Picture Perfect: How to Book the Right Photographer for You
Odds are that if you’re looking to pay someone to take photographs, you’re expecting them to do more than click the shutter button on a camera. After all, booking a photographer is the contemporary equivalent of commissioning an artist to paint your portrait…or wedding, or business, or any other subject you’re looking to proudly display and/or remember forever. Thus, we’ve done our best to paint you a picture of what you should think about and look for to ensure you get the most out of your photography experience:
1. Specialty and Style
The first step to finding the right photographer is determining what kind of photography you’re looking for (family, wedding, portrait, headshot, product, event, etc.), and hire someone with that specialty and/or relevant experience. For example, you could hire a portrait photographer to take family photographs if they have personal or professional experience with kids, but a fashion photographer who is only used to working with models might not be the best choice. Ask your photographer for samples of their work and about their experience to verify that their style, capabilities, and personality (!) match what you are looking for.
2. Desired Deliverables
Obviously, you want photos. But what kind of photos? Consider whether you want digital and/or print copies. The norm these days are digital photos, but are you interested in film for a more retro aesthetic? Photo size matters depending on your intended use of the photos. If your primary purpose is to post the photos on Instagram, you should let you photographer know so they can adjust their lenses and cropping accordingly. Also, be sure to let your photographer know if there are specific shots you’re looking for, e.g. a pose you saw on Pinterest, a group photo of certain people at the party, a critical product feature, etc.
3. When and Where
The first and most obvious elements of logistics planning are the date, time, and location — to avoid wasting time, confirm your photographer’s availability first before getting into more detail. If you’d like your photography session to take place in any location outside your home (a studio, a park, a private property, etc.), you need to check with the venue in advance to determine if you need a permit and if there is a cost associated with shooting there. If you are working with Clicke, we can search for a location and handle all associated permits for you.
Once you’ve decided on a location, give the photographer the opportunity to scout the shoot location, or at least browse through photos, to plan the shoot and determine what kind of equipment they will need. It is also important to discuss the time limitations of your shoot (e.g. how long you have the location rented for, how much time they have with the bridal party before the wedding). Give the photographer the opportunity to scout the shoot location, or at least browse through photos, to plan the shoot and determine what types of equipment they will need. If the location is outdoors, work with your photographer to create a rain/foul weather plan.
4. Budget
Most clients have a preset spending limit in mind, so it is important to (1) research industry norms in advance to ensure that your spending limit is compatible with the photography deliverables you want; and (2) agree upon a budget in advance. For transparency, the typical costs included in a photography package include an hourly photography rate and a slightly less expensive hourly editing rate. Other costs can include travel expenses, equipment rental fees if your photographer has to acquire additional equipment, additional hourly rates for photography assistants, and venue fees if you are shooting in a studio or other location that charges for photoshoots.
When seeking quotes, we recommend revisiting your Desired Deliverables to determine your minimal viable product (i.e. the most basic photoshoot you’d be happy with) and your ideal product (the photoshoot of your dreams). Ask for quotes for each to determine an expense range, and work with your photographer to agree upon a comfortable middle ground. There is often more wiggle room in pricing if you are flexible with location, your photographer’s experience level, and the level of editing that you want.
5. Intellectual Property
Most photography contracts include provisions allowing the photographer to reuse the material for portfolio use. If you would like to have exclusive rights to the photos, you should discuss that with your photographer beforehand. Exclusive rights typically entail a buyout fee for the photographer.
6. Coronavirus Safety
All participants should adhere to the most current local coronavirus safety guidance. Set clear safety expectations regarding mask usage, testing, and exposure risk beforehand to ensure that both you and your photographer feel safe.
7. Editing
Congrats! Your photoshoot is complete, and now you get to review the amazing results. Standard course of business is for your photographer to send you the RAW (completely unedited) files first so you can choose which photos you want them to edit. The most basic type of photo editing is called color correction, whereby your photographer adjusts the lighting, color, sharpness, and style of the photo. If you would like more detailed edits, such as blemish removal, skin smoothing, slimming effects, or removing an item from the frame, you will need to request photo retouch in addition to color correction. Photo retouch is more expensive than color correction since it takes much longer to do, but you can often negotiate with you photographer to provide limited retouch for a smaller fee if you only need a few things fixed.
8. Timeline
What is your desired turnaround for the photos? It is common practice to set deadlines and a schedule in advance to ensure the timely delivery of your photographs. Set expectations in advance for: (1) how soon the photographer should send you the RAW files; (2) how long you have to choose which photos you want edited and/or request specific retouch services, and (3) when you need the final, edited photos.
Say cheese!
We recognize that the questions raised by this article, while necessary, can be overwhelming, which is why Clicke offers a simplified and streamlined booking process to make booking a photographer as easy as possible. When you book through Clicke, we help you brainstorm what you are looking for, we provide you with quotes from our vetted network of local photographers, we help plan the logistics, we provide the contract, and we provide you with a secure transaction, holding the funds in escrow until the photographer delivers the final products. Contact Clicke today to learn more about booking a photographer through us.
