Atlanta is a big city, and there are hundreds of photographers in the Atlanta metro area to choose from. Many professional photographers book weddings, family sessions and will also take headshot jobs. But, not every photographer will be completely prepared with all of the skills and software needed for headshot photography. If you have been tasked with the job of finding a headshot photographer for your Atlanta team, what are some of the questions you should ask? Hint... your choice of photographer should be based on more than their rates!

Do they use professional strobes for consistent, flattering lighting on everyone's faces?

You can often answer this question by looking at a photographer's portfolio. Do you see team sessions with multiple images from the same shoot? Do they look consistent from shot to shot? Someone who advertises that they are a natural light photographer might not be the best choice for team photos, because you can't rely on natural light on a team headshot job. The lighting should be cohesive and flattering.

Will they coach each subject through posing and expressions?

If photographers are new to headshot jobs, they may not know how to help guide your team through the process and make each person feel comfortable. Almost everyone has had a negative experience with being photographed. Think about the last time you had a passport or DMV photo taken. It was awful, right? But, if you have some coaching and guidance, it helps you feel a lot better about the process and your team will be happier with the results, too.

What's their process for allowing everyone to proof their images and pick a favorite shot for retouching? And, what is their turn-around time for finishing the photos?

This is an important question because you don't want to wait weeks for these photos to be finished and delivered. Photographers with a good workflow system will have the photos delivered a few days after the session is over.

Here's an overview of my company's process.

1. Scheduling and prep. If you would like us to handle scheduling, we can provide a link to allow each of your team to pick a session time. It will send them reminders and we will include a link with tips for what to wear for their headshots.

2. Session day. On our session day at your office, we coach each person through some different angles and expressions and then immediately send them a private gallery with 6-8 photos. We'll give them a deadline to pick a favorite photo, usually by noon the following day.

3. Retouching. We send everyone's favorite photos to our professional retoucher for a little polishing. Everyone will still look like themselves, but with blemishes removed, stray hairs fixed and a bit softening around their eyes.

4. Delivery. Each of your team will get an update to let them know their favorite photo has been retouched and is available to download from their private gallery. You will receive an email with a link to download all of the retouched images.

Picking a photographer from the many options in the Atlanta area can feel like a daunting task, but it's important to remember that price is not the only factor to consider. Will this photographer make the process easy and seamless? Or, will they create more work for you? Will everyone on your team be happy with the experience and level or service? Or, will they be asking for reshoots? Be sure to pick a professional who has experience with this specific niche in the photo industry and an efficient process for getting the photos delivered.