A professional photographer is a person who is skilled in the art making someone look good in a photograph. While it's true that in the digital world we live in today just about anyone can pick up a camera and snap a few pictures, it is even more true that most of the pictures taken by most people don't look very good. They may be out of focus, poorly lit, poorly framed, and not at all complimentary to the subject.

There are any number of reasons to seek out a professional photographer:

1. You want to start dating and want a decent photo for the online dating service
2. You're interviewing for a job and want a nice web site with your picture on it
3. You want to have personalized business cards
4. You're interested in modeling or acting and need good 'head-shots'
5. You're making personalized holiday cards

Locating a photographer is easy. Just grab the Yellow Pages or Google for a photographer in your area. You will find that there are hundreds if not thousands of photographers readily available. Picking the right photographer is not so easy. Look at their website for samples of their work. Ask about the cost. You may want to go with a large chain (e.g. Wal-mart's photo studio) if price is a concern, or a boutique photographer if you want a special look and price is no object. There is a photographer in our area whose studio does nothing but photos of high school students. It all depends on what you are looking for, so shop around.

Here's what to expect when working with a photographer: A photographer should have a studio. This is a place where they work and take pictures. The studio will have special lights, props, and backgrounds depending on the subject and his or her needs. The photographer may also shoot outdoors depending on the season, the weather, and their schedule.

A photographer will charge what is called a sitting-fee which is a bit of a misnomer. You are not paying for the privilege to sit down in front of the camera, what you are paying for is the photographer's time and maybe some materials (film). Some photographers may wave this fee if you buy enough photos or if they are running a promotoional to attract customers. It doesn't hurt to ask.

Prepare for your session with the photographer by looking your best and bringing a few outfits with you. You may even consider bringing winter and summer wear no matter what the season really is. Be sure to tell the photographer what you'd like to see in the finished product. For example, if you're taking photos for a business card, tell them you want a "professional" look. If you're taking photos for an online dating service, tell them you're trying to attract the opposite sex. That way they know what type of lighting, poses, and framing to do to make you look your best for that "look".

After your photo shoot, the photographer will have you look at "proofs". These may be digital and available instantly, or they may take some time to process. You look at the proofs to determine which photos you'd like have 'printed'.

With so many digital tools now available, most photographers do a wide range of "post-processing" or touchups or airbrushing. This is where the photographer can do things to make you look even better. For example whiten your teeth, remove a wrinkle, make you look a little more or less tan. Ask your photographer what kinds of post-processing they do. Touchups can make a huge difference in the final photos.

Once you've decided on which proofs you like best and what post-processing you want done you're now ready to order prints. Your photographer may sell you a "package" of various sizes or you may choose a à la carte. You're likely to find that the prints from the photographer are not very cheap, especially if you're comparing it having a roll of film processed at the supermarket. What you have to remember is these are some of the best photos ever taken of you and they will make a lasting impression on all who see them. It's OK to spend a little money.

One other thing to consider is who owns the copyright of the photo. Believe it or not, most photographers retain that right even if it is a picture of you. This means you can't legally scan and make copies of the photos you buy from them. Some photographers will sell the copyright to the customer to be sure to ask about that.