Professional Help for Your Family Photos — GIVEAWAY

When it comes to silly Photo Booth pics of my kids and selfies with half our faces cut off, I am a MASTER.

But for higher-quality stuff, like nice portraits of our whole family together or major milestones (birthdays, holidays, reunions), I could really use some help. Professional help.

That’s why I love the concept of a new Cincinnati-based startup called Kandid.ly. (Full disclosure: I, too, work at a Cincinnati-based tech startup, so I might have a bit of a soft spot for such endeavors.)

Kandid.ly helps you discover and book a local photographer for any event within your budget. (Alternately, if you’re a photographer, they’ll help you setup a profile, promote yourself, get access to events, book events and build relationships.) Naturally, Kandid.ly is starting out in the city where they’re based—Cincinnati—but if it works well here, they’ll branch out to more cities, just like Uber, AirBnB, and other tech-based services.

To give you a little taste, Kandid.ly is giving away one free hour-long photography session with the Kandid.ly photographer of your choosing. PLUS, all readers can take advantage of a special half-off discount code. See below for details.

Whether you’re searching on Kandid.ly or elsewhere, if you’re considering hiring a family-friendly photographer, here are a few tips from some of my favorite pros on how to work with the right person:

Find out what real people have to say about the photographer. Don’t rely solely on a photographer’s portfolio when picking a photographer since many photographers will frequently hire professional models and stylists to help pad their portfolios with great looking images. Word-of-mouth referrals or customer reviews are one of the best ways to judge whether customers are happy with a photographer’s images.

Don’t let a photographer push you into a pose that makes you uncomfortable. Yes, it’s natural to have “some” discomfort in front of the camera, but if a pose is really making you uncomfortable or you feel like the pose makes you look weird then stop and talk to the photographer. If you aren’t happy with the posing then that WILL come through in the photos. A good photographer wants to work with you to create stunning images that make you and your family look as good as possible … not just move you from one pre-canned pose to the next.

— Jerry Jackson (yes, my Hubs), Triple J Photography

 

Make sure your photographer’s vision matches your style. Just because they take great pictures doesn’t mean you share the same plan for your family session, wedding or event. If you have the ability to meet with your photographer prior to the session, do it. At minimum, find the time to express your expectations with your photographer. Photographers will capture the true nature of your family when they understand what makes you unique.

Choose a photographer with a great personality. This might sounds like an afterthought, but a photographer’s personality can make or break a session. Find someone you click with. If you feel comfortable around your photographer, it will show in your pictures.

Use Pinterest as an “idea bank” for your photographic style versus a list of must have images that your photographer should take. Every photographer has their own style. Understand that their vision for your session is not just a compilation of your pinned photos, but rather their interpretation of your family and their personalities.

— Laura Hicks, L Imagery

 

WIN WIN WIN

One lucky FFC reader will receive a free 1-hour session with a Kandid.ly photographer (valid through Dec. 31, 2014).

All FFC readers can get 50% off their first hour with the code CINCY50, valid through November 9, 2014. To get the discount, you have to book a photographer by Nov. 9 on Kandid.ly, but your actual event can be any time. Perfect for anyone needing a photographer for holiday parties or family holiday cards!

So how can you enter to win? It’s easy. Simply answer the question below. Additional items are bonus entries. Leave a separate comment on this post for each one you complete. A total of five entries are possible. You must reside in the Tri-State and be at least 18 years of age to enter.

Question:

What type of photo session would you pick if you’re the winner?

Family portrait, Christmas card photo, birthday party or … ?

Bonus Entries:

1. Sign up for our Enewsletter: http://eepurl.com/bxdIb
2. Check out Family Friendly Cincinnati  and Kandid.ly on Facebook.
3. Follow us on Instagram: www.instagram.com/famfriendlycin
4. Tweet about this giveaway, including @FamFriendlyCin & @bekandid in your Tweet.

That’s it…that’s FIVE ways to enter which means FIVE chances to win!  The winner will be drawn and notified via email (we’ll also announce it on our Facebook page) on Tuesday, September 20 at 2PM. Winner will have 24 hours to respond or another winner will be chosen.

When she’s not writing tips for Cincinnati families on FFC, you can find Susan at the helm of Working Moms Against Guilt.