For someone who is looking for a Maternity photographer but has never hired a photographer before, I know just how hard it is to figure out what questions to ask. I gathered a few questions in this blog post that I think is important to ask the photographer you have in mind. When it comes to Maternity sessions, everyone has different expectations and visions, but these questions are a great starting point to make sure you find the right photographer for you!
Where will the Maternity session take place?
Looking at the photographers website and social media platforms will give you a good clue to this question, but you want to make sure that the photographer of choice is using the location that you have in mind. If you are looking for studio photos, you want to be certain that the photographer is specialized in studio photography. To get the most out of your session, choose a photographer who is best at what you are looking for. Example, if you want your maternity photos to be taken at the beach – you want to see that the photographer is already using the beach as one location for her/his work and doesn’t have to change their style for your images. If the photographer has to change their way of working to give you the images that you are looking for, it’s probably not the best photographer for you.
Do you provide Maternity dresses for the session or styling help?
What you wear will have a big impact on what your images will look like. Are you looking for a photographer that will include dress rentals, or help you with styling? Then this is a question you definitely want to ask. If you are looking for dress rentals or help with styling for your upcoming session, it is also a good idea to take a look at their gallery and see if the mood of styling / wardrobe is matching what you have in mind. If you are looking for a boho styled photography session, and all the images of this photographer includes 90’s disco looking outfits – then move on!
Will I be able to include my partner and/or kids?
Do you want to include your partner in your images? Do you have older kids that you want to participate in your maternity photos? In that case, you want to ask your photographer if this is an option. Some photographers take an extra fee for including partners/siblings, so make sure to ask that too. And as with the previous two points, take a look and see if bringing family to the sessions seems to be something this photographer is used to. Handling kids is different from handling adults, so choosing a photographer who is used to families is a great idea for you! This way you will know that he/she knows how to work with a whole family.
How many images will I receive?
Knowing what will be included in the price package you choose is important. There are different approaches to pricing in photography. Some photographers offers one package with a set amount of images, other photographers offers a package with a number of images, and the option to buy additional images. Make sure that you know what is included in the price – you don’t want that to come as a surprise after the photo shoot.
How long will it take until I receive my final images?
I know there is a great variety in how long the processing time for your images is. Some photographers deliver images within a couple of days, whereas others take weeks or months to deliver. It is a good idea to know what to expect beforehand. I’m not saying that you have to choose the photographer that has the fastest delivery (good editing takes time so sometimes a too quick turnaround time is questionable as well), I just encourage you to know what to expect.
Best of luck finding the perfect Maternity Photographer for you!
