The Four Rules for Hiring a Professional Photographer 

When someone views your photo we all know that a yes or no is determined in split seconds. Making a great first impression in your professional world and personal life is essential. After all, that first impression can open doors and lead to a lifetime of success! ! 

Being photographed is a very personal experience,  so it is important to find a photographer that you like and trust. We want to help you find the perfect photographer for you and all your needs so that you will get amazing results! Sitting with a photographer can feel very vulnerable and awkward if you just blindly hire someone, so take the time to do this right. After all,  you don’t do this every day!

Follow these four rules when searching for the photographer that is right for you: 

 

1. While looking online and checking around with friends, make sure the photographer you find specializes in the kind of project that you have in mind. Just like lawyers or doctors, photographers have different types of specialists. Think of it this way: you would not hire a dentist to perform heart surgery, nor would you hire a criminal defense lawyer to handle a contested will. 

Let’s say your friend recommends a photographer whose specialty is architecture , still life or medical photography, they might not be as good at shooting headshots or portraits, or people in general. There are always exceptions, but the general rule of thumb is to hire a professional for their specialty if you want the best results!

2. Review the portfolio or any work they can offer you to look at. Make sure you love their work and style. Look for reviews from previous clients – it matters more than you know!

3. Once you find a few photographers that you like, get in touch with them! We strongly advise calling them and setting up a consultation online or in person to  discuss the details of your project and to get a sense of whether you will feel comfortable with them during a photo shoot. Write out your questions ahead of time. This is your chance to get to know them a little and to gauge if it will be a good match (good vibes matter????). It makes all the difference when you like your photographer. Usually you’ll know pretty quickly whether or not they are your choice!!  

4. Once you have chosen a photographer, ask them for a contract. It should clearly state the date and time of the photo shoot, terms of service, what all is included (i.e. do they provide hair, makeup?), when you should expect to see the proofs, who holds the license/copyright to your images, privacy provisions, and the total price for all that is included in the contract. 

A note on pricing: Cheaper is not always better. Please understand that professionals take pride

in their work. A great photographer invests a lot of time and money in perfecting their craft

 through workshops and continuing education, and they also put a great deal of money

 into top professional equipment which requires updating or replacing every few years! A true

professional uses their creative vision, time, and experience to produce excellent

photos.Often they have a team of professionals they work with for things like a hair and make up

artist and fashion stylist to help you look and feel your best. All of this can be a part of the total fee they charge.

Now! ..Many people ask for prices first and just go with a photographer based on the price. The

lower the better you think… But!!  And trust us there’s a big butt! Beware!! Low prices can mean you are hiring a newbie in need of practice who is just starting out building their portfolio, therefore they have little or no experience or knowledge. Going the cheaper route can leave you with a photographer without the right professional equipment. It can also mean a lack of time dedicated to you and your needs, or the absence of many services that are vital to creating a great image, such as professional studio lighting, hair/make-up, wardrobe styling, directions on posing, retouching, and so on! They may also not let you know up front that these services are not included in the price of your session and are charged as extra service fees. Don’t just look at the price, read the small print! And do go with your intuition! 

Choose the photographer you feel comfortable with, whose work you admire –  a photographer they will most likely deliver the best results. Remember: feeling good=looking good! 🙂

A note on copyright

The photographer you work with is always the original owner of the files they create. Yes, even if the photos are of you. Please make sure you have a written agreement where it clearly states what kind of copyright/usage you are paying for and have it dated and signed by both parties. That said, a lot of photographers will be open to selling you the rights to your image for a specific price if you ask. Please make this one of the top questions you ask before you sign an agreement!

Please be advised: if you decide you want to use your images in a way that is NOT covered by your agreement you may get into serious trouble as  copyright law is very easily and strongly enforced.For example, if you want to use one of your photos for media purposes, you must have a written agreement or copyright license to use the photos. Even though the pictures are of you, they belong to the photographer. The client is paying for the photo shoot, not the rights to the photos themselves. 

A great photo shoot will feel like spending time with a good friend. A photo shoot should entail having fun while also creating beautiful images. You can create a lifelong friendship and or professional relationship with them. And what could be better than that?!