08/20/2026
The Doās & Donāts of Hiring a Photographer šø
When you hire a photographer, youāre hiring them because youāve seen their portfolio, love their work, and trust their ability to create beautiful images.
Photography is more than showing up with a camera. Lighting, location, weather, timing, posing, wardrobe, and editing all play a role in the final result. So if youāve chosen a photographer whose work you love, trust their expertise too. š¤
ā DONāT ignore location or lighting recommendations.
If your photographer recommends a certain location, direction, or time of day, thereās a reason. A beautiful location doesnāt always equal beautiful lighting. Good light will beat a pretty background every time.
ā DONāT ignore weather advice.
If your photographer tells you itās going to be extremely windy and recommends wearing your hair upāplease listen. š
If they suggest avoiding a certain beach because the sun will be directly in your eyes, thereās a reason.
We can work with a lot of things, but unfortunately, we still havenāt figured out how to control Mother Nature.
ā DONāT heavily filter or re-edit your professional photos.
This is a BIG one.
Please do not put heavy filters over your photographerās finished images, change the colors, alter the editing, or have someone else re-edit them.
Editing is part of a photographerās art and brand. When an altered image is posted with their name attached to it, it no longer accurately represents their work.
If there is something about an image you would like adjusted, ask your photographer first. Most would much rather you communicate with them than edit over their finished work.
ā DONāT screenshot your gallery if downloads are available.
Screenshots reduce the quality of your images. Download your photographs directly from the gallery using the instructions provided so you receive the highest-quality files.
ā DONāT crop out watermarks or photographer credits.
If a photographer has provided a watermarked preview or sneak peek, please donāt intentionally remove their branding.
ā DONāT expect every location or Pinterest photo to look exactly the same.
Pinterest is amazing for inspiration, but lighting, weather, location, outfits, body types, seasons, and surroundings are different for every session.
We can absolutely use an image as inspiration while still creating something that feels like you.
ā DONāT be afraid to communicate BEFORE your session.
Tell your photographer about insecurities, mobility concerns, must-have photographs, family dynamics, or anything else that could affect your session.
Communication helps us take better care of you.
ā DONāT arrive late and expect the same amount of shooting time.
Photographers often schedule sessions around very specific lightingāespecially at sunset. Ten or fifteen minutes can make a huge difference when we're chasing the last bit of daylight.
And now for the DO'S...
āļø DO choose your photographer based on their portfolioānot just their price.
āļø DO look through full galleries when possible so you understand their style.
āļø DO trust their recommendations on lighting, timing, locations, posing, and wardrobe.
āļø DO communicate what matters most to you.
āļø DO show up ready to have fun and let your photographer guide you.
āļø DO tell your photographer if you're uncomfortable with a pose or idea.
āļø DO download and back up your finished gallery.
āļø DO print your photographs! They deserve to live somewhere other than your phone. š¤
And most importantly...
DO trust the person you hired.
You chose your photographer because something about their portfolio made you say, āI want my photos to look like THAT.ā
So give them the opportunity to create.
Listen to their recommendations. Trust their eye. Trust the process. Let them worry about the light, angles, posing, and technical stuff while you focus on enjoying the moment.
You hired an artist whose work you loveālet them do what you hired them to do. šøš¤
