Choosing a photographer is about much more than finding someone whose portfolio you like. You are also choosing the person who will direct you, interpret your ideas, photograph you, and potentially create images that you will use for years.
In Part 1, I talked about some of the first things you should consider when choosing a photographer. Here are some more questions I think are worth asking before you make your decision.
Ask How Much Direction You Will Receive During Your Photo Session
Although my clients often say that they want more “natural” or candid photographs, they are usually talking about posed photographs anyway. Therefore, it is better to double-check that what you mean is what the photographer understands.
Beyond that, there is another aspect which is particularly relevant to your own experience. Some professionals feel more comfortable with one style than the other. You can find photographers who are almost completely documentary, while others direct every pose.
Neither is inherently better, but you need to know which experience you're buying.
Ask:
Will you tell me how to pose?
Will you help me with expressions?
Will you direct where I stand?
Do you prefer spontaneous moments?
How much interaction will there be during the session?
Someone who feels uncomfortable in front of a camera may actually need more direction, not less.
©2026 Leticia Gaidon Bradford Photography. All Rights Reserved.
Choose a Photographer Whose Personality Makes You Comfortable
This is often overlooked, but it can completely change the mood of the photo session and the final result.
You're going to spend quite a lot of time with this person. For example, for a wedding, potentially an entire day or for a personal branding session, several hours.
You need someone whose communication style makes you comfortable.
A photographer can have an incredible portfolio and still not be the right person for you. So, how do you know if a photographer is personally a good match for you?
Have a consultation with them.
Many photographers offer a free consultation, and I think it is important that you have one if it is available. You usually wouldn't buy a house without seeing it first or hire a lawyer without speaking to them, so why would you choose a photographer without having a conversation first?
I know it can feel like a pain, but it is only a real pain if you discover during the session that the person isn't right for you.
Understand What Is Included in Your Photography Package
This is the practical part, but it is still very relevant.
Don't compare photographers purely by their headline price, because the service is likely to be different for every professional.
©2026 Leticia Gaidon Bradford Photography. All Rights Reserved.
Consider asking at least some of these questions so you have a meaningful reference point:
How long is the session?
How many images are included?
Are the images professionally retouched?
Are digital files included?
Are prints included?
Is there a separate image-selection appointment?
Can additional images be purchased?
How long does delivery take?
Is there a second photographer?
Is travel included?
What happens if something goes wrong?
This is particularly important because £500 from one photographer can mean something completely different from £500 from another.
Having said that, there is an intangible aspect that is often the most important and is usually overlooked when people compare photographers by price: the aesthetic, creativity, and experience that the professional brings.
When people approach me, they often say that they love my images and that they look different. Honestly, there are many reasons for that, and most of them took me years of study, practice, and work to develop.
You don't pay only for the photographs, you pay for the vision behind them.
Ask How Your Photographs Will Be Edited and Retouched
There is a difference between photographs being “edited” and being professionally retouched.
I prefer to take care of this personally. Some photographers consider editing a waste of time and outsource it to third parties, sometimes even overseas where editing services can be cheaper.
In my case, I prefer to have everything under my control. This isn't an inconvenience for me because I actually started my journey with photo editing before I became a photographer.
If privacy is important to you, particularly when it comes to your unedited photographs, it is worth asking whether your images are edited by the photographer themselves or sent to a third party.
You can also ask about their approach to skin, body shape, wrinkles, colour, clothing imperfections, and distracting elements.
You can ask to see before-and-after images to have a better understanding of this specific part of the service.
Retouching is not simply about making someone look “perfect”. It is about understanding what should be refined, what should remain natural, and what represents the person in front of the camera.
That approach can be very different from one photographer to another.
©2026 Leticia Gaidon Bradford Photography. All Rights Reserved.
Look at the Complete Photography Experience, Not Just the Final Images
Photography involves far more work than pressing a button.
Consider the whole journey:
consultation → planning → preparation → session → direction → image selection → retouching → delivery
A photographer who takes the time to understand you before the camera comes out may produce a much more meaningful result.
This is the way I like to work because I want to feel proud of the images that we produce together. For me, the photographs are only part of the experience, the process matters too.
If you are having professional headshots taken for your business, for example, the experience you have during the session can influence how you feel about using those photographs afterwards. If you felt ignored, uncomfortable, rushed, or misunderstood, it is much harder to feel connected to the final images.
But when you feel listened to and involved, the photographs can become a much more accurate representation of who you are.
Photography Is More Than a Product: You Are Choosing an Experience and a Legacy
Remember that photographs are one of the few products that can last not only a lifetime, but become a generational treasure.
Taking the time to find the right photographer to capture you, your business, or an important moment in your life is therefore essential.
You are not simply choosing someone to operate a camera. You are selecting someone who will interpret you, direct you, photograph you, and create something that may still exist long after the session itself has been forgotten.
For me, that is why choosing the right photographer is also a form of self-respect.
You are saying that your story, your work, your family, or this particular moment in your life is worth being represented properly.
What you should be looking for is someone who understands you.
If you would like to learn more about my portfolio or understand how my process works, you are very welcome to book a free consultation with me.
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Bye for now.