Photographs have long been a way of preserving memories and telling stories. Just as in our everyday lives, businesses need good photographs, too.
A professional photographer can grab the attention of your customers and present a positive first impression of your brand in a single picture. The power of photography makes choosing the right photographer extremely important.
Finding a Photographer
Before asking how to hire a photographer, you need to find one that’s right for you. Photographers abound on social media platforms. With a simple search on Tumblr, Instagram, Facebook, and even Twitter, you can find an enormous number of photographers of varying skill levels and reputations.
However, the volume of online search results can be overwhelming and can include photographers from across the globe. If you don’t want to go through the hassle of sifting through all the hits, there are platforms such as Guru where you can easily find and hire freelance photographers using specific parameters in your search.
On these platforms, you can sort by location, customer rating, and prices, easing the stress of hiring a photographer. They also provide communication channels where you can chat with photographers in your local area.
What to Look for in a Photographer
When hiring a photographer, regardless of whether it is a business event, brand shoot, wedding, or conference, there are several things to consider to ensure that you find the right professional that can meet your needs.
Here are some important boxes you need to check, and others you need to look for when hiring a photographer:
Go Beyond the Portfolio
More often than not, photographers will have some of their best images and proudest works on their websites and social media platforms. However, if you want to see the full range of work of a photographer, you can ask to view a full gallery of a shoot and images not found online.
Every photographer has a different style. By browsing the portfolio, you can tell the style of images they lean toward. If the style is one you like, you can add the photographer to your list of candidates. Once you have a pool to choose from, it’s time to narrow down the choices.
Personality
Because of their diverse clientele, photographers often have great people skills. Finding a photographer who has good people skills or a compatible personality will greatly improve the experience you have working with them.
If you are unable to talk with a photographer directly, the other option is to look for reviews and recommendations from previous clients. Reviews can provide insights into the photographer’s professionalism, reliability, and quality of work.
Price
At this point, you should have a condensed list of available photographers and are interested in how much it costs to hire a photographer. Prices vary considerably. Photographers generally charge based on: experience, time spent, equipment used, and the number of edited images, among other factors.
Your budget plays an important role in determining which photographers you can afford. Ask for the photographer’s pricing. Make sure the photographer’s prices are clear and spell out exactly what is included (and not included) in the fee.
Equipment and Gear
If you have a project that requires special equipment, now would be the best time to bring it up. You should communicate with the photographer about the details of the project to know whether or not they have what is needed to ensure the project is executed without a hitch.
When hiring a professional photographer, you want to establish effective communication channels and ask as many questions as possible to find out about their available services.
The Contract
If you find a photographer who is a great fit, sign a contract. A written contract can be simple but must outline the terms and conditions of the work to be done, including the project scope, timeline, and payment terms.
In Conclusion
Because photographs can be so powerful, hiring a good photographer is an important decision. Before choosing one, take the time to do your research and find the best professional who meets your needs and expectations.
Guru is the leading online platform for finding freelance commercial photographers. It can also help you understand the permissions and rights around your photos and services.
