How to find a photographer for a family portrait?

What's the best way to find a great protrait photographer who is highly skilled at impromptu/non-studio/portrait-like photos?

• Preferably one who will work the event for free. :)

• Answer:

  The type of photography you are suggesting is called Event Photography. For a non-profit event you may be able to find an event photography agency that sends photographers that work for free, but get a commission on any prints sold to the attendees through the agency's website. For example, I use an event agency called Team Photogenic. They do non-profit or charity events for free, getting volunteers from their pool of photographers. The event organizer gets a CD a week later for free, but the pics are also posted on the Team Photogenic website. While shooting these impromptu "portraits", the photographers also hand out cards to that website. Then Team Photogenic and the individual photographers split the money from any website sales of those images (prints or downloads). Here is an example gallery: https://www.teamphotogenic.com/event-viewer/categories.asp?eid=17439 Perhaps there is some similar agency in your town? Or individual event photographers willing to do the same sort of thing? If you are not a charity or non-profit, well...good luck finding someone to do it for free.