Something to keep in mind when looking the perfect headshot photographer for you, is to consider your needs. What type of shoot are you looking for? Are you needing business headshots or something more casual like profile pictures? Once you’ve determined that, start by doing some research on photographers in your area. Chances are there will be many to choose from and each one will likely have their own unique style. You should then check out their website to get a feel for their work. Once you have a few that you like you should consider the next points to make sure that they are going to be a good match for you.
How To Choose A Headshot Photographer
Choosing a professional headshot photographer can be very difficult. There are so many different factors that go into the decision, and it’s easy to get lost in all of them. To help you out, we have put together this article with some tips on how to choose your headshot photographer!
Check Their Google Reviews
This may not sound like the most obvious one to put at the top of the list but it’s important that you find a photographer who is reliable. You don’t want to hire someone only to have them flake on you last minute or not show up for your shoot. I mention this because it happens more than you think. Getting ready for a good headshot photography session can be expensive. You’ve got expenses in clothing, hair, makeup, travel, etc. The best way to check if this might be a problem is to check the google reviews. Google reviews can’t be change by the business owner so if someone posts a negative review, the photographer won’t be able to remove. Now, bad reviews can be unfairly given to anyone so the make sure to take notice on how the photographer responded and if they solved the issue in question.
Check their Headshot Photo Portfolio
Make sure the headshot photographer has experience in photographing people with your look, face shape, and hair color/type. If they are inexperienced with this kind of thing it might make things difficult when it comes time to do your photo shoot because they may need more direction than an experienced professional would. Some photographer will only post images of extremely beautiful people. This looks amazing but what about the rest of us? You can argue that is is relatively easy to take a photo of a good looking person but unfortunately not all of us are blessed with amazing looks. Check out their gallery for regular looking people. You should be able to tell if they are able to work with regular people as well as professional models.
Look at samples of their work online, if possible try contacting some past clients as well so that can get another perspective from what you’re seeing. One thing in particular is that the shots should have the same type of look. Many photographers believe in having a range of different looks and this is often reflected in their online portfolio. While the photos should be different, they should have a similar type of style. This is a good thing because if the style resonates with you, then you know exactly what type of headshot photo you are going to get.
Headshot Photo Testimonials
Additionally, read any testimonials and reviews that the photographer has online as this will give you a good idea of what other clients think about their work. Often, photographers will have a list of the business that they have worked with in the past. Check to see if you recognise any of the business listed in there. Most large corporations will work to a brief when taking their headshot photos. These briefs must be followed by the photographer and it is a good way to tell if a photographer has the necessary technical skills to execute to the brief. If they do, it is a really good indicator that they are a capable photographer.
Make sure that you also consider what type of background you are going to need for your headshot. Some photographers will have a range of backdrops that you can choose from, while others might only have one or two. If you are looking for a specific type of background, then you need to make sure that the photographer has access to it.
What Background Do You Need?
If you need the background to be replaced at a later stage you need to tell the photographer since these type of shots will need a very specific technical settings.
When Do You Get Your Photos Back?
Finally, you need to check on the turnaround time for getting your headshot photos back. This is especially important if you need them for an upcoming event or presentation. Most photographers should be able to turn around the photos within a few days, but make sure to ask just in case.
Conclusion
As you can see, choosing a photographer for your headshot photos takes a little more research than may have thought. Photography is a subjective matter. The photos you might love, someone else might hate and vice-versa. Because of this, style is a very important factor when choosing a headshot photographer. At the end of the day you need to love your photo so that you end up using it in all your online platforms. Do your research and even ask friends for their opinions on different styles and you will be very prepared when to pick out your photographer from the final list.
Dan Cantero
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