Finding the right snap photographer: 5 ways to read a portfolio
- Look past the highlights to a full set shot in the same kind of shoot, place and time of day as yours.
- Compare prices on one line: shooting time, number of edited photos, whether you get the originals and extra costs, not just the starting price.
- Send the date, area, number of people, budget and reference photos in your first message for a faster reply and a more accurate quote.
Finding a photographer on Instagram usually means following hashtags, opening accounts one by one and asking prices by DM, over and over. You find plenty of photos you like, but it's hard to tell whether that person is right for your shoot. Five things make the real difference.
1. Put the mood into words
Collect three or four photos you like and write down what they have in common. Natural light or artificial? Rich colours or soft ones? Is the person large in the frame, or is the background wide? Posed, or caught in motion? Those words become your search terms, and your description when you get in touch.
| If you like photos with | Words to look for in a profile |
|---|---|
| Window light, soft skin tones | Natural light, natural, bright white tones |
| Grain and colour like a film camera | Film look, vintage, analogue |
| Cinematic framing and deep colour | Cinematic, moody, night snaps |
| Polished, magazine-style poses | Editorial, fashion, profile |
| Natural moments, laughing and walking | Candid, documentary snaps, lifestyle |
2. The full set, not the highlights
The first screen of a portfolio shows the photographer's very best shots. What you'll actually receive is dozens of photos from a single shoot. Ask whether they have a set showing one client's shoot from start to finish, or whether they can share one. A full set shows whether expressions are consistently good, whether the editing tone is even and whether the same poses keep repeating.
3. Have they shot in conditions like yours?
- Type of shoot — Wedding snaps, couples, families, babies and profiles all run differently. With children, patience decides the result; with weddings, it's the route and timing.
- Type of place — Check whether an outdoor photographer gets the same results in an indoor studio, and whether an indoor photographer can handle harsh midday sun.
- Time of day and weather — Photos taken at dusk, at night or on cloudy days mean they can cope when the weather changes.
- Group size — Two people and ten people are different jobs. Look for group photos.
4. Put prices on the same line
A starting price like ‘from ₩○○○,000’ can't be compared on its own. Make a table of the five items below and fill it in for each photographer, and the real differences show up. What each item means is explained in how to read a snap shoot price list.
| Compare | What to check |
|---|---|
| Shooting time | One hour or two, and whether outfit changes count |
| Edited photos | How many are edited, and who picks them |
| Originals | Whether you get every shot or only the selected ones |
| Extra costs | Travel fees, location rental, weekend or night surcharges, extra edits |
| Delivery | How many weeks it takes, and how you receive the files |
5. Communication and how they work
How quickly and how someone replies often matches how they run the shoot on the day. Do they answer questions specifically? Do they explain what happens in bad weather without being asked? Do they send their deposit and cancellation terms in writing? If the terms aren't written down, it's safer to get them before you book.
Your first message
Photographers get similar inquiries several times a day. Send the following in one go and you'll avoid back-and-forth and get available dates and an accurate quote straight away.
| Include | Example |
|---|---|
| Type of shoot | Couple snaps (anniversary) |
| Preferred date and time | Saturday, December 5, afternoon, ideally around sunset |
| Area and place | Outdoors around Seongsu-dong, Seoul; indoor studio if it rains |
| People | 2 people and 1 dog |
| Budget | Up to ₩○○○,000 including editing |
| Reference photos | 2 of your photos I like, 1 photo I saw elsewhere |
ROKE's ‘Find a photographer’ is now taking photographer registrations. You can browse registered photographers by photo style, compare their portfolios, save the ones you like with a heart and contact them directly.
The ROKE editorial team put together the points people commonly check when booking a snap shoot. Prices, delivery times and terms vary by photographer, so confirm with the photographer's own information before booking.
