My photography studio is all grown up, well, sort of
An early promotional image I created for Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream catering of Minneapolis.
When I turned 16 I remember feeling like I was all grown up; that there wasn’t much left for me to learn. I had a part-time job, a driver’s license and a desire to blaze my own trails. When I wasn’t in the classroom or earning a paycheck I spent most of my free time going to concerts and hanging out with close friends. I was comfortable in my own skin and had “it” all figured out.
As an adult I recognize that 16-year-olds are just starting to get their bearings and most (including myself back then) certainly do not have it all figured out. So as Anthologie reaches another milestone today — 16 years officially in business — I’m reminded to stay humble and remember that those tens of thousands of hours dedicated to refining my skills certainly do not indicate all is perfect.
The biggest lesson I’ve taken from 16 years in business is that you can never sit back and relax. We constantly need to evolve to stay relevant with the times. I think success in business can be gauged with how quickly we overcome challenges and meet the changing needs of our clients.
Despite more than 20 years as a professional photographer I don’t think that I know everything. I do sometimes feel like I’ve seen just about everything but there are always better ways to serve our clients and techniques to learn and refine to create a superior product.
With that in mind, you can expect to see the service offerings of Anthologie evolve in the coming year, with a constant focus on offering the best customer experience to my clients. Stay tuned for what’s to come in 2025 and beyond! Thank you for your support of my Minneapolis-based small business photography studio over the past 16 years. I couldn’t do this without you. As a thank-you I have offered up some of my most common frequently asked questions from my time in business.
Does your photographer’s work make you feel something? It can be challenging to communicate emotion with a still photo. While this student is active in an educational training session at LearningRx in Eagan, MN, I feel that you cannot help but sense the confidence they’re gaining from working with the trainer.
Finding the best photographer FAQs
How much does a photographer cost?
According to Bark.com you can expect to pay between $170 to $500 per hour for a high-end professional photographer. What the photographer and/or photography studio is offering in that rate can widely vary. For example, the fee most often includes the time and equipment of the photographer but not include any deliverable files, licensing or physical products. Almost all of my Anthologie photography collections do include licensing to use your photos as part of the overall package. Be sure to contact me today to learn more.
How to find a good photographer?
A great starting point to finding a photographer is to search Google business listings for photographers in your area. This will give you the opportunity to see reviews from real people in your area. You can always seek recommendations on neighborhood social media boards, but I feel the best way to find the best photographer for you is with a word-of-mouth referral or testimonial. You can feel much more comfortable in your decision when you choose to work with someone who has already created a positive experience with someone you know and trust. Be sure to ask your friends and colleagues who they’ve used in the past with positive results.
How can I tell if a photographer is good?
Oddly enough, many people cannot tell if a photographer is offering professional, high-quality photos or not. The number one way to find a great photographer is to review their portfolio. Check to see if their photos are in sharp focus and that their photos have a clear purpose. Do the photos look dark and dingy or do they look bright and make you feel positive? This is especially true for event photographers. Many events take place in challenging environments for beginner photographers. Do not be afraid to ask your prospective photographer to show you work similar to what you need for your own project.
Another clue to discovering a seasoned professional photographer is to look at the skin tones featured in their portfolio. Do the hues look realistic or are they over saturated and unnatural? An overly enhanced color scheme can often mean the photographer is relying on software to deliver final images to you rather than their own skills behind the camera and the computer. Professional photographers can produce stylized portraits when needed, but use of a natural color palette is a good indicator that your photographer is confident in their skills.
Reviewing skin tones in your photographer’s portfolio can give you insight to their professionalism. Event photos, such as this moment I photographed at a women’s conference in Phoenix, are often in dark or mixed lighting environments that newer photographers may have a challenge to overcome.
How do you know if a photographer is legit?
Surprisingly, I find one the easiest ways to discover if a photographer is legit is to communicate with them. I’m dumbfounded at the number of times over the years I’ve responded to a photo inquiry only to have the client exclaim: “Oh my gosh, you called me back!” To me this is a very low bar set by the photography industry in general. Some may think playing hard to get shows that your photographer is in demand, but to me that is a red flag that the photographer either doesn’t care, isn’t real, or is too busy with their “real job” and photography is just a side hustle. If you want to know if a photography studio is real find the contact page on their website, reach out and see how long it takes for them to respond and the level of professionalism in their correspondence.
Does the photographer own the photos?
In most scenarios, the photographer does own all photos created for your session or project. It’s important to discuss this with your photographer before scheduling your photo session to see exactly what that means for you. Sometimes you may receive the licensing to print the photos on your own or to use them for a given amount of time for your business. Anthologie’s photo collections differ from many other photo studios in that I typically offer businesses the licensing to use the photos as they wish a part of the overall project.
Be sure to review your photographer’s portfolio. If you need a business portrait and the photographer is only showcasing newborns and young families online it may be an indication they aren’t an ideal fit for your needs.
How do I hire the best photographer?
Again, contact the photographer and ask them about their process. Most photographers and commercial photography studios will require a deposit up front to schedule your photo session. The amount can vary widely but for Minnesota business photographers I would say it’s industry standard to put half of your overall project fee down to initiate production, but I know of plenty of professional photographers that will not put you in their calendars until they are paid in full. Ask to see their work, talk to past clients and trust the process. A true professional will deliver an amazing experience and quality work to you so that you’re eager to call back to start on your next project!
Photos that show the subjects approachable and confident are a good indicator that they were having a positive experience working with the photographer.
