Wordful Wednesday. Holiday Family Photos.

Fall is the busy season for photographers.

Everyone is scrambling to book sessions so they can get their holiday family photos done.

As such, sleeping has become a long lost pastime of mine (although some how I still find time to eat).

I can’t complain though, spending time with the wonderful families that hire me to capture their moments is fulfilling in ways other pursuits I engage in just aren’t.  And, I love photos.

I love capturing them and editing them and gifting them to the people whose faces they feature.

I am so grateful that so many people trust me to be their photographer.  I know that the photographer pool is pretty deep.  There are tons of them to choose from, some better than others, many better than me.

You can probably find a better photographer without even breaking your neck to do so, but a session with me is unique.  My photos aren’t overly posed (no creepy hands on the chin up in here), they aren’t overly saturated (I like colors to be true to life), everyone’s skin isn’t going to look like porcelain, and they won’t be softened and edited to look like they belong in a magazine.  They will be real.  And, when we spend time together it is going to be a blast, and that will show up in your images (I have some awesome knock knock jokes kids dig), with smiles and laughter.

Plus, I pretty much always end my sessions with a fist bum or a high five.  It just feels right.

If you’re planning to hire a photographer to capture you and your family this holiday season, here are some tips to help you settle on a good one.

How to Choose a Family Photographer

1.  Look at their portfolio.

Like all of it.  Not just what comes up on their homepage.  Do a little digging.  Check out their blog and their Facebook page too.  If you see something that could grace the homepage of Awkward Family Photos you might want to go elsewhere this year, unless you just really want to be the base of a half naked family tower.

2.  Ask your friends.

Chances are you’ve seen some of their family shots in your newsfeed.  Ask them who they used and then use them too.  Or, if their photos look creepy, avoid that photographer like the plague.

3.  Don’t base your decision on price alone.

I know, $99 for a bazillion images on a disk you can reprint sounds like a good deal.  And, $700 for an hour long photo session that comes with nothing more than your photographers time might be a little bit nutty.  But, you get what you pay for (mostly) and all that.  Although, unless you are an actual celebrity you might want to not go down that $700 route.

4.  Decide on the style you like.

If you are a fan of the posed photo then you should find someone who duplicates that.  I am NOT that person.  I am more of what people in the photo game call a lifestyle photographer.  Sure, I get a couple of those good mantle images people are after, but I also do a lot of this…

People who aren’t down with that probably want to go with a different photographer.

5.  Look for flexibility.

Family photography is not an exact science.  Sometimes baby will cry, or poop his blanket, or be really unhappy about being shoved into a pumpkin the posing.

That has got to be okay, with you AND your photographer.  You want someone who is comfortable around kids.  Someone who is willing to try a different shot when the one they had in mind doesn’t work out.  Someone who will make your child comfortable, even if that child is your totally grown, but ridiculously camera awkward husband.  Also, beware of strict cancellation policies.  Sometimes kids get sick and having photos done on a sick day is just really, really lame.  Look for someone who is willing and able to be flexible with their schedule in the event of unforeseen circumstances.  But, remember not to abuse that.  Once you book your session, plan to keep it.  Photographers commit to their families and we sort of expect the same from you.

Now, show me YOUR photos!

Link up to this week’s edition of Wordful Wednesday with Angie (Seven Clown Circus) and me!

This week’s featured post is the phenomenal work of Joy’s Jots, Shots and Whatnots.  We loved her shot of Route 66 and Historic Georgetown!

*You can schedule a family photo shoot with me at Then Again Photography.