When To Use An Amateur Photog

Getting started in Photography in Utah can be rough. I think I heard once that we have the most photographers of any state (but don't quote me on that.) Everyone and their dogs has a photography business these days! It can be hard to sift through the incredible, experienced photographers who often cost a fortune, all the way down to the newbies who show up at your wedding with their iPhone a-ready.
Odds are, once you've chosen a photographer, it's for one of three reasons:

1- You've looked through their work, liked what you saw, and want the sort of pictures they generally produce.
2- They were the cheapest you could find, and cheap gets the job done.
3- You know them personally, you know they do photography, so you use them regardless of price or experience.

Now as a Photographer I wholly believe in Community over Competition. I try my hardest never to put down a new photographer, just because I know how devastating it is when someone who is better than you (and there is always someone better) bashes your work. How would the newbies ever get experience if no one ever gave them a chance? But as a client, I think it's important to know when and where you should use an amateur photographer.

DO use an Amateur Photographer:
-When they are offering a good deal to build their portfolio
-If you've seen some of their previous work (and it's decent)
-To practice for an upcoming session with a professional. (Want to make sure your outfits look as good as you think? Do you want to try some different poses and see what you like best in the finished product?)
-As a second shooter for a large event like a wedding (if approved by your current photographer.)
-To help out someone you know that is looking to get into photography

DO NOT use an Amateur Photographer:
-For a newborn session
-For a birth story
-For a first-look session
-For a wedding
-For any photoshoot that couldn't be taken again if the pictures don't turn out.
-If they are charging absurd amounts that don't seem to match their work

I support and am happy to help any up and coming photographer, but the fact is you take on a personal risk when allowing an inexperienced photographer to take photos for you that can't be replaced. I can't tell you how many people I see who first refuse to use a professional because of the price, and then end up using them later because their newborn pictures were never returned to them, or their wedding pictures were so dark you couldn't see anyone's faces.
I've been there. I've been that photographer not taking the highest quality photos for people, because as prepared as they might feel, it's hard! It's a hobby that takes a lot of time and practice to learn, and you don't want to find out in your dimly lit reception hall that they have no clue how to shoot in low lighting conditions. 
But, when you can, it is always great to help a new photographer fine tune their craft and build their business! Ultimately, you should always do your homework first.

What To Wear

I am going to keep this one brief, because you can Google "What to wear on a photoshoot" and find thousands of good ideas and color schemes to follow. These are just my tips based on what I've seen that works, and what doesn't!
#1 Black is not as Slimming as You Think Not only that, but it is very dull in photos and really washes you out. I only recommend wearing black, or any neutrals, if it is just a really great outfit that you are dying to have captured on film. 
#2 No need to go Seasonal I see a lot of people who just LOVE fall, so they schedule a fall session and then deck themselves out in oranges and browns. That's great for your Fall-themed room, but in general it's always better to pick outfits that will fit any season. Not only do you not want to blend in to your background, but you don't want your pictures to look dated and out of place in your home every other season of the year.
#3 You are ALWAYS better off with color My favorite pictures are the ones where people choose bright colors for their color scheme. You don't have to choose bright reds- pastels look great too. Just think COLOR.

(I am using this cute family as an example- again- because they totally killed what to wear in this session. They chose dark colors, but not black, and contrasted it with the bright colors in her shirt and in the little boy's shorts. I was so proud.)

#4 Monochrome doesn't mean Matching Although it might seem simple to tell everyone in your family to wear White- a color everyone probably has- it usually ends up looking very, um, 90's, in photos. To match, you don't need to wear the same color, just colors that complement eachother.
#5 Please oh Please DO NOT Wear Clothing With Words We've all seen the kids in the yearbook who mistakenly wore a shirt with giant words across the front on picture day. Not only does it look tacky, but it's very distracting in a photo! When you see words, you can't help but read them. It detracts from the rest of the picture if someone is constantly reading your shirt. (And no, I will not photoshop the words out of every picture. Yes, people have asked,)
#6 How I shop I am by far the pickiest person in my family to shop for, so I start with me. For our latest family pictures, I found something bright that I liked, and then found shirts for my husband and our little boy that complemented what I was wearing. It also helps to ask your photographer what the location you will be using looks like- if we had all worn yellow in these pictures, it would have been a lot of yellow to look at. 

