I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but there are quite a few photographers out there 🙃. And if you’re looking for a Richmond photographer, the options can feel endless and overwhelming. How are you supposed to know who will truly capture your family’s personality and create images you’ll treasure forever!?

As both a photographer and client, I’m sharing everything you need about finding a photographer you connect with personally and creatively.

Here’s a table of contents for this post — click these hyperlinks to jump to a specific section!

1. What Type of Photography Do you Need?
2. Finding and Researching Richmond Photographers
3. What to Look For in a Richmond Photographer’s Portfolio
4. Understanding Photography Pricing in Richmond
5. The Importance of a Photographer’s Personality and Experience
6.  Conclusion – Making Your Final Decision on a Richmond Photographe

What Type of Photography Do You Need?

When I first started out in professional photography, I did all different types of work — engagements, weddings, newborns, families, branding, head shots, senior portraits, yearbook photos, event photography, and more. 

But over time, I started to realize that I wanted to specialize in families.  And now, it’s my dream to be the go-to Richmond photographer for emotive, joyful, and natural family photos.

So, the question is, what type of photographer are you looking for? 

Some common specialties for Richmond photographers are:

• Family (me!) 
• Newborn (I also love doing this) 
• Senior portraits 
• Boudoir
• Wedding 
• Event 
• Branding 
• Commercial 
• Sports 

Occasionally, you can ask a photographer to step out of their niche, but for the most part, it’s important to match the genre of photography you’re wanting with the specialty of the photographers you’re considering.  

Why? 

An amazing wedding photographer may not be just as incredible at newborn photos. And an event photographer might not excel at product photos for your handmade business. 

Just because a photographer knows their way around a camera and even how to build a business doesn’t mean they are equipped to handle the nuanced challenges and opportunities presented in every genre of photography.

Keep this in mind as you’re sorting through the websites of potential photographers. If you have to go digging through a photographer’s site to find your desired genre on the list of possible options, you might want to consider moving on to a photographer who is more specialized in your particular area. 

Finding and Researching Richmond Photographers

A couple of months ago, I gathered some data about how clients typically find me. By far, the number one way I gained new clients was through existing clients! Word of mouth is powerful! 

And it makes sense. Photography is a significant financial investment. So, choosing a photographer that your friends know and love can be a HUGE confidence builder. 

But if you want to move beyond word of mouth and search for photographers online, there are a few key tips to help you navigate the massive number of search results.

First, when you search for a Richmond photographer on Google, don’t just type in “Richmond photographer.” 

Make sure you add the genre in there too: 

• “Richmond newborn photographer”
• “Richmond branding photographer” 
• “RVA wedding photographer” 

You can also use hashtags on social media to search for the same things. Most photographers hashtag their images on Instagram and Facebook so that if you type in #richmondfamilyphotographer, for example, in the search box on your socials app, you’ll see the top posts in your area. 

What to Look For in a Richmond Photographer’s Portfolio

Looking through photography websites and social feeds can be fun, but also overwhelming. It might feel like you’re seeing the same things over and over again – the same types of photos, the same locations, the same poses. 

How are you supposed to know who is the best choice?? 

My best advice: Look for someone who stands out.

The copy they have on their website should speak to you. Their images should stand out from the crowd. After all, you’re looking for someone who isn’t just a good photographer. You’re looking for someone who connects WITH YOU. 

Here are a few other things to keep in mind as you browse: 

• Consistency in editing style and quality
  • Most photographers have a handful of beautiful images on their homepage or portfolio page. But does the quality take a major dip when you go to their blog or social media feed? Make sure that you’re seeing consistently excellent work – LOTS of examples of amazing images in a range of different settings. 
• Variety of clients, poses, and locations
  • The best photographers are versatile – they can work with a variety of lighting situations, locations, and types of people. If a photographer is well established, their site and socials should showcase that versatility! You want whoever you hire to thrive in any environment and handle curveballs with ease, so look for the breadth of their experience as it comes through the images in their portfolio. 
• Technical skills (lighting, composition, focus)
  • You don’t have to be a photography expert to recognize quality. Are the images well-lit? Do they seem to be balanced and composed intentionally? Are they sharp and in focus? Make sure your photographer isn’t just a cool person with creative ideas, but that they also have a strong baseline of technical skills to deliver what you’re asking of them. 
• Emotional impact of the images
  • Okay, this is huge. And it’s one of the most important things for me, personally. The photos on a photographer’s website should make you feel something. They should take you somewhere emotionally. They should inspire and captivate you. If their work is technically good but just lacking that emotionally depth, its okay to keep looking until you find someone who’s work speaks to you and the vibe YOU’RE looking for – moody and emotive or joyful and energetic or raw and real or something else altogether. 

