To get the portraits you have always wanted: Part 1

Today is the day of the big portrait session you had set up three weeks ago. The appointment you had spent days prior coordinating a date that will work with everyone’s schedule. The appointment that you called around to find a photographer that had that day open for your session. The appointment that is now falling apart right in front of your eyes despite all preparation, effort and time to making it perfect. Is this what typically happens to you? Well don’t feel bad you are not the only one this situation.
Most appointments go well and for the most part you get portraits that you are happy with. What people fail to see is the possibilities of what their portrait session could be? For the most part it is left up to the portrait photographer to come up with the ideas on the day of the portrait session. I would say that most portrait photographer can come up with good ideas for the portraits that make them special. With a little planning on the customer’s part along with the consultation of the photographer you can work out a portrait session which results in not only great portrait, but heirlooms.
When I found out that my father had an upcoming surgery my wife and I got both our parents together and had a big family portrait done. We did not put much thought beyond having our parents together with my wife, son and me in one portrait. We also had my son photographed with both sets of grandparents, my wife’s parents and mine. And lastly my family got a portrait done. The session went very well and was excited to see them. While we were waiting for the portraits to be proofed, my father had his surgery and all come out well. A few weeks later the unexpected happened, my wife’s mother died suddenly. This hit everyone hard but most of all my wife and her step-father. It was great we had the portraits taken because if we had waited any later we would have missed our opportunity forever. I do wish we had given a little more thought beyond the generic groupings we reflexively had done. I think that my wife would have liked a portrait with her mom and one my son, mom and herself.
What do you need to do before you book that appointment?
You need to research, research and research. Like searching for the right car, you must pour over websites, portfolios and recommendations of others in order to find the right photographer for you. By looking at the websites you will start to know what styles of photography you like and the styles you don’t. Once you have two or three photographers you like, call and interview them. I know that sound odd to interview a photographer, but it is important to the success of the sitting. Some questions you may ask is about how long are their setting? How do they handle problems that could apply to your sitting? Do they allow pets? How do they handle reschedules or missed appointments? Ask them too if they have consultations prior to the settings? How they choose what portraits to digitally enhance? Ask them about their proofing method. Are the proofs on the web, in their studio or are you handed a book to look through? Whatever their method of showing you the proofs a good photographer will also sit down with you and explain all the possibilities for your portraits. Ask them anything and everything that could apply to your session. Also tell them what you are looking for in your session. This open conversation will give you an idea of who the photographer is and how far they will go to make your portrait session special.
Once you have found a photographer you like book a consultation to talk about your portrait session. I cannot stress how important this is in order to get the portraits you are looking for. Prior to going into the consultation make a list of ideas that make your family unique. Maybe the family are big Iowa fans or root for the Packers. Maybe you are NASCAR fans or love to line dance. Remember any ideas that you come up with the photographer should be able to build off that and come up with a portrait session that fits your family. Need ideas? Again look at the photographer’s website. If the photographer has been around for many years there should be some good portraits that spark inspiration in to your session. After a good consultation where ideas are worked out, clothing and location has been chosen, and then the appointment will be set.