Do Your Research!

The person behind the camera is as an important consideration as the images they produce. Most are great people, passionate about getting you fantastic results. Others, however, are great at giving warm fuzzies but deliver less than fantastic results. And, alarmingly, there are those few out there that deserve serious scrutiny due to a shady history.

Here is a short list of things I hope you consider whether your shoot is a professional endeavor, deeply personal or just for-fun. Knowing your photographers reputation and having great confidence in their abilities will go a long way toward really enjoying your time and will ensure that looking back on the pictures is a completely pleasant memory.

• WHO is your photographer? We suggest taking a moment to GOOGLE THEM. This is very important if you are bringing someone into your personal living space or are going to be on location with them. With the great number of skilled photographers available, there just isn’t a good reason to pick a questionable option. If they have a spiffy website and nice gallery but also a criminal history related to their work as a photographer, why on Earth run that risk? Gloria Lux is in an enviable position to only work with the best of the best. We are proud of our relationships, and our history.

• REVIEWS can be a dubious beginning. No one really allows negative reviews on their website. Facebook reviews are more difficult for someone to filter, but there are cases of non-clients leaving nasty reviews too, so this is not a 100% reliable resource. Look for clues that talk about how easy the photographer was to get along with. Were they on time? Were they mannerly, respectful, professional and well equipped? Lastly, don’t be afraid to ask for references!

• CAPABILITY - Many ‘pros’ show up to a shoot with a camera, a lens or two and start moving you around to get the best light. These ‘natural light’ shooters can get pleasant results, but they should show up with tools to control the light, not succumb to it. We have, on many occasions, used just the natural available light because that suited the shot. But we never fail to show up with a variety of tools to ENSURE success. If you have the luxury of time, ask your photographer what they expect and how the the shoot will be orchestrated before the day of the shoot. This is not only important to ensure you get what you want, but will also set the expectations of timing as proper lighting requires a bit of care in setting up.

• More is Merrier! We ALWAYS invite (and encourage) having someone come along with you for your shoot! Preferably someone who is not going to be photographed, so they can help with keeping an eye on makeup, hair strays, etc and generally make the setting a bit more comfortable and fun! If this is ever discouraged by a photographer, ask why, then do it anyway. Or call us!