When you're in the market to hire a photographer, what should you be looking for? Chances are, you're going to be hiring him to cover something that's important to you.
You want someone that's able to :
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Deliver quality photographs and not simple snapshots
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Present himself in a respectful manner
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Provide all necessary equipment to do his job
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Arrive on time
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Provide you with your product in a timely manner, and
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Stand behind his work with a guarantee
So what's the difference between a photograph and a snapshot?
A snapshot is a picture taken by a person who took the picture by simply pointing the camera and pushing a button. Sure, they've recorded an image, but very little thought was put into it. The end result is a poorly composed, poortly thought-out picture.
A photograph taken by a professional photographer will have more thought and skills put into each picture.
A profesional photographer will:
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Pose and compose the subject or scene
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Provide appropriate focus on the subject and scene
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Manage the exposure
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Monitor the scene for distracting items
And the professional will do all of this while engaged in conversation, walking backwards down a flight of stairs, in a dimly lit area, dodging obstacles and weighted down with gear!
If you're hiring him for a wedding, ask some simple questions:
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How long have you been doing this?
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How many weddings have you done?
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Have you ever had any customers that weren't happy with what you provided them? If so, what happened?
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May I see your portfolio?
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Do you like their style?
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Do they capture interesting moments?
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Do the pictures look professional?
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Do they look like "snapshots?
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How do you charge?
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If they're charging too low, be careful. There's probably a reason.
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What do I get for my money?
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How long will it take to get the photographs back?
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What options for photographs do I have? What about framing?
- Are you shooting film or digital and do you offer the negatives or digital images?
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Can you provide references if I request?
Don't be afraid to ask questions! Listen, if you hire a person to do something for you, you're spending your money to do it, so that makes you their boss! They should be willing to work with your individual needs to get you exactly what you want.
Also, do you like them? Are they appealing to you? This is important too because they might have all the equipment and experience to do the job, but if you don't like them, it could create tension or stress during your event. Tension is the last thing you want to throw into your wedding!
So what if you have a family or friend offer to take the pictures for you? Think about this. This is a big day. It's a very important day. You can't do it over if the pictures turn out bad. These pictures are going to be handed down from generation to generation. They will be of two faimilies joining together, creating a new family. Special moments. Laughter, joyful tears, quiet moments.
There is but one chance to get it right and to capture it professionally.
Do you really want to risk these photos?
It's an important day, for both of you, as well as both of your families and friends. There are so many good reasons to do your research and to hire the right person for the job.
Think things through and get yourself a pro. You'll be grateful you did.
Marcus Edwards
Four Feathers Photography
Written by Marcus Edwards and Todd Geer
