How to Tell If a Portrait Photographer Is Actually Good: What to Look for in Their Work
Choosing a portrait photographer shouldn't feel like a gamble. Yet with thousands of photographers in Los Angeles alone—from weekend hobbyists to high-volume studios to seasoned professionals—how do you identify real skill versus pretty Instagram filters?
After photographing many different faces over the years, I've learned that truly exceptional portrait photography comes down to technical mastery that most people can't articulate but absolutely can see. The difference between an "okay" photo and an outstanding portrait often has nothing to do with the camera or location—it's about understanding light, choosing the right tools for each individual, and making critical decisions that flatter your unique features.
Here's how to evaluate a photographer's portfolio to identify genuine technical excellence, and what questions to ask that reveal whether they're customizing their approach for you or just running you through a standard formula.
The Lighting Test: Does Every Face Look Naturally Dimensional?
The single biggest indicator of photographer skill is lighting quality—and it's often the most overlooked aspect when people review portfolios.
What to Look For
Examine the shadows on faces in their portfolio. Exceptional lighting creates gentle, flattering shadows that sculpt features naturally. You should see:
Dimensional faces that look three-dimensional, not flat
Catchlights in the eyes (small light reflections) that make eyes sparkle and appear alive
Smooth shadow transitions rather than harsh lines
Natural skin texture that's visible but flattering
Even lighting across groups where everyone looks equally well-lit
The Problem with Standard Setups
Many photographers—especially high-volume studios—use the exact same lighting setup for every single person. It's efficient, it's predictable, and it creates "acceptable" results. The problem? What flatters one face shape, skin tone, and feature set might not work for another.
A round face needs different lighting angles than an angular face. Deep-set eyes require different light placement than prominent eyes. Textured skin needs softer light sources than smooth skin.
How I Approach Lighting Differently
I'm admittedly fanatical about lighting because I believe it's the foundation of a great portrait. Before I take a single photo, I'm analyzing:
Your facial structure and how light will sculpt your features
Your skin tone and texture, which affects how light reflects
The mood we're creating—corporate professional or warm and approachable?
How shadows will fall based on your unique bone structure
Then I adjust my lights specifically for you—not just click through a standard setup. Sometimes this means subtle tweaks; other times it means completely reconfiguring my lighting to bring out your best features. This tailored approach means your photos show you at your absolute best rather than you fitting into a one-size-fits-all formula.
In your consultation, ask: "How do you adjust lighting for different faces?" If they can't give you a thoughtful answer about customization, they're probably using standard formulas.
The Consistency Test: Does Quality Hold Up Across Their Entire Portfolio?
Anyone can get lucky with one amazing shot. Professional excellence shows in consistency.
What to Look For
Scroll through their entire portfolio—not just the highlighted favorites on their homepage. Look at:
The last 20-30 images: Are they all equally strong?
Different subjects: Can they photograph various ages, ethnicities, and body types equally well?
Various lighting conditions: Do both outdoor and indoor shots look professional?
Group shots: Can they light multiple people evenly and flatteringly?
The Warning Signs
If you see a handful of stunning images but the rest look merely acceptable, you're looking at either:
A photographer still developing their skills (their best is great, but consistency isn't there yet)
Heavy reliance on post-processing to "fix" certain images
Someone who got lucky rather than demonstrating repeatable skill
Why Consistency Matters for You
Consistency means you can trust that YOUR photos will match the quality you saw in the portfolio. It indicates a photographer who understands their craft deeply enough to execute it reliably, regardless of variables.
Because I focus so intensely on getting things right in-camera—proper lighting, correct lens choice, flattering angles—my images are strong straight out of the camera. This consistency means you can actually see your photos during our session, and what you see is genuinely what you'll get. No surprises, no hoping post-processing will save an awkward shot.
The Focal Length Question: Does Every Portrait Look the Same?
Here's a technical detail most people don't know to evaluate, but you can absolutely see the results: lens choice dramatically affects how you look in portraits.
The Industry Standard (And Its Problem)
Conventional wisdom says longer focal lengths (85mm-135mm) are "the portrait lens" because they compress features pleasantly and create beautiful background blur. This is absolutely true—for most people.
Many photographers simply default to these lenses for every single person and every single portrait because they're safe choices that produce generally flattering results.
But here's what they're missing: not everyone's face benefits most from that compression effect. Some people look incredible photographed at 70mm. Others at 100mm. The "rules" are guidelines, not universal truths.
What This Looks Like in Practice
When you look at a portfolio where every single portrait has identical perspective and depth—that same "portrait look"—you're seeing a photographer using the same lens for everyone. It works, it's safe, and the results are... fine.
But "fine" isn't what you want for portraits that represent you professionally or preserve family memories. You want images tailored to your features specifically.
My Lens Choice Philosophy
I actually think about focal length selection for each individual client. While it's true that longer lenses flatter most people most of the time, I've photographed enough faces to know the exceptions matter.
