I know…when it comes to choosing a photographer you have a plethora of options. In town photographers, out of town photographers, newbies, seasoned pros, natural light shooters, studio shooters, etc. Does it really matter who you choose as long as the price is right? I think it does!

I’ve written this series to walk you though how to find the best photographer for you! (Links to the rest of the series are at the bottom of this post!)

Know the Photographer’s Expertise

While a photographer can shoot anywhere, there may be certain settings where their skills shine and their photos are pure magic.

One surprising thing I learned as a photographer was that my style took different approaches in different settings. I had to approach the light and color differently. Let me illustrate this with two examples.

I had a spot I’d been dreaming of for photo shoot for years. It was a dry lake bed near my parent’s home in southern New Mexico. No trees, no bushes, nothing for cover, foreground, layering, or shade. I knew I needed to find just the right photographer to be able to tackle that spot. I found a photographer who had moved to a nearby city from the Caribbean. Her portfolio was full of gorgeous shots on open beaches. I knew she could handle the lake beds (just a beach without water, right?!).

She created absolute MAGIC! Could another photographer have made it work? I’m sure, but this setting being a specialty for her meant our photos were the next level of awesomeness.

Now that we live in the forest, we have our amazing photographer Mikaela who makes the forest glow like no one else I’ve seen before. It’s her speciality and she rocks it like no other. She’s my first choice for forest photos for sure!

See what I mean here? If you want to take your photos to the next level, find a photographer that knows your setting/area.

Marquette LaRee: I’ve worked hard to learn how to shoot in the Southwest. I love the open desert, the crazy canyons, the pink evening light, the weird flora and fauna, and the dramatic landscapes. While I can shoot in greenery and trees and I’m up for new places and adventures, the southwest desert and mountain landscapes are my speciality!

Every photographer has their niche(s).

Many of us often start as a jack of all trades, but as we hone our skills we tend to narrow our focus. A newborn photographer and a sports photographer are both highly skilled but their fields take different approaches and knowledge.

Marquette LaRee: I followed the expert advice when I originally set up my business and narrowed my focus down to just couples and weddings. I found that while I LOVE working with couples and shooting weddings, I missed my work with families and seniors as well. The great thing about running your own business is that you can decide what works best for you. So I now offer wedding coverage, couple’s portraits (engagements, anniversaries, and just because sessions), family sessions, and seniors/general portrait sessions. I don’t offer newborn, birth, maternity, or boudoir sessions. Those are not my area of expertise, and I’ll leave those to the artists that really have honed their skills in those areas!

With the posts in this series you have all the tools you need to find the best photographer for you!

Is Marquette LaRee the photographer for you? Click the topics below to get all the tips and tools!

• Style and Posing
• Pricing Structure
• Area of Expertise
• What People Say

Are we a good fit? I’d love to invite you to take a look around! Here are some great places to start to see if we are the best fit:
https://marquettelaree.com/about
https://marquettelaree.com/blog
https://www.instagram.com/marquettelaree/