Mistakes to Avoid When Hiring a Photographer

​Not the best experience..

Note: This article is focused on how to hire a headshot photographer. If you're looking for engagement photos, consider this guide: Engagement Photographer NYC: How to Find the Best One for You

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One time, we had a client call us in tears. "I just left a really highly-rated headshot studio that I found on Yelp. They took my pictures and none of them looked like me! I wasn't comfortable during the shoot, and once I saw the images, I wasn't happy with any of them."

We asked why she couldn't just do a reshoot with the photographer or get a refund, and she said they wouldn't accommodate her. She then proceeded to ask us if we had any availability that day. Fortunately there were a few open slots and since she was already in makeup, we offered for her to come in to take some photos with us right away.

Long story short, after the shoot ended, she was extremely happy and walked away with a set of headshots she loved, and we were ecstatic to have helped her. She left us a really nice Yelp review that we're very thankful for.

But the truth is, ​at least a few times a month someone tells us a horror story about the last photographer they worked with.

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Sometimes the shooter doesn't show up to the shoot. Sometimes the results of the final product are less than stellar and there are no refunds or reshoots granted.

Or in some cases, a photographer will deliberately underbid every other quote just to get the job... and then their lack of experience becomes evident the moment the client realizes the shoot is running an hour behind schedule or the photos aren't turning out as expected.

​We hear these stories frequently, so we decided to put together this simple guide to show you how to more easily choose a trustworthy, reliable, and highly skilled photographer in your city or town.

​Our Simple, 4-Step Process to Pick a Great Headshot Photographer

Step 1: Find 20-30 Photographers to Consider

1. Ask for referrals: Did anyone you know recently shoot a headshot? Ask them if they would recommend their photographer, and write down the website.
2. Find 10 photographers on Yelp: Look at the first page of Yelp-listed headshot photographers. Write down the websites of the most highly-rated 10 photographers.
3. Find 10 photographers on Google: Look at the first page or two of Google-listed headshot photographers. Write down the websites of all of the ones that are listed. Photographers that show up on Google tend to be frequented by lots of people, so chances are they are trustworthy.
4. Now you have a list: You should now have a list of about 20-30 headshot photographer's websites, and you can move onto Step 2.

Step 2: Narrow the Photographers Down to a Few Top Choices (based on a checklist)

1. Check to ensure they do the type of photography you need: Next you'll want to visit the websites of each of these 20-30 photographers. Do a quick check to ensure that they know about the type of photography you're looking for (do they shoot corporate headshots or only actor headshots - or do they offer both?).
2. Use our checklist to narrow them down: Go to the "10 Point Headshot Photographer Checklist" towards the bottom of this page and consider each of the notes there. Eliminate any photographers that don't provide what you most care about.
3. Consider 5 additional things (optional): Watch this short video to see 5 useful bonus questions you can ask your photographer:

​Step 3: Contact Your Final Selections and See How They Respond

• You're almost there: You'll probably have it narrowed down to about 3-5 final photographers who offer most everything you need and/or care about.
• Contact them: Send those photographers an email (or you can call them) and see how quick they are to respond. Feel free to ask them any questions you still need answered.
• Narrow it down to the final choice: Some might be too busy to fit you in, some might not be as friendly as you hoped or might not respond quickly. You can narrow it down further at this point.

Step 4: Go With Your Gut Instinct & Commit

• Commit 100%: The final step is to choose someone and commit 100%. Your gut feeling is usually right, so go with the photographer you feel most confident in, and commit to working with them. 
• Stay positive during your shoot: Remember that the best way to get the photos you need is to stay positive and happy. If you don't fully commit and feel nervous that you might have chosen the wrong photographer, they'll sense your hesitation and your shoot might not be as successful as it could be.
• Stay relaxed and friendly with the photographer: Be understanding if something goes slightly wrong during the shoot. Don't immediately get cold feet and back out. Occasionally things go wrong with even the most perfect photographers. True professionals will apologize and fix it for you.
• Be honest with your photographer: Your shoot will probably go great, but if for some reason it doesn't go well, you can still feel confident because you've done your homework and have chosen someone who offers a money-back guarantee. Be OK with voicing your concerns to the photographer to see if they can fix whatever happened. If they can't, they will refund you or offer a reshoot.

​You might want to check out this article if you're still deciding on someone: How to Prepare for a Headshot Session

Now that you know the simple formula to make choosing a photographer easier, you can take a look at the checklist further down.

