Choosing a photographer

Choosing a studio photographer can be a difficult business. There's certainly no shortage of people after your money - but by making a few simple checks, you can ensure that the photographer you use will provide you with beautiful photos, within your budget.

Our five points are listed in reverse order. If you disagree with any of the points raised, or you'd like to add your own feedback, then please do so in the comments at the bottom of the page!

5. Pick a style of photography

Many people have a clear idea of the kind of photography they want. Some people just want an attractive, posed photo of the family. This is something that most photographers can achieve (albeit with varying levels of quality, see point #1 below!). But what if you want something different, like something resembling a photo you've seen in a magazine, or informal, 'photo journalistic' style pictures taken in your home? If you can't see what you're looking for on the photographer's website, then it's best to ask them if they can fulfil your requirements, before you book and then realise that you're not getting what you wanted.

4. See if you can visit the photographer before booking

This can be useful for a number of reasons. Firstly, you get to meet the photographer - it's often useful to meet someone face-to-face before you commit to spending (what could be) a fair amount of money with them. You can see if you get on, which could be important, especially if it's for something like a makeover or boudoir shoot. It also allows you to check out the premises and see that they are safe and pleasant! Plus, if the photographer operates from a shed or garage, then that might not be a very good sign.

3. Try to haggle!

Unlike many high-value items, the printed photographs themselves are generally not expensive to produce. Of course, a great deal of skill goes into their creation, overheads can be high, and the photographer may also spend significant time in preparing photos for print. There's a lot of 'behind the scenes' work done to get your perfect prints delivered (see our page on Post Processing for more information), so margins may not be as big as you'd think.

But that's not to say that there may not be some flexibility on price! If the photographer is having a quiet week, or doesn't mind working some overtime, you might be able to get a better deal by a good old fashioned bit of haggling! Don't expect to get rock-bottom prices, but it's worth seeing if the photographer can be flexible and accommodate your requirements without pushing you wildly out of budget. In fact, if you do have a particular budget in mind, it can be worth mentioning this to the photographer to see if they could offer you a specific deal that covers all of your requirements.

Some photographers may prefer not to haggle, or may not budge as much as you'd like, and that's not a sign of any dishonesty or meanness - after all, everyone has to make a living, and their margins may be low to begin with. But it doesn't hurt to make a polite enquiry!

2. Check print prices before booking

There will always be variations in print prices from one photographer to the next - that's to be expected, since the old maxim 'you get what you pay for' is often correct. But ensure that you're not going to be completely ripped off. Offers of cheap shoots can be tempting, but make sure that additional prints won't bankrupt you.

Many photographers are not open about their print prices, which is a warning sign. If they aren't listed on the company website, then give them a call and ask them what their prices are for some common sizes - if they're cagey, then don't waste your time. Some photographers (especially certain franchises) charge astronomical sums of money for even the smallest prints.

It's not uncommon to be expected to part with well over a thousand pounds to get a handful of average-to-poor prints! Many reputable photography companies will provide far more, in higher quality, for around a tenth of the price. If you ever find yourself being subjected to a high-pressure sales pitch, being asked to spend vast sums of money on images that you don't really want, then get up and leave!

1. Check their portfolio

This is, in many respects, the most important point of all. After all, you're going to a photographer to get some photos that you'll treasure forever. You want images of yourself, your family, your friends, images that will inspire you and give you something really beautiful to look back on in years to come. If the images are of poor quality, then why bother? Photography isn't necessarily cheap, and you want to get the best standard that you can.

Most photographers' websites will contain large portfolios. Remember though, they are only going to include their best work online - if there isn't much to see, ask yourself why that is! Also, remember that they may have used professional models for some of the images, so sometimes it's worth paying a visit to the photographer to see some more of the kind of work you're looking for.

National chains will usually use the best images from their entire combined portfolio, so the work that you get back might be of an entirely different standard to that seen in the advertising. Ask to see some work from the photographer who'll be taking your photos.

We hope those five tips are of some use to you! If you can think of anything we've missed, or if you want to comment on anything you've read above, then please feel free to leave a comment below.