Is EVERYONE a Photographer These Days??

Terri Roper and her husband are fabulous photographers. I just did my business Head Shots with her and they are going to be amazing. We didn't shoot indoors like everyone else. We headed to downtown Naperville and found some great locations. She is an out-of-the-box thinker.

Give her a call, or head to her site for some ideas. You won't be disappointed.
www.RoperPhoto.com

I just had headshots done by Joanne Xia with Red Hare Photography and she did a great job. She also specializes in family portraits.

Her email is ____@____.com
He web site is redharephotography.com

yes it does seem that way. I am a professional photographer too. I specialize in newborns. Most "real" photographers are higher priced and take great quality photos. Real photographer also have their license. I do. It bothers me when I lived back in CA that literally every other neighbor was a photographer, but they were just people with a nice camera thinking they could charge people because they have that nice camera. It's not the camera that you have that makes the photo's nice. It's the talent. Even this year for us, I'm doing our own photos because I'm too picky about it and I want to do my own edits. I have something in mind about how I want it and I don't think any other photographer can do it the way I want it.
But, if you want a "real" photographer, be willing to pay the price. I'm even bumping up my prices soon just to keep up becuase I don't want to be known for being just another photographer like everyone else, because I'm not like everyone else. I believe I'm better than the average joe

Sorry for going off on a rant. Fake photographers really bother me

I have seen a lot of people take up photography as a hobby/profession. It doesn't bother me in the least. I am happy to view their work and happy for the ones I know that have found a creative outlet they enjoy. I don't see how that really ties in with you not finding what you're looking for. Find someone whose quality you like then you can meet with them and ask about other types/more creative shots since you seem to know what you want. Also, just wanted to point out that family pictures themselves are "cliche" especially holiday ones so good luck!

As for Bug saying she doesn't know why people choose the so-called non-professionals over the "professionals", she answered her own question. Price! Many people are unable to or just don't want to pay someone $1000 when there is someone else that will do it for $100 TO THEIR LIKING. And that's all that really matters. People aren't trying to grace magazine covers they just want nice, affordable family photos that THEY like. That is all. :)

Yes.. look at their work closely. A lot of stay at home moms are now photographers b/c they got a fancy camera and read photography blogs. If the kid's eyes are glowing, or the black or sepia toned 'vingnettes' are too severe, there are a lot of 'vintage yellowed toned' pictures of hands holding rocks or flowers, or pics of feet, or mom's face looks like Barbie's skintone... they obviously overdue photoshop to make-up for their lack of photography skills. I know a few friend 'photographers' who are totally horrible and have no clue what they are doing. And they actually get clients and paid for it. I shudder when I see the pics they post on facebook.

*okay, SOME hobby 'mom' photographers are actually surprisingly very talented and affordable... most aren't. Just look at their portfolios and get a sense of their style.

Yep! Kind of like everyone's a graphic designer, too!

I'm one of the people Bug described! (Except that I don't add the "P" word by my name; shudder). I get 1 good shot in 50, and 1 great shot in a couple hundred. I shoot about 10k per year, so I've got plenty of decent ones, but I KNOW I'm an amateur, though, since I've got so many pros in my life (NatGeo to design to fashion to film... no fewer than 8 of these humility evoking REAL Photographers). I just like taking pics. I HATE it when people ask me to take photos FOR them.

But that's what happens, I'm sure, right there. I have decent gear (saving for good gear, but that's as much as a car), and my purse is my camera bag, so I get asked a LOT. Ditto I'll send out a good one I got of so and so, or their kid, and I take thousands over sporting seasons (for a CD of about 100 that go out to the other families). I get 1 or 2 people asking per month.

I just tell them I do this for fun (although one of my majors is Fine Art with a focus in photography, which I do NOT tell them, although friends know and assume... but that's a whole separate issue). But I can see how goobers like me, after getting asked a bunch, could think to themselves "Hey! I could actually make so money at this!" and put together a website and start marketing themselves.

Well... that's partly the consequence of digital photography; the whole process is so much easier than it used to be, not only to shoot but also to develop and print.

So it's not surprising that someone who has a camera would like to make it profitable.

