Find a Family Photographer in Columbus | Central Ohio Newborn Photographer
Finding a family photographer can seem like a daunting task. Whether you need family photos before Autumn arrives or your baby has an upcoming milestone, you could spend hours trying to find someone that fits your needs. So I’m breaking it down to help you figure out what type of photographer is right for you. I’ll also go into detail about what kind of services I offer and exactly what you will get from booking me as your family photographer in Columbus.
Style
Every photographer has their own style. Some offer airy images with a very high-end look, others offer cozy, moody styles with authentic vibes. You have to take a moment to sit down and think about who you are as a family. Maybe you live downtown and enjoy city life. You might find yourself drawn to someone who offers urban sessions in the city. If you live on the outskirts of town you might want photos in a field with your children laughing and playing as the sun sets. Some photographers offer the option of a baby or family session in their studio (if they have one).
What is my style?
As your family photographer, you can expect timeless, natural images with a crisp and bright finish. I use a lot of white and neutral colors in my studio work and love to use nature and the setting sun as my props for outdoor sessions. I prefer poses that feel and look comfortable. I might ask you to go into a certain pose but then loosen it up a bit by having you look at your family, or kiss your spouse or kiddo on the cheek. I feel like I’m neither light and airy nor moody and dark. I’m right there in the middle with classic images to keep forever. I don’t want you to look back in 15 years and wonder why your skin looks super orange or your photos are so bright you lost all the detail in your cream maxi dress. A family portrait should stand the test of time and not look like it belongs to a certain decade. That’s why I provide an online guide to help you prep for your session and one-on-one styling help!
Knowledge
Finding someone to take your family’s pictures is EASY. SO easy. However, finding someone with the knowledge to capture beautiful, long-lasting portraits of your family can be tricky. Lord knows there are a ton of replies when you ask for photographer recommendations in Facebook mom groups. Too many to even think about! But how exactly do you KNOW if a photographer is skilled in light, posing and camera techniques? There are a few tricks.
Check out their reviews. Whether it be on social media or Google. Are people raving about them? When you ask for suggestions in a mom group, is there a photographer who keeps getting tagged? Chances are, those photographers are good at their job!
Take a peek at their recent work on social media or their website. Really look at their photos. Is their work consistent? Do they have a clear, easy to spot style? Are their photos in focus, crisp and the right amount of brightness? Are skin tones true to life? Because the last thing you want is to look like someone from the Blue Man group or an Oompa Loompa.
See how long the’ve been in business. Did they just pick up a camera last month? There is nothing wrong with being a new photographer. I’ve been there! But if you are looking for great, timeless portraits of your family or baby, you can expect to pay a little more money than someone who might be starting out and charges less than $100. If your budget is less than that and you’re up for hiring someone new - totally go for it! I was and am still very thankful for clients I worked with in the early years of my career. I learned so much during that time!
What have I learned over the years?
Oh boy. Where do I even begin? Besides taking countless courses, I’ve self-taught myself everything I know about photography. I use awesome equipment that provides great quality photos. It has taken me years to purchase things one at a time. Lenses, cameras and more. I took online classes, worked for other photographers and looked at every piece of free educational tools I could get my hands on. But it’s not just about learning how to use your camera. It’s also about finding and using good light. In fact, that is just as important as knowing how to use a camera. Even if you know both of those things, you still need to learn how to photograph your subjects in the most flattering way. You can have a great camera at sunset but if you shoot too low your family will all have double chins. But it doesn’t stop there. I am ALWAYS learning. You are never fully done learning your craft.
All inclusive vs. In-Person Sales
Each photographer has built their business differently. Some offer one price for one type of session and it includes the digital images, typically in an online gallery for downloading. Other photographers offer a smaller fee for the session itself and then require you to purchase art and digital files separately, usually by coming back to their studio in person. There is no right or wrong way to go about doing this, but it’s a good idea to know up front what type of service you prefer.
Am I all inclusive?
Yes, I am all inclusive. I have a set number of images that is included in every type of session I offer. For example, my outdoor family session includes 30 digital photos in an online gallery for you to download and keep forever, and PRINT as much as you want for your personal use. But I have found what makes my services a bit different is that I send you a watermarked gallery for you to CHOOSE your images. I send at least double, if not triple the amount of images and do what I call a “soft edit” on the images. Then you get to log in and choose your images. If you want more, I invoice you for the amount of extras after we chat about the amount. This way you get to keep the photos you love the most. Not the photos I love the most. Once you’ve chosen your images I go back and fully edit those images only, and then send out a new gallery of your chosen images. I also offer a handful of fine art products like albums, in case you would like to order and don’t want to find a high-quality album company on your own.
In Conclusion
Whether you love light, and bright images or want images of your baby in a photographers studio, it’s important to select a Columbus photographer who LOVES what they do for a living. Does your potential photographer gush over their sessions on social media and love sharing client sneak peeks? Do they have great reviews online from past and current clients? Family and baby photography is truly an investment because you are trusting another person to take your hard-earned money and capture your family in the most flattering way. That trust comes from years of learning, experience and having a passion for photography. If you are in need of a family or baby photographer to capture natural, pure images I would love to chat with you about scheduling an outdoor or in studio session!
Find a Family Photographer in Columbus | Central Ohio Newborn Photographer
Are you looking for a family photographer in the Columbus, Ohio area? Look no further! Sarah Cropper Photography is a newborn photographer in Columbus, Ohio and in surrounding areas such as Hilliard, Dublin, Worthington, New Albany and Grove City. I photograph families throughout Columbus or in my cozy home studio located in Grove City, Ohio. I focus on natural posing, love, connection and pure emotions. Feel free to look at my work to see if my style is up your alley! You can contact me by clicking the button below or emailing me at sarahcropperphoto@hotmail.com