Understanding Photography Pricing in Richmond

You get what you pay for

Photography, like all custom artwork, is a financial investment. If you’ve never searched for a professional photographer before, it can be shocking to see the price tag associated with it.

But generally, photography is not an area to be a budget shopper. You don’t necessarily have to go with a top tier luxury photographer, but a good photographer will value their work, want to be in this industry for the long haul, and have prices on par with their skill, experience, and brand. 

I’m not an expert in all genres of photography, but a quality family photo session from an established Richmond photographer will typically be in the $600-$1500 range, depending on their style and brand.  

When folks get into the process of researching various photographers, they usually reach a point where they’re asking, “WHY is photography so expensive?!?!”

I get it. Because before I got into business, I wondered that too!

With equipment costs, insurance, continuing education, web subscription fees, bookkeeping, tax prep, cost of goods, etc, a photographer’s take-home pay is only a fraction of whatever session fee you’re paying – often, less than 50% of what they charge. 

Plus, photographers offer a hands-on service — they can only take a limited number of sessions per month because of the time and attention needed for each one. So, the more excellent a photographer’s client experience, often, the more they need to charge per session to allow for that level of personalization.

It can be tempting to look for the cheapest option and call it a day. But if you’re taking the time and energy to invest in a professional photography experience, it’s worth it to choose a photographer whose work, personality, communication style, and client experience is at the bullseye of what you’re looking for, even if that means spending a little bit more money.

How Photography Pricing Is Set Up

There are a zillion different ways that photographers can set up their pricing and what is and is not included, so make sure you understand exactly what’s involved before you sign on the dotted line. 

Some photographers charge a session fee that covers the time and talent of the photographer, and then they sell digital images, prints, and products separately. Other photographers (like me!) do all-inclusive, which means you pay up front for the session and all the edited digital images from the session. 

Regardless of how each photographer organizes their packages, you want to go with a photographer whose pricing is clear, straightforward, and easy for you to understand. 

The Importance of a Photographer’s Personality and Experience

One of the most common bits of feedback I get from clients is about my calm, relaxed, laid back demeanor during their sessions. Which is a huge win because it’s always my goal to keep family sessions laid back. I know that moms especially can be stressed going into family photos. So, I use all my skill and experience to craft an experience that is surprisingly easy. Maybe even fun 🙂 

Photographer/client rapport matters so much if you’re looking for natural, authentic photos. When you’re in front of the camera, you already feel on edge. If you pair that tension with working with a photographer you aren’t super comfortable with, it’s going to be almost impossible to look and feel like yourself in the pictures. 

So, as you’re looking through the websites and social media accounts of photographers, and ESPECIALLY when you’re conversing over email or the phone with them, make sure this is a person you like and feel comfortable with. 

Here are a few other tips: 

• How to gauge a photographer’s experience level
  • Experienced photographers will have a thoughtful, refined online presence from beginning to end. The images will be consistent, the copy on their site will be streamline and thorough, and everything will look and feel like it fits together. Many established photographers will also say up front on their home page or about page how long they have been in business. 
• The consultation process: what to expect
  • When you reach out to a photographer, you can expect the consultation process to include information about pricing, how they prepare for and approach the session itself,  turnaround time after the session, etc. 
  • Most photographers will have you sign a contract, pay a deposit, and fill out a questionnaire at some point in the process. Often, established photographers will also send a physical or digital welcome guide that shares more of their process and tips for getting the most out of the experience. 
• Reviews and testimonials
  • Reviews are powerful! Make sure your photographer has website, social media, or Google reviews that speak to all parts of the experience – the preparation, the session, the gallery delivery, etc. 

 Conclusion – Making Your Final Decision on a Richmond Photographer

To recap – finding the right photographer is about more than just price or pretty Instagram feeds—it’s about finding someone who will preserve your memories in a way that speaks to you. It’s an incredibly personal experience — or at least it should be! And the ideal photographer will feel more like a friend by the time the experience is over.

Even though there are TONS of photographers throughout the Richmond area, chances are, there are just a handful whose work, personality, experience, and creative approach are a fit with your needs. Focus your energy on vetting those options and set the others aside.

It’s totally okay to pass on a talented photographer with beautiful work if their style doesn’t fit with what you’re looking for.

Call to Action:

If you’re still searching for a Richmond family photographer, I’d love to chat about what you have in mind! Click HERE to head over to my pricing page for more info on my offerings!

And if you have more questions about what I shared here, comment below, and I’m happy to help in any way I can!