As a professional photographer, I have been in business for over 12 years. When you are shopping for a photographer always look for someone with experience. There is so much to think about when taking portraits. It isn't just picking up a camera, putting it on Auto and shooting. You have to know how to light, how to pose, how to analyze the background and compose a picture. You also have to know how to pose people and help them look natural. The more experience a photographer has, the better he or she is. So when searching for a photographer, please ask how long they have been in business.