Finding The Photographer You Click With a matter of taste and trust

Are you looking to find the right photographer to work with? Good news: there’s lots of us. Bad news: you’re spoiled for choice.

FIRST things first: know what you want

Before embarking on your quest for the ideal photographer, take some time to consider what you're looking for. Are you seeking a wedding photographer to capture your special day in all its glory? Or perhaps you're in need of a portrait photographer to help you shine in your professional headshots. Whatever the occasion, having a clear understanding of your needs and preferences will help narrow down your search.

It’s important to work with someone who’s specialized in the genre you’re looking for. For instance a brilliant product photographer might not be the right choice for a wedding gig; because while they might have a great eye for detail, they might not be as agile, as shooting products and people require different set skills. Nevertheless, if you like someone’s style, don’t hesitate to reach out, as they might also be specialized in what you’re looking for, just not actively advertising it.

Also worth considering: some females feel more at ease being photographed by female photographers (and vice versa).

Taste and trust

There’s two things you should be looking for in a photographer: someone you share the same taste with in visuals and someone you can fully trust.

Check beforehand whether their portfolio visually delights you. Alternatively, if you’re looking for a photographer to showcase your brand, their work needs to resonate with your target audience.

And the special ingredient: trust. Choose someone that makes you feel at ease and that you know you can entrust your project (whether personal or professional) with.

Do Your Research

With your needs in mind, it's time to start your search. Here are some of your options: ask around - maybe you recently saw a colleague update their profile picture on LinkedIn or a small business you go to have great product pictures - they will likely share with you who’s behind them and most importantly, what their experience was like.

Alternatively, you can use Google and Instagram. When googling, don’t forget to add the location and their specialisation, such as “personal branding photographer in Vienna” or “hospitality photographer in Austria”. On Instagram you have the option to use the search bar, where you’ll have to use broader terms, such as “Vienna photographer” or “portrait photographer” or using hashtags. LinkedIn might also be an option to find yourself a professional photographer, but it’s a less visual platform, so you’ll have to take the stalking to their website or Instagram.

Stalking? Stalking.

Before reaching out to your candidates, feel free to check their “about me” page on their website or see what kind of content they post on Instagram, as many photographers keep story highlights showcasing behind the scenes and how they work. That should already give you a feeling of what it’s like to work with them or at least you can see if they’re cat people (or not) and what other interests they have. Could you connect with them?

It’s crucial that you get along during the shoot, connecting on both professional and personal levels is key.

Reach Out and Connect

If you like what you’ve seen so far, it’s time to reach out and connect. Send them an email, give them a call, or slide into their DMs to initiate a conversation. Share your vision, ask questions about their process and pricing, and gauge their responsiveness and communication style. A photographer who takes the time to understand your needs and makes you feel comfortable from the get-go is worth their weight in gold.

Some photographers offer discovery calls for free, especially for bigger projects. That’s a great way to see if there is chemistry there and if a project together would work.

Trust Your Gut

At the end of the day, trust your instincts. If something feels off or doesn't quite click during your interactions with a photographer, it may be a sign to explore other options. On the flip side, if you feel a genuine connection and sense of trust with a photographer, it's likely a sign that you've found the right fit. Remember, finding the perfect photographer is about more than just their technical skills—it's about finding someone who understands your vision, makes you feel at ease, and brings out the best in you.