If you spend even a minute on a Google search, you will see that there are hundreds of family photographers in San Diego. This can be overwhelming, to say the least. From new art school graduates to long established professionals, the options are seemingly endless. If you are going to get the whole family together, and be camera ready, you want the results to be amazing. So how do you decide?

There are many decent photographers out there. Many of them we even know professionally or personally. But it takes a San Diego family photographer with real talent and imagination to capture incredible family photos. These are the types of images that you will want to frame and keep as the centerpiece of your living room. The kinds of photos where, when you picture your family in your head, you see these stylized compositions. This is the level of quality we aim to produce on every single family photo shoot.

When evaluating San Diego family photographers, here are a few things to keep in mind.

1) Consider The Quality

Just like a buffet that gives you instant indigestion, more isn’t alway better. We know that family photography Groupon deal may seem enticing. It may even look too good to be true. That’s because chances are, it is. Take it from a family photographer team that has spent years perfecting our craft. A reputable and artistic photographer isn’t going to give away the farm for a $19 one-hour session and include a set of prints. There has to be a catch, or a major sacrifice in the level of work produced.

If you see a deal that seems way too cheap, do a bit of investigating. Look at each item that is included in the package. Is it really what you want, or is it fluff to entice you to buy? You can get prints anywhere these days, even at the Costco photo lab, and very cost effectively. What you can’t find just anywhere is real photography talent. Someone who will take time to get to know you and your family, and to build a stylized photo shoot around your unique personalities. If you can be analytical about it for just a moment, you will come to see the offer for what it is.

Also, if you see a steep online discount, take a look at the photographer’s online portfolio. This will give you a better representation of what the images are actually like, as opposed to the 2-3 photos in the offer. Are they muddy and not color corrected, with standard and artificial poses? You and your family can do better :)

2) Talk To The Owner

If possible, it is always a good idea to having an extended conversation with the owner of the family photography company. This will give you a really good sense of the company – how it operates, what the approach is like, and what the business processes are. The conversation will give you insight into what the shoot will be like. You will have the opportunity to ask questions, and to share some ideas for the shoot as inspiration. Take the time to express your goals, potential concerns, and logistical challenges. You should know a lot by the end of the conversation. You may even be ready to make a decision right then and there to book your San Diego family photographer.

If the conversation doesn’t go well, this will also provide you with valuable information. For example, let’s say the owner is not accessible, or doesn’t return your phone call. This is likely an indicator of what the rest of your experience will be like. Or perhaps the owner can’t explain their business process or next steps to your comfort. This may mean that there is not a professional foundation in place, and that everything will be haphazard and last minute.

If you leave with a bad feeling, no bargain price will be worth the headaches you’ll likely go through during the shoot itself, or afterwards. It is just a conversation, but you should end with the assurance that your family photography is in the hands of a creative and long-established professional photographer.

3) Ask To See An Entire Shoot

Even for an average photographer, it’s relatively easy to pull one or two photos from a particularly good shoot and put them online. But real test of family photographers in San Diego is in seeing what full shoot looks like. Most photographers will only show you the 1-2 images that they consider to be standouts. Even if the rest are OK, they may lack the care and artistry of the first photo that drew you in. The result is a nice portfolio of 30 images, but one that is pulled from hundreds of photo shoots. This doesn’t give you an accurate picture of the actual creativity and capabilities of the family photographer.

To be better informed, ask to see an entire family photo shoot from start to finish. Better yet, ask to see several. What you are looking for is consistency in the quality and creativity throughout the full photo shoot. This will be proof of the photographer’s skill, care and level of engagement. If there is one strong photo and 50 throwaways, this will tell you everything you need to know.

Further, if the family photographer is reluctant to show you a complete shoot, it’s likely they are not confident in their work. Or they know it is not up to par. Instead, look to hire a San Diego photography company that produces great results throughout every photo shoot, and from one shoot to the next.

Conclusion – Family Photographers In San Diego

We hope the steps above have been helpful in narrowing down your search for a family photography studio. Please know that we are always here as a professional photographer resource for you, ready to answer any questions you may have. We are also happy to walk you through examples of our work, including full portrait sessions photographed by our studio. We look forward to hearing from you soon!