​10 Point Headshot Photographer Checklist

Note: you don't have to use EVERYTHING here, just focus on the things you care most about:​

1. Specialist in headshots. Headshot photography is very different than portrait and modeling photography. A portrait photographer works with experienced models who are trained to pose for the camera, but they have limited experience helping regular, day-to-day people who don't know what they're doing in front of the lens. Hiring a photographer who doesn't specifically specialize in headshots can quickly turn into a blind-leading-the-blind situation if you're not careful.
2. Easily accessible prices. In general, most reliable headshot photographers post their packages right on their website. If they don't, be aware that they might increase their rates depending on who you are or what company you're with. If you can't find prices, ask them to email you a rate sheet. Prices can range from $50 to $1,500 and more, but price does NOT always determine quality. The rest of the factors in this article will give you a better sense of whether the photographer is a good option for you.
3. Extremely specific direction. From the photographer's website, does it sound like they'll be specific with the directions they give you? The more confident the photographer makes you feel, the better your expression will be. It's much easier to work with someone who gives you clear and concise directions such as, "Tilt your chin down, relax your lips..." etc., than with someone who just says, "Ok, do your thing!" (seriously, we've heard this from clients). Try getting a feel for the photographer's personality through their website or you can call and talk to them on the phone.
4. Should help you brand your headshot. Different backgrounds, expressions, and lighting styles say different things to an audience, and depending on whether you're in finance or technology, or whether you're using your photo on LinkedIn, for online dating purposes, acting, or medical residency applications, the background and overall look of the shot might be different. Be sure the photographer knows what will work best for you and will make specific recommendations to you based on your needs. You probably don't want someone who makes no recommendations and just asks, "So what do want me to do for you?" If you're an actor, learn how to find your brand here.
5. No hidden fees. We've occasionally heard from clients that previous photographers took their photos for $500 and then watermarked all their images and told them after the fact that they would have to pay $40 for EACH image they wanted to use. Crazy, we know! It's best if the photographer gives you access to all the high-resolution images after the shoot (or at least tells you up front if there will be additional fees).
6. Defined by the worst photo in their portfolio. Look at the photos in their portfolio and pay extra attention to expression. Do any people have a "deer in the headlights" look with their eyes? Does anyone's mouth look tense? Do you see any smiles that look fake or forced? A great headshot photographer should never post poor images in their portfolio - if you see even one shot that looks bad, ask yourself: "Why they would think this image was good enough to post in their portfolio?"
7. Shows you the photos during the session. If they don't do this, it means you'll have no idea what you're getting, and you could wind up being surprised with a set of photos you're unhappy with because they were all taken on your bad side or with a background you didn't want. Be sure to ask before booking if you'll be able to see the images during the shoot.
8. Reshoots or refunds if you're unhappy. Before booking and placing a deposit, ask the photographer what their reshoot or refund policy is if you're unhappy. In many cases, it can be challenging to see the photos clearly in the tiny screen on the back of the camera, and you might be surprised (in a bad way) when you get home and see them big on your computer screen. Remember, spending even just $50 for a cheap headshot is useless if your photos cast you in a bad light and hurt your career (or if you wind up deciding to redo your photos with a better - and more expensive - photographer and no refund was granted for that $50).
9. Professional studio environment. Most beginning photographers won't have access to a professional studio and will do their shoots outdoors or inside their apartment. This is fine, but be sure to ask where they shoot because it can be awkward showing up to an unprofessional location if you're not expecting it - not only because you might feel out of place, but what if they have a cat or dog and you're allergic? Or what if they don't have proper liability insurance and you trip over something and get hurt? If you're uncomfortable working in someone's home and you think it might cause you to feel (and look) uncomfortable in your shots, don't go that route.
10. You should understand the value they provide. Ask yourself, "What is the value this headshot will provide in my career? Am I willing to invest $500-1,000 on a photo that could help position me for a $10,000 promotion or $75,000/year job?" If a photographer you really want to work with is completely outside the stretch of your budget, we don't recommend you put yourself in financial trouble to work with them. Remember: even though many expensive photographers post success stories on their websites showing how their headshot helped someone achieve something amazing, you're not hearing about all the other work the client did towards making that amazing thing happen (or the thousands of other people who've worked with the photographer that did not have amazing success stories like that). Invest as much as you can in your headshot, but never put yourself in financial trouble for it.

Recommended Reading:

Here are a couple extra articles I think you'll find helpful:

• Actors: Why a Brand is So Important
• 5 Reasons You're More Photogenic Than You Think
• How to Prepare for a Headshot Session
• The Best Colors & Clothing to Wear On-Camera