Photo Shopping

Posted Sat, 2007-05-05 01:33 by Nick

I am a professional photographer. It is my only job. I've been doing this a while now, and there are some things I have learned that may benefit you as a consumer. I believe you have to be very careful now, because there are ao many people trying to turn their digital cameras into a business. So what makes a photographer "professional"? Here are my tips for hiring a photographer:

Business License

Ok this seems like a no-brainer, but......make sure your photographer has a business license. This is the most basic requirement to have a legitimate business.

Business Insurance

Not as obvious, but please, this is so important. Accidents happen. We live in litigious times, and you should not have to pay for an accident caused by your photographer. Make sure your photographer carries liability insurance. Your photographer should also carry workers comp insurance for anyone (assistants, helpers) they bring to your event in case they are injured in any way.

Camera Gear and Technology

Anyone can get a pretty good, fairly inexpensive digital camera nowadays. Even though the camera does not make the photographer, it is important. Make sure your photographer has a backup camera, and a backup to the backup. Make sure he/she has a full lens kit with backups. Find out what your photographer does to backup your images to insure they are not lost in case of computer failure. There are many other equipment issues that I won't go into, but suffice it to say that I spend a lot of time staying current with the latest technology and trends in digital imaging, from cameras to batteries to software to hard drives and everything in between.

Those are the top three, must-have, you-are-crazy-if-you-ignore-these tips. Other things you might consider:

Experience

Just because someone can show you a few nice images doesn't mean that they can consistently produce good images in a variety of lighting conditions under the stress of your wedding day. Experience is important. For example, I worked at a daily newspaper for ten years and learned to shoot in some of the worst conditions imaginable. That kind of experience takes time and a lot of effort, but it would not necessarily qualify me to shoot all kinds of photography. There are other ways to gain experience, of course -- school, for instance. You will do well to make sure your photographer has the proper skills and experience to handle your event.

Reputation

Look beyond a person's reputation as a skilled photographer -- what is that person like? Is your photographer someone you want at your wedding? Will you trust them to deliver what they say they will? Now, I believe most people are good and have good intentions. But there are some people who struggle with honesty and how they treat others, or they simply can't deliver what they think they can. Check references. If you are considering a photographer who says they trained with or worked with another photographer, call and get a reference. And always ask for client references if you don't know at least two or three people who have worked with the photographer.

The Internet and Photographers

Most photographers have a website these days. Their website can give you a good indication of a photographer's style, but may not be a good indicator of their overall skills and consistency. If you visit a website and like the work, don't just email the photographer. You need to talk with them and interview them. Ask to see a complete wedding. Ask to see what products they offer, how your photographs will be presented. This is so important, I cannot emphasize it enough. If you are only price shopping, you might get lucky with the lowest-priced photographer, but the chance is great that you will not be happy with your photography. Lastly, if a photographer's website doesn't work, try it again later (sometimes servers have techncal troubles); if it still doesn't work, beware.

Conclusion

Everyone has different needs for hiring a photographer. I know I cannot photograph everyone, no matter how much I would like to ;) So evaluate your needs. Evaluate your wants. Evaluate what is important to you in your photography. When you interview photographers, consider their experience, skills and level of professionalism in their business. Professionalism takes a lot of effort, and it might cost a little more. Think of all the other businesses where you value professionalism -- do you want professionalism in your photographer? I hope so.....

ps -- People watch me work and sometimes comment "This must be a really great job" or something along those lines. Well, yeah, it is job I enjoy or I wouldn't be doing it. But it is also the hardest job I have ever done. That is maybe another post.