Trust your gut...
For many experts, they hire a photographer based on a recommendation from a trusted colleague.
Definitely a good start.
But, one thing to keep in mind is that what works for one person may not be a fit for another.
Sure, the potential partnership may lead to creating a wealth of valuable visual assets that can be used across your online presence.
Or, it could lead to a bad fit that results in a dumpster fire of a portrait session.
How do you avoid the dumpster fire part?
It comes down to intuition.
Sure, you can take your colleagues’ word and the photographers’ portfolio of work under advisement, but that's not enough to determine whether or not they’re a fit to create a valuable experience for you.
You need to believe that their personality and approach, in addition to their experience and expertise, will help pull out your essence while you’re in front of the camera.
During that initial call, if you get the slightest feeling that their could be some friction in terms of communication and direction, then trust your gut, acknowledge that this potential collaboration is not a fit, and continue your search.
It’s not worth trying to put a square peg in a round hole, especially when we’re talking about your time and money.
When thinking about hiring a professional photographer, it’s typical to make the call simply based on their track record.
But that doesn’t mean that they’ll be able to recreate the same experience and results for you.
That’s why you need to understand their process and how they work with people in front of their camera to make the call as to whether or not it’s right for you.
When qualifying a photographer for your next portrait session, be sure to have the antennas perked up and listen to how they describe the way they plan to capture you in front of the camera.
Ask them about their directing style and pay close attention to how that makes you feel.
If it’s not a fit, the good news is that there’s plenty of willing and capable professionals out there who specialize in photographing someone just like you.
You just need to trust your gut that you’ll find them :)