Finding a photographer that can deliver what you are looking for, plus mesh with your family is huge! I've put together some important questions you can ask yourself as you are looking for a photographer. Here we go!

Are they a good communicator?

This is really important when booking family photos. Your photographer should give you as many details as they can to help you feel ready for your session. You should feel like you can as your photographer questions and get clear answers. They need to give you good instructions of where the location is and any important details about the location you may need to consider before hand.

Do you love their photography style?

Don't hire a photographer if you don't love the way they edit photos. If the posing they use is not what you are looking for, keep looking for a photographer that has the style you want. All legit photographers should have a place on their website where they display a portfolio for you to look though. This will be a great determining factor when choosing a photographer.

Do they offer to help with outfits?

This piece of planning a session can be tricky. You want a photographer that is willing to help you know what your family should where. The photographer should be sharing with you some ideas and giving guidance concerning what to wear for your photos. They should also be willing to take a look at your clothing and recommend something different if they see something that isn't a good fit for your session.

Do they have good locations to offer?

Find out if your photographer has a good list of tried and true locations to share with you. Maybe you already have an idea of a location in mind, so share that with them. However, your photographer should be able to recommend locations to you that they are familiar with.

Does the photographer provide a style that is consistent?

This is a big one. Go all over the photographer's website, (okay, they really should have a legit website too. This shows how serious they are about their business.) and look at the photos. Do the photos show consistency? You want to feel confident that if you hire them, you will be getting similar styled photos. You don't want to pull up their website and see one photo that you really love, but the others are just not the same editing style. This is a red flag that means you really don't know what you are going to get from your session if you hire them. MAKE SURE THEIR WORK IS CONSISTENT.

Do the people in the photos look natural and comfortable?

A good photographer will walk you through natural looking poses. The end result should be stunning photos where the people in them look comfortable. Photos should never come off as awkward or strange. They can feel fun and maybe silly, but not awkward.

Does the photographer have any reviews?

Ask around and search online to find reviews for your photographer. You want to make sure they will be a good fit for your family. Make sure they are kind, patience, flexible, consistent, easy to work with, etc. Finding a photographer with a good attitude and who can think on their feet during a session is going to make your life so much easier.

What are the prices?

As a mother of four, I'm constantly looking for the best price or best deal. However, there are some things that I am willing to spend more money on. Photography is one of them. Pricing can usually tell you a lot about a photographer. Usually, if a photographer's prices are higher, this means the photographer has been in business a long time and has the experience running a business and working with kids and families. They are able to produce consistent and beautiful photos. They know how to shift gears if a child is having a meltdown. They have backup gear. They know how to help you have a fun and stress-free session, from start to finish.

If you find a photographer that has low prices, make sure you do your research to make sure they are legit and can give you the experience you are looking for. Photos last a lifetime and you can't go backwards in time to get photos you wished you'd have of your kids. Make sure you are getting photos that are worth your time.

Okay, I hope this was helpful and you feel more prepare when photographer shopping. As always, let me know if you have any questions.