How To Find A Good Portrait Photographer?

How do you find that talented photographer who will capture your best features and who may even bring out a new side of you...

These days, a lot of people want to have great photos taken. This is especially true for portraits. People want to own portraits that are not only artistically taken and pleasant to look at but also those that capture real emotions as well as the best features of a person.

People need these portraits for various reasons. For one, great portraits can serve as wonderful and lasting memorabilia. These portraits can also be passed on from one generation to another and can even be great personal gifts not only to other relatives but also to friends. Portraits can also serve as great decorations in one’s home. When framed, these portraits can bring “life” to a home. Guests in one’s home can see the homeowner’s different facets through portraits. Also, while this may sound sad, great portraits can also help people remember a person who has passed away. Through great portraits, people can remember a friend, a family member or even a colleague and, more often than not, remember that person with only good and nice thoughts in mind. Moreover and while this may seem simple, having a portrait taken is also a nice and wonderful experience. After all, it is not everyday that you have your portrait taken by a professional.

However, how do you look for that skilled professional? How do you find that talented photographer who will capture your best features and who may even bring out a new side of you? How do you also find a good portrait photographer whom you will feel comfortable with?

This article will share some tips on how to find a good portrait photographer. Read on.

1. Ask for references. References are a great starting point. If a family member or a dear friend recently had his own portraiture experience, ask him about the experience as well as for references. Chances are, your friend has done his own research and has narrowed down his choices in terms of great portrait photographers. If your friend had a good experience with their photographer, then shortlist them for a future reference. Later on go and have a look at their website to see if their portfolio and style is to your taste.

2. Check local listings. See who the photographers in your area are and whose expertise includes portraiture. Also have a look at Google maps as a lot of information there could provide you with a lot of insights about the photographer. Read though client reviews and see what experiences they had during their professional portrait photography session.

3. Check online for great feedback. These days, a lot of people share their experience with portrait photographers online. Look for blogs or even online features about portrait photographers. Check the web for photographers whom a lot of people have had nice and easy experiences with. Be careful if you come across unpleasant reviews. There is a risk that you may also encounter the same thing so best to avoid this from the get-go. It’s not enough that a photographer has a nice looking studio or cheap rates. Feedback from previous clients must also count.

4. If you already have a shortlist of preferred portrait photographers, try to list the pros and cons for each and every photographer. Does he have a great idea as to where and when you can have your portrait taken? Does he have a studio? What are his professional affiliations? What type of camera does he use? What is his previous work like and how are the reviews about his work so far? Does his professional fee sound reasonable or do you think you can still get the same service from someone else but at a cheaper rate? Will the cheaper photographer provide me with the same quality of photographs? Answers to questions like these can help you decide the best portrait photographer to hire.

5. Lastly, and most importantly, trust a tried and tested portrait photographer who has been in the business for years and who has been the top choice of many.

If you have any further questions do not hesitate to contact us and one of our professional portrait photographers will try and help.


(c) Headshot London Photography

Photography Session With Professional Photographer

10 things to do before your photography session with professional photographer...

More often than not, people would require to have their photos taken by a professional photographer at one point in their lives. They may need these photos for work purposes, for the sheer sake of vanity, to serve as gifts or giveaways during a special occasion or even just for the simple experience of having photos taken by a professional photographer.

So if you are one of those people who will soon have a special photo shoot, here are 10 things that you must do before your photography session with a professional photographer:

1. Be sure that you and your professional photographer have the same vision, theme and idea in mind. This means that before your big photography session, you and your photographer must have already agreed on the location of the shoot, on what type of clothes to wear, on the theme or idea of the photo shoot, on the time of the shoot and even on which type of cameras and films to use. After all, there are photographers who may still use film and who may like to use black and white photography even though these were not your preference from the very beginning. Also, if you have certain demands from your photographer, be sure to make this clear with him or her from the very beginning.

2. Sleep, sleep, sleep. Catch as much zzz’s as you can. To have restful nights of sleep starting at least 3 days before your photography session can help put your mind and body at ease. Getting as much as 8 hours of sleep a day can also help get rid of those dark circles around your eyes.

3. Drink lots of water. Water can help keep your skin healthy and supple.

4. Pick appropriate clothes, appropriate shoes and appropriate accessories. This is where the points found in item number 1 are also applicable. If you and your photographer have already agreed on the theme, idea, location and other details, then it’s easy for you to figure out the type of clothes, footwear and accessories to bring to the photo shoot.

5. Have a test make-up session. This is especially true for ladies. Conduct test make-up sessions preferably while wearing the clothes that you will wear during your photography session.

This will help you figure out if the make-up will help accentuate your whole look or not. Doing test make-up sessions will also remind you not to be too playful with your looks on the day of the photo shoot. Go with what works and what makes you look your best.

6. Don't worry about loosing weight or about the state of your skin! Remember, there is nothing the magic retouching brush cannot touch up and remove!

7. Practice in front of a mirror. There is no crime in practising various poses in front of a mirror. Go online, check the different poses made by models on magazines and fashion websites and try to mimic these. Remember - you are the star during the photography session. Besides, projecting various poses may help keep your professional photographer happy and excited to capture great shots.

8. Bring a cheering squad. On the very day of your big photography session, bring your own little posse of fans. They can be close friends and relatives - people who will surround you with nothing but positive vibes during your session with a professional photographer. These people will help lift your spirits up during the entire day. We’re sure these people will also not mind if you request them to be your personal assistants…at least for the day.

9. Have a back-up plan. Always be ready with a back-up plan just in case the weather goes bad on the day of your photo shoot or if something happens at the last minute.

10. Smile, relax and put yourself in the hands of your photographer. Nothing beats having a smile on your face and having a sunny disposition on the day of your photo shoot. Just breathe and relax. Chances are, if you have a talented and personable professional photographer, not only will you have a wonderful experience during your photography session but you will also get the best photos! And, chances are, if your professional photographer is from Headshot London Photography, you have made the best choice.


If you still have questions in regards to your photography session then also have a look at frequently asked questions for actors, questions for portrait sessions, faqs for fashion shoots, faqs for family portraits or faqs for corporate PR shots.


(c) Headshot London - Leading professional photographers in London at http://www.headshotlondon.co.uk