They say, not everyone with a pen can write. Similarly, not everyone with a camera can capture the truth in a moment and create a compelling photo that mesmerises you every time you look at it. Not everyone with a DSLR around their neck and a tripod in their hand has a knack for capturing moments as they happen.
Whether a low-key birthday event or a wedding shoot, how to choose a photographer ultimately decides how you want to shape the memories that take you back in time. Bad photography can take the ‘extra’ out of the ordinary and makes your event look dull. Photography done right manages to add an extra dimension of magic to your moments and seems to bring everything back to life whenever you look at it.
So, it is pertinent to choose a good photographer and invest some time and research before handing this job to a person. Though you can’t go wrong with an expert from invme.com/en, this blog is an additional help highlighting essential points to consider before outsourcing your photography to an agency.
First Things First!
There are multiple stages involved in professional photoshoots: pre-production, the photoshoot itself, and post-production. Knowing the details involved in each step of the journey is crucial to grab the concept of how to choose a photographer.
Everything the photographer does before the day of the shoot comes under pre-production. At this stