Camera technology has come so far in the last fifty years. With the shift from film to digital and the availability of cheap cameras, everyone has a camera now. Heck, iPhones take better images than digital cameras from just a few years ago. With so many cameras, so many people think they are professional photographers. How can you tell those who know what they are doing from those who only think they do? What makes a professional and how can you identify one from the images they produce?
1. Pros don’t light their subject straight on. Whenever possible a professional will position the light source away from the camera to give the subject shape. You can identify this by a shadow. Does the subject have a shadow on one side of the face or the other. It can be subtle, so you may have to look closely.
2. No lines through the head. In the industry we call these mergers. Examples of mergers are horizons, trees, or columns and they create a feeling of cutting the image into parts. Occasionally these are okay if the image has enough other strong features, but should be avoided if possible.
3. Pros have catch lights. Have you ever looked at an image and said the eyes look dead? Hollow, like something out of zombie flick? Look at the eyes. There should a little reflection of light in the eye. You should especially see this on close up shots of the face.
4. Pros have a consistent style. It is great to have variety in the images, but they also have a particular look that threads through multiple images. Style can very greatly from one photographer to another. Whether it is an overexposed whimsical look or a high contrast feel with lots of saturation in the images. Ask to see multiple events or photographs from several different shoots.
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Lastly, make sure you enjoy the personality of the photographer you are looking to hire. Whether it is your wedding, a birthday, or a portrait session, the better you connect with the person behind the camera, the better your photos will be.
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