How to have a Peaceful Photoshoot... with Kids

Families and kids are one of my favorite photo sessions to take. They are the pictures you get done only once in a great while, the ones you take solely for the purpose of filling that blank space on your wall. But they are also some of the most stressful shoots, mostly for mom and dad.
I get it: just a few days ago we met up with one of my best friends to trade family pictures, and before the first picture was taken I was already feeling pretty stressed. I only have one little one year old, but our family of three still took awhile to get dressed in cute matching clothes, and make sure they stayed clean. Add in trying to get my curious little boy to stare at the camera and smile, and you've got a recipe for major stress. When the wind started to blow my hair crazy, I realized a whole side to this family session thing I didn't as the photographer: it's not just sitting and smiling. It's hard work!
Inevitably, a lot of the sessions with young kids end in tears or tantrums or just plain refusing to smile. And with nearly every family, it's the same story: first, the bribes start.
"Mommy will buy you any candy bar you want if you just smile for this picture!"
"Remember if you're a good girl we can get ice cream after this!"
When that doesn't work (or when it only works for one picture), the threats start.
"You won't get a treat if you don't smile!"
"You don't get to play with your friends after this if you don't behave!"
"Smile!!! 5....4...3..."
Now, I'm not one to judge anyone's parenting style. I know how hard it is, and I definitely know how desperate you feel after spending all day getting your family to look their best. Just pretend we are a perfect family for 10 minutes! I am paying for this!
But as a photographer, this bothers me for several reasons.
For one, I genuinely want you to have a good time at your session! Your pictures will be so much better if your family is relaxed and happy. The smiles are more natural, and you won't feel angry every time you walk past that picture for years to come.
Secondly, you ARE paying for this. Very rarely do families show up in clothes they chose last minute, with hair a mess and food stains on their faces. It takes planning, it takes work, and it takes money. Your time and money are valuable to me, so as your photographer I'm not going to give up ten minutes into a session just because little Timmy is throwing a tantrum.
So without further ado, these are my few little hints to help you have an enjoyable, peaceful photo session... even with kids.

#1: Let Your Photographer Take Control I know for me it goes against my very nature to let someone else parent while I am around. But my years of nanny experience have taught me one very important thing: Kids are much more likely to listen to a stranger than they are to mom. Mom is just too familiar and easy to rebel against.
If you've chosen a somewhat seasoned photographer, they have been through this whole routine before. We are not thrown when cute little Susie rips out her bows and starts screaming. We have plenty of tricks up our sleeve to help keep kids happy.
Put yourself in their shoes: you've just been driven someplace you've never been before. You are sat down, alone, probably somewhere uncomfortable, and told to smile at the nice stranger with the big black camera.
It's not comfortable, and it doesn't make for great pictures. And after sessions like that, I hate to say it, but I can just tell a lot of kids leave just hating the photographer. That session was torture! The next session is only going to be worse, because now getting your picture taken is as bad as going to the dentist.
So, let your photographer take the lead. I like to talk to the kids, show them their best pictures on my camera, ask if they can smile even better than that. When they feel like they are my friend, they are much more themselves. Those are the pictures you want taken!

#2 Be Prepared For the littlest kids, it's always good to be prepared with your go-to things that make them smile. I've been blessed with an extra-smiley baby, but I also know just what to do to get that big grin just in time to snap a picture.
Does your little one love a certain song or rhyme? Is there a toy that always makes them smile? Bring them along, but wait for your photographer's cue to use them. It's these sessions that usually have me, mom, and dad dancing around like crazy people, but we always get cute smiles!

#3 Let Yourself Relax I realize you're not spending a day at the spa. But a photo session can really be a fun outing for you and your family! You are already dressed up, so go out for dinner afterwards, or the ice cream you've been promising little Timmy! Have fun with your session, and don't set too many expectations. The worst is when someone comes to me with a list of Pinterest-inspired photos that we just have to get done during our session. It's great to have in mind what you want, but be open to different poses and shots. Your photographer can see things you can't, and you've most likely chosen them because you like the work they've done before. Trust that they are creating something just as magical for you!

#4 Stop, stop, stop the Threats! If taking away privileges is your go-to form of punishment at your house, then more power to you. But when your child is posed, arms crossed and a permanent frown on his face, telling him you are going to take away his DS is NOT going to produce a smile. At least, not the kind of smile we are going for. When I'm doing one-on-one pictures of kids, I often recommend that mom and dad take a little walk, or distract themselves with something nearby. Odds are, the kid really has nothing against me or having his picture taken, he just wants a reaction from his parents. Once he figures out we are friends, I can usually catch a cute smile while we talk about his favorite games.

#5 Be Patient I know the minute you step out of the car and shake your photographers hand, it feels like the clock starts ticking. Depending on the type of session you have, you may have a certain time limit imposed. But sitting and immediately demanding everyone pastes on a smile usually doesn't produce the kinds of pictures you want printed! With larger families, I almost always have to do some head swaps in photoshop. It's just too hard to get multiple people looking and smiling all at the same time, without anyone closing their eyes! For me, I want to move on to the next pose, so I usually make sure I have at least one of each person looking and then move on.
As the adults, you will make your session so much quicker if you just keep looking at the camera and smiling. There is nothing more frustrating than when I finally get the perfect shot of the kid who wouldn't cooperate- but both mom and dad are not looking because they were distracted with the kid. Again, trust your photographer. Let them do what they can to get the right reaction. Enjoy the fact that for this brief moment, all you have to do is sit and smile!

#6 Be OK with Candid Some kids just do not want to pose. Ever. And that's ok! Some of my favorite poses from sessions are the candid ones that happen between families while they are trying to get each other to smile. When all else fails, it's ok to set your kids free and let them play. I will take my camera along and get some professional shots of your kid being a kid, being themselves.

Until next time,
Anndee