newborn in his father's arms during newborn session in downtown syracuse

Looking for a photographer can be so overwhelming. There are so many options out there and everyone's photos look AMAZING! So, how do you choose?

I would suggest doing a search of the local photographers in your area (or an area you're willing to travel to) and see which images speak to you. Whether you're doing you search on google or instagram, there are going to be images and you want to make sure the style is matching up to what you're envisioning for your sessions. For example, do you like the colors and how the photos are edited? Are you looking for each photo, the subjects are looking into the lens and smiling? Or are you looking for more organic and candid photos? Do the photographers you found check these boxes?

If you find a photographer in your research, and most, if not all, of their photos are of families smiling at the camera, you shouldn't go into a session with that photographer expecting a candid/emotive session. They have a style of photography and that's what they're going to deliver in your gallery. If you choose a photographer that isn't matching up with the style you're expecting, there's going to be disappointment on both sides. The same with the editing style of an image. If you find a photographer with dark and moody colors and images, but you're looking for a light and "airy" photo, there's going to be that same disappointment.

mother and daughter hugging during family photos — Once you find a photographer that matches the "style" you're looking for, I always double check that their social media and their website match each other. Do the photos consistently look the same, and do the social media posts match the website? If nothing is matching, it's going to be hard to see what your images are going to look like if you don't know what the photographer is going to deliver. You know?

Next, I would suggest reaching out (if their website doesn't give you this info) and see what is included in your session. How long do the sessions typically last? Do you receive digital images with the session price? Is there a session fee and then you purchase only physical products? Photography business are run multiple different ways, and you want to make sure you understand what you are paying for and what they are selling. If you only want digital images, you won't want a photographer that charges a session fee and then schedules a sales appointment. I run my business slightly differently than most. I charge a session fee to secure your date/time and then when I deliver your gallery, I offer three different Collection types. In all of my Collections, I include digital images and a gift credit to kick off your product purchase. All of these things should be spelled out on their website, but if not, you should always ask! The more you know going in, the less confusion and misunderstanding there will be on the back end of your session.

Once you've gathered all of your information and chosen your photographer, there's nothing left to do but relax and enjoy your session! Hopefully you've found someone that will guide you through the process and inform you on what to expect while working with them. The experience is just as memorable of it as the photos you receive!