No two photographers are alike. That can be both good and bad, depending on the issue. But when you need one for a once-in-a-lifetime-event like a wedding or to document the benchmarks of life (newborns, senior portraits, etc.), it can be an overwhelming decision, especially if you don’t know what you’re looking for. Shopping for anything else is usually about finding the place with the cheapest price because the product itself is basically the same no matter where you go. But that’s not the case with photography. There’s a wide range of technical craftsmanship, experience, personality, price, organizational skill, and artistic vision that determine the value of a particular photographer.
So how do you decide? What do you look for when trying to find the photographer that’s right for you? Here, I’ve compiled some information I hope is helpful in evaluating the marks of a true professional – one who knows how to help you look your best!
Clothing Choices
A good photographer will give clothing recommendations. The most important aspect of a portrait is the human face – more specifically the eyes (see Lighting). Clothes that have stripes or bold designs draw attention away from the face, and can even distort the body (horizontal stripes on a larger person will make them look wider, and vertical stripes on a thin person will make them look unnaturally thin).
The best clothing choices are usually longer sleeved pieces with darker or neutral toned colors. This deemphasizes the rest of the body and allows our interest to linger on the face and eyes of the subject.
Posing
Based on the kind of lens the photographer is using, the camera will always see a distorted reality in one way or another. A good photographer knows how to pose the subject to compensate for this natural distortion so he or she appears natural to the camera.
Beyond that, body language plays a significant role in how we interpret the emotion of an image. Although often subconscious, we can instantly sense how a person feels in a given moment and that invites us to share in those same feelings as the viewer of the image.
Lighting
Light is essential to seeing beauty. It’s what gives shape and reveals the form of a three-dimensional object when viewed on a flat piece of paper. The quality, intensity, and direction of light also dramatically effects the overall mood of the image.
“Painting with light” is literally what photography’s all about – and this is where true skill and artistry come into play. The human eye can distinguish approximately 11 different shades or ranges of light. A digital camera shooting in RAW can record up to seven. But even the best photographic papers can only hold four. A professional photographer knows how to use light to put onto paper what our eye would see naturally.
For example, perhaps you’ve noticed pictures where people have deep dark shadows around the eyes (the “raccoon eyes” look). In person, our eyes wouldn’t see this effect, but the camera and paper together have a limited range of light sensitivity and push the shadows darker and lose detail. A professional can adjust for this by filling in the shadows with an adequate amount of light without over powering the existing or ambient light while avoiding unnatural, harsh or unflattering shadows. A photographer’s portfolio will tell you whether or not he or she understands light or just lets the camera do the work – in which case begs the question, are you looking for a camera-clicker or a professional photographer?
Basic Retouching
Even the most beautiful of folks still get pimples and could probably use a little more sleep the night before, so everyone benefits from basic retouching. Retouching removes blemishes, dark circles under the eyes, stray hairs, distracting elements in the background. It can also enhance the image by reducing unflattering shadows and softening the skin. The best retouching is always subtle even if extensive; otherwise the image appears false and gives us a negative impression.
Creative Enhancements
With the advancements in digital photography, it’s now easier than ever to create something no one has ever seen before. This above all else is what distinguishes one photographer from another – the unique vision of the artist. Even if all professionals had the same level of technical knowledge and skill, their artistic vision would always remain something that could not be duplicated. Each photographer would still see the world differently. And that’s a beautiful thing!
I recommend finding a photographer who’s work connects with you or sparks something in you. As Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn once said, “Some things draw us beyond words. Art can warm even a chilled and sunless soul to an exalted spiritual experience. Through art we occasionally receive – indistinctly, briefly – revelations the likes of which cannot be achieved by rational thought alone.” Art can bring a complete stranger to tears, it can remind us of who we love most, it can give us a vision for better living. And that’s inspiring to me!
© 2007 Kameron Bayne