During our session, I'm considering:
Your facial proportions and which focal length will complement them best
The specific look we're creating (environmental corporate portrait vs. tight headshot)
How the background relationship serves the image
What will make YOU specifically look most like the best version of yourself
This isn't about being different for difference's sake—it's about precision. Sometimes that means I'll shoot at 85mm, 100mm, and 135mm to let you see the difference and choose what you feel represents you best. Because while I have strong professional opinions, you're the person who'll use these images.
In your consultation, ask: "How do you decide which lens to use?" A thoughtful answer demonstrates they're thinking critically rather than following formulas.
The "Show You As We Go" Advantage
Many photographers—particularly high-volume studios—won't show you images during your session. You sit, smile, follow directions, and hope for the best. Then you wait days or weeks to see results, fingers crossed that something worked.
I take a different approach: I show you what we're capturing as we go.
Why This Matters
You get immediate feedback. Don't like how that angle looks? We adjust right then. Love how a particular expression came out? We can do more variations.
No anxiety-filled waiting. You leave the session confident about what we captured rather than wondering if anything will work.
Collaborative process. You're involved in creating your portraits rather than being a passive subject.
No unpleasant surprises. What you see during the session is genuinely what you're getting—no extensive post-processing changing the images later.
Why I Can Do This (And Many Can't)
This approach is only possible because I'm getting things right in-camera. When lighting is properly tailored to your face, when lens choice is correct, when angles are flattering from the start—the images look strong immediately.
Photographers who rely heavily on post-processing can't show you images confidently during the session because they need editing software to make the images work. They need to "fix in post" what wasn't captured correctly initially.
My fanaticism about lighting and technical precision means the heavy lifting happens during the session, not afterward. You see professional-quality images right away because the professional quality is built into how I'm photographing you, not added later.
Questions to Ask Any Photographer
Beyond portfolio review, these questions reveal how a photographer actually works:
"How do you adjust your approach for different faces?"
Strong answer: Specific discussion about lighting angles, lens choice, and customization
Weak answer: Generic talk about "making everyone comfortable" without technical specifics
"Can you show me examples of how you've photographed someone with similar features to mine?"
This tests both portfolio depth and whether they're thoughtfully considering your specific needs
"What happens during the session if I don't like how something looks?"
Strong answer: Discussion of real-time feedback and adjustments
Weak answer: Reassurance that editing will fix things later
"Do you have a standard lighting setup, or does it vary?"
Strong answer: Explanation of how they customize based on individual needs
Weak answer: Description of their "signature lighting" used for everyone
"How do you decide which lens to use for portraits?"
Strong answer: Thoughtful discussion of focal length choices based on subject and desired result
Weak answer: "I always use [specific lens] for portraits"
The High-Volume Studio Problem
High-volume photography studios can produce pleasant, acceptable portraits efficiently. They've systematized their process to move many clients through quickly while maintaining baseline quality.
The trade-off? Systematization means standardization. Every client gets essentially the same lighting setup, same lens, same poses, same process. It works because the systems are based on what works for most people most of the time.
But "most people most of the time" means some people get less-than-optimal results. If your features fall outside the average, a standardized approach won't serve you as well as a customized one.
When you choose a photographer who tailors their technical approach to each individual—lighting adjusted for your face, lens choice considered for your features, angles selected for your specific proportions—you're getting portraits optimized for you specifically, not for an efficient average.
Value Isn't Always Where You Expect It
Here's something most people don't realize: photographer pricing doesn't always correlate directly with skill level.
Some photographers charge premium rates based on brand recognition, marketing, or simply because they can command those prices in their market. Others—myself included—price very reasonably despite high skill levels because we value accessibility and believe great photography shouldn't be exclusively for those with premium budgets.
The key is identifying technical excellence in the work itself, then finding photographers whose pricing aligns with your budget. When you understand what to look for—lighting quality, consistency, thoughtful technical choices—you can find exceptional value.
My approach prioritizes technical mastery and individualized attention at prices that won't break your budget. I'm less interested in being the most expensive option and more interested in being the best value—delivering premium results at reasonable rates because I believe everyone deserves portraits that show them at their absolute best.
What This Means for Your Portrait Experience
When you work with a photographer who's fanatical about the technical details—proper lighting tailored to your face, thoughtful lens choices, getting it right in-camera—your experience is different:
✓ You'll see strong results immediately during the session
✓ The final images look like you, just your best version
✓ You'll feel confident because you participated in creating images you love
✓ Post-processing enhances rather than rescues the images
✓ The portraits work for their intended purpose because they were created specifically for that purpose
Photography at this level isn't about tricks or heavy editing—it's about deep technical understanding applied individually to bring out what's already there.
Ready to Experience the Difference?
If you're looking for portrait photography in Los Angeles that combines technical excellence with reasonable pricing, I'd love to discuss your needs. Whether you need professional headshots, family portraits, or commercial photography, my approach ensures your images are specifically crafted for you—not adapted from a standard formula.
Contact me for a free consultation where we can discuss what you're looking for and how my technical approach will serve your specific needs.
Specializing in portrait, headshot, and commercial photography throughout Los Angeles County—where technical precision meets personalized service at accessible prices.
