it to what you are hoping for. 

Do you have questions about whether I’m the best family photographer in Phoenix for you?

  Let’s set up a call and answer any questions you may have!