Tuesday's Tip: How to get the Photos YOU want

Hi there!

Today I want to talk about how to get the kind of photos that you actually want. I have heard many people complain that they hired a photographer but then didn't like the pictures that they ended up bringing home.

There are 3 steps that I recommend when choosing a photographer that will help to make sure that you really get the pictures you were looking for.

1) Actually to talk/meet your photographer. While most photographers are friendly and easy to get along with, there are some who are very shy, super quiet or frankly kind of weird. If you can meet or talk over the phone you'll get a glimpse of how comfortable you are likely to feel with that person. You will remember having the pictures taken and if it was an awkward experience you will look at your photos differently. If it was a good experience the pictures are more likely to bring back those happy memories and make you feel good while you look good in them.

2) Look at other pictures they've taken. Some degree of stocking your potential photographer is ok :) Dig through their work. Look for both photos you like and photos that aren't your favorite. Do they all have a similar look to them? You'll want to find a photographer who has lots of their old work to look at, it helps you know that they've been around the block a few times and that they know what they are doing. It may not all be on their official website often time though photographers will have a blog or Facebook page with even more pictures to look through. You'll also want to image yourself in some of their photos. Every photographer comes to develop their own style by the way they take their pictures and the way they finish them. Some like very bold colors or strong black and whites, while others keep things more natural- pick what's the most appealing to you. A warning though photographers who have a little bit of everything on their websites can be "wild cards" and they may surprise you with a new way of doing things with your pictures.

3) Contact past clients. This suggestions can be hard to do if you don't already know someone who has used a specific photographer. Despite a certain level of awkward shyness it can be one of the best things do to. Listen to the persons opinion but most of all ask them WHY they feel that way and think to yourself, "would I feel the same way?". As I photographer I'm more than happy to give you the contact information of people I've worked with in the past. I tend to work with people year after year and I really enjoy those clients who have become like friends.

So to summarize getting the pictures that you want is as easy as: talk or meet your photographer; make sure you like their other work and can imagine yourself in it; and make sure past clients were happy too!

As a photographer I do my very best to understand what my clients want so that I can make them happy- it's a huge part of my job and I really enjoy that personal touch of getting to know people.

Comment and let me know what you think is the most important thing to look for in a photographer

Tuesday's Tip : Blogging

I'm not an expert but I have learned a thing or two about blogging to promote my business. As a photographer the 2 most important things is that 1) you have a blog and 2) you post pictures!

I have recently learned a few things about content that tends to go viral there are 3 important things.

1) Positive does better than negative: people like positive tones. So more "do lists" will thrive over "don't lists" generally.
2) Emotion gets shared- strong (positive, if you follow point #1) emotions inspire people to share.
3) Practically useful info does better than fun random facts.

So if you are new to bloggin those 3 tips should help you direct you content and give you a better chance of having other share your posts.

Now since I'm a photographer here are some pictures!
Waiting for baby.. I can't wait to meet the little guy :)

Ahmad Family * Calgary Family Photographer

A beautiful evening for the Ahmad's family photo shoot, just as the sun started to turn downward and set below the nearby buildings. The light was warm and soft. Sev was a shy little guy but I was able to catch some great little smiles. He is one loved little buddy! It was a wonderful session with this adorable family. The session was quick, sweet and lots of fun.

Tuesday's Tip: Picking a Focus for your Photography

So today's tip for aspiring photographers is to focus your photography- but I don't mean with a focusing ring... although that's important too! What I really mean is focusing your business on a type of photography.

There are many areas of focus that I know very little about such as travel photography, landscape photography and wildlife photography. The extent of my understanding of those focuses is that  making a business out of them is more dependent on selling prints or stock photography.

So the areas of photography I know more about are centered around people. My secrets out! I really like people!!! I love the more obvious emotions that photographing people brings. If it involves people I've shot the vast majority of it but I'm not really a "people photographer" I'm a maternity and newborn photographer.

How did I make up my mind? It was a process of exclusion really and an introspective look at what I liked to do most. When I was starting out I did some weddings but they are often fast paced and I found it stressful to get all the shots I wanted to. I loved the emotions and the atmosphere but wasn't a fan of the fear that I might miss something- so I decided I wasn't going to market myself as a wedding photographer. Then I did a lot of model photography. Those shoots were awesome! I met some wonderful people who are still my friends and professional contacts... but there was an emotion lacking from the shoots for me. Then I did more and more maternity and newborn photography and I was frankly overwhelmed by the love of a family expecting a new baby. The love a mother has before she has ever met her child is one of the most profound things I've ever experienced. And working with the babies after they arrived just seemed natural to me. I knew what I wanted to promote and market about myself.

Focusing my work didn't limit me. I can and still do weddings, models and boudoir but I'm a newborn and maternity photographer taking a step outside my focus when I do those shoots. Often when I'm practicing lighting, I image how someone expecting or a baby would look in that light. I frequently shoot things other than my primary focus to develop skills and stay busy working. I enjoy every shoot I endeavor to do. I love to have people look their best and get the images they desire.

Focusing my photography helps me stay set on what aspects of my craft I want to develop the most and what marketing I should do. It even helped me pick a name!

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