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GuideGreat photos and video capture moments and build businesses — but the results depend enormously on booking the right specialist, preparing well, and communicating what you want. From a LinkedIn headshot to a wedding to product video for your store, here's how to choose and get images you'll actually love.
Photography is specialized — a great wedding photographer isn't automatically a great product photographer, and vice versa. Headshots and personal branding, family and newborn, events and weddings, and product, social and promotional video each have specialists who do them best. Start by naming the shoot, then find someone whose portfolio proves they do exactly that well.
The portfolio is everything — it shows you not just skill but style and whether their aesthetic matches what you want. Look specifically for work like the shoot you need (that kind of event, that lighting, that mood), not just a generally impressive gallery. The right photographer's past work should make you excited, not just satisfied.
Preparation shapes the result. For portraits and headshots: wardrobe, grooming and location planning. For family and newborn: timing around moods and naps. For events: a shot list of must-capture moments. For product and branding: clear direction on style and use. Share references of images you love so the photographer knows your taste before the camera comes out.
How the images will be used changes how they should be shot — a LinkedIn headshot, a website hero, social content, printed marketing or a product listing each have different requirements. Tell the photographer the end use up front so the framing, format and style fit, and you don't end up with beautiful images that don't work where you need them.
For time-sensitive and once-only shoots — weddings especially — book well ahead, since the best photographers fill their calendars months out. Discuss coverage hours, the shot list, and deliverables and turnaround before the day. For a wedding there are no reshoots, so the photographer choice is one of the most important bookings you'll make.
On Genie, photography and video — headshots, family, events, weddings, branding, and product and social video — connect you with vetted specialists whose work and reviews you can see before booking, at clear pricing. Match the specialist to the shoot and get images you're proud of.
Every task in this guide is something you can book on Genie — vetted, insured pros at an upfront price:
Match the specialist to the shoot — headshots, family, events, weddings and product/video each have specialists — and judge by a portfolio that shows work like what you need, in a style you love.
Plan wardrobe and location for portraits, timing for family/newborn, a shot list for events, and clear style direction for product/branding. Share reference images you love so the photographer knows your taste.
Months ahead — the best fill up early, and there are no reshoots for a wedding. Discuss coverage hours, shot list and turnaround before the day.
