What Makes One Photographer Different From Another

What Makes One Photographer Different From Another? – Seven Areas That Photographers Differ

You may think that every Photographer pretty much do the same thing and that there is not too much difference between one Photographer and the next. Photographers are actually different in many different ways. Here is a brief article that dives into what makes one Photographer different from another.

Photographers Have Different Styles

Perhaps one of the most important areas of what makes one Photographer different from another is their style. Although you may not be familiar with the “style” of a Photographer, you should be able to tell by looking at their portfolio/website. If you can see yourself in the types of images that they have on their website, you may be a good fit.

One of the biggest mistakes you can make when hiring a Photographer is trying to get them to shoot in a style that they do not shoot in. I tend to shoot in a very candid style. I love getting people moving as opposed to posing stationary. Also, consider whether or not your Photographer has a studio. Some people prefer a studio session as opposed to outdoor portraits.

Photographers also edit their images in a certain style. I recommend looking through their portfolio/website to make sure this is what you are looking for as well.

Most Photographers Specialize In Certain Niches

Another important thing to think about when it comes to what makes one Photographer different from another is the areas they specialize in. Believe it or not, but most Photographers do not shoot everything. Some Photographers only shoot weddings.

While others shoot a variety of different types of sessions. Similar to understanding a Photographer’s style, I recommend looking at their portfolio/website to see the types of sessions they specialize in. If a Photographer primarily shoots corporate headshots, they may not specialize in shooting families with young children. Also keep in mind that although a Photographer may shoot families, they may not specialize in newborn portraits.

Niches like wedding photography, newborns, and architecture/real estate photography, are niches that I consider to be specialized. They take a lot of experience to shoot them. And I would not assume that your Photographer specializes in them. For example, I only shoot 5-10 lifestyle newborn sessions a year and typically begin working with families with children that are six months or older.

Prices And Final Delivery of Images Vary

One of the most obvious areas of what makes one Photographer different from another are their prices and packages. When it comes to prices, they are typically based off of experience and the type of photography they specialize in. I do not recommend booking a Photographer based solely on their prices. Finding a Photographer that matches the style of photography you are looking for is a more important factor.

Also keep in mind how the final images are delivered. When it comes to images, here are several ways that one Photographer may differ from the next:

The amount of images you will receive: some Photographers offer a certain amount of images and additional images can be purchased. Some Photographers offer a minimum amount but no maximum amount of images
How the images are delivered: via a download link, an online gallery with or without an expiration date, low or high resolution, prints only, with watermarks
Unedited or Raw images: most photographers do not offer Raw images to clients. But some Photographers may offer unedited images and charge to have a certain amount of images edited.

If you are not sure exactly what you will receive, make sure to thoroughly look through your photography contract. If there is a question, make sure to ask your Photographer well in advance of the session – so that everyone is on the same page 😉

Full-Time vs Part-Time

Another area of what makes one Photographer different from another is whether or not they are full or part time. Whether a Photographer is full or part time does not necessarily make them better or worse than the next Photographer. But a part-time Photographer may only be available on weekends and this can be hard to schedule a session with them. When looking to book a Photographer, make sure to check that their availability matches with yours.

Where They Are Located At And If They Travel For Photography

In general, Photographers tend to shoot their sessions in a certain region. For example, a Photographer who is based in San Jose may not travel to San Francisco for portrait sessions. A typical weekend for me may involve 3 or 4 sessions on a Saturday.

Most of my sessions are scheduled within 20 minutes from one another and I am not able to travel longer distances without charging a travel fee. If you are planning a session, I recommend checking with your Photographer to see if they travel to certain cities for sessions.

If They Offer Hybrid Videography and Photography

The sixth thing to consider with what makes one Photographer different from another is if they shoot video. Although video and still photography are similar in certain aspects, they are a lot different than you may realize.

I recommend hiring a Photographer and Videographer separately. It is quite difficult for someone to simultaneously do both. Similar to how there are different niches in photography, videography is a completely different area of expertise. Videography involves creatively capturing movement, clean audio, and takes a certain skill set to be able to edit it.

Their Photography And Life Experiences

Last but not least, I would consider a Photographer’s personality and life experiences. This is perhaps the biggest area in what makes one Photographer different from another. A great way to understand this is by looking at the Photographer’s About Me page. If there is something about your Photographer’s life experience, story, etc., there is a good chance that they will be a good match with you and your family. If they have children, there is a good chance that they may be good working with kids. However, this is not always the case 🙂

Hopefully this post on what makes one Photographer different from another has been helpful. Thanks!