If I were you, I'd pick my friends' brains! You can't sift through all the web sites. Ask your friends and neighbors if they can give a local recommendation. Many of them have surely had gift-quality photographs taken in the past few years. (And if one of them says, "My nephew Herbie is a great photographer and has done several weddings in town," look at his work too. You may or may not be surprised. Can't hurt.)

I wonder that sometimes, too! One advantage of the websites is that you can see samples of their work and decide if you like it or not. My SIL is a photographer, but she is incredibly talented, has a degree in art (with the intention of doing professional photography), and because she is just getting started she keeps her rates lower and can be very flexible. If the website is shoddy and the pictures uninspired or badly edited, keep looking.

If you want something affordable and creative but not necessarily super-professional, you could contact a few nearby colleges with art departments and see if they have any students who do work on the side. We had a college friend do our wedding photography since it was a hobby of his and we loved the pictures.

I love Jill with Jookie, A Portrait Boutique. She is located in Lincoln Square which is a bit of a hike from where you live, but take a look at her website and see if you like her work because she also isn't that close to where we live but we find the trip to be completely worth it. (Just google, Jookie and click on the "k" to view her portfolio)

I've used her for my maternity photos during my first pregnancy and for both newborn sessions for my 2 daughters and we have an appointment for our second family session with her next month. She is very creative and I always get compliments on our family photos. She also has packages where she can come to your home (or an agreed upon alternative location like a park, playground, or I even saw someone who did photos at Wrigley Field) in case you prefer a more photojournalistic style.

Good luck in your search,
J.

Kinda lol. I have a degree in Commercial Photography though. Does that count? I only did a few sessions where I charged. I don't do it for a living, mostly just for family members and friends.

Our very best photos ever were taken by a junior college student studying photography. I had contacted 2 "professionals" who never got back to me. I plan to use the student again for my son's senior pics.

Every photographer has it's own style. however if you give a good direction of what you like, they will capture the moments you are looking for. If you find a print in a magazine or website, print it out and bring them with you. They website might not be creative, but they possibly delivered what other costumers were looking for. It's nice to appriciate creativity even if it's not your style.

hahaha...! i so agree. it's ridiculous.

just be patient...eventually one of your family members or friends (or both!) will "become" photographers and offer to do them for free. i'm not a photography connoisseur by any means, but my cousin did a nice job a year ago. i probably won't do it again, but i was pleased with them, especially for the price ;) i had some ideas of my own so that helped. just be prepared to get hassled wherever you take them to print them out....yes, even now, if they "look professional", they often don't want to print them. i took them to Walgreens to print out (she gave me the disk) and they actually made me bring in a signed letter from the "photograper". we're not even in the sticks! although sometimes it feels like it... :)

For this exact reason I do not do family/individual photos of this sort. Plus I've never been into the pose for the camera pictures. You get no perosnality with them.

With that said ...we are having a GIANT family photo done in December for my husbands grandmothers 90th bday. I've been told we are to wear Christmas colors...maybe I should add this as a pet peeve to the pet peeve post from the other day!

Yeah, I know what you mean. Part of it is the economy, I think. People are understandably trying to make money on the side.
I hate to say it but I go to JC Penney. They have a nice little studio and reasonable prices.

The best way to find good photographers is to ask people that live in your area.. Email, post it on Facebook.. Then the names you gather go and look at the work these photographers have done.. See what their style is.

It will help you decide if the photographer is someone you can work with,

Agree that real Photographers that actually have their own businesses, are expensive. But if you love their style they can be totally worth it.

I like asking people in the wedding business. they see and hear a lot about other services. They probably know the best photographers in your area.

Agreed. That's why I take my own.

Go downtown or to the mall and find an established studio. It will cost more, but it sounds like you are looking for a real professional.

Blessings...

ooh no!! Not me!! I can take pictures for ebay and cragislist...but I would NOT claim to do any family or stuff! I have a hard enough time snapping pictures of my men doing crazy stuff!!

As to how do I choose? I ask for samples of their work. I ask for turn around time...especially with Christmas coming up. Ask if they do work outside the studio - homes, pets, parks, etc. and "live action" - you know - like the Beatles walking across the street? Some thing that your family likes to do - say a ride at a park near you? Having a picture of the family together on it laughing...

Our friends who were stationed in Florida did one at the beach. That was nice.

Have an idea of what you want? Tell them what you are thinking and see what they come up as an idea to play off of it.

Good luck!