Don't Hire the Wrong Photographer - What you Need to Know Before Hiring your Senior Portrait Photographer - Colorado, Denver, Fort Collins Lifestyle Senior Photographer

I'm sure you've had that nightmare... you've spent all this time doing your hair, making your makeup flawlessly, picking the perfect outfit, and, not to mention, money $$$, but when you finally see your Senior pictures... you HATE them! *gag* 
Come here, take my hand. Let's avoid that! Even if I'm not your perfect Senior pic photographer, I can give you tips to help you pick out your ideal Senior photographer and get photos you love.

 1. Make Sure They are an Experienced Photog

This is my #1 must follow rule for anyone searching for the perfect Senior photographer. Your Senior pictures are some of the most important photos you will take in your lifetime. They capture you and your memories during your last year (ever!) of high school. You will look back on these photos for years to come and remember what an crazy ride high school was. So, please, I'm begging you, find a photographer with at least one year of professional experience. I guarantee you will see the difference between a newbie and an experienced pro (and you'll thank me for it later)! Pros know how to pose, how to use light to their advantage, where to place you in any scene, and most importantly, how to use their camera to its fullest potential - none of this "auto-mode" crap.

2. Look Through Their Entire Portfolio

Okay, this one's really important too and here's why. Many photographers put their absolute best, most epic photos at the front/top of their portfolio in hopes of wow-ing you into booking them right then and there. Unfortunately, epic shots don't come with every single photoshoot and if you don't look though their entire portfolio, you will expect every shot from your photoshoot to be crazy epic. When they're not crazy epic, you will be disappointed. So check out all of their photos, but especially some of the last photos in their portfolio to make sure you like those shots too. Often times those are the shots that photographer gets on a regular basis and will give you a better idea of how your photos will turn out!

3. Talk to the Photographer on the Phone or in Person

A photographer's website can tell you a lot about their photos but it only tell you a little bit about their personality. When working with a professional photographer, liking them will make ALL the difference, trust me. If you work with a photographer that makes you feel awkward or doesn't listen to your opinion, you're going to have a bad experience and ultimately you won't like your photos as much. When you look at your photos, the only thing you'll remember is what a bad experience that photographer gave you.
I know we live in a world where we prefer to text or email instead of talk on the phone or meet in person, but you're going to be working with your photographer in person anyways so ask them for a phone chat or invite them out for a cup of coffee before you book them. You're basically interviewing them to make sure they are a good fit for you! If you don't like them, good! Move onto the next photographer on your list. At least you didn't give them your money and then realize you didn't like them!

4. Don't Let Your Photog Boss You Around

Yeah, you hired them for their photographic and creative expertise, but these are your Senior photos. You want to look back on them and remember how much fun you had, not what an a$$hole your photographer was for bossing you around. Tell your photographer what you want and what makes you uncomfortable and make sure they listen. Now, not everything is feasible, like a photo of you riding an alligator in the middle of the Golden Gate bridge or 15 outfit changes during a one hour session, but a good pro will listen to what you have to say and if it's not feasible or isn't a part of their package, they will let you know in a nice, professional way. If your photographer is making you pose in a way that makes you uncomfortable, tell them! Your photographer only wants to make you happy and they won't know you hate something unless you tell them.

Interested in the Lifestyle Senior Experience?

If you're interested in a Lifestyle Senior Session with Me, please visit my Seniors page for my portfolio, pricing, and the contact form! But don't wait, I only have a limited number of spots and would hate for you to miss out. Contact me today to chat about your Senior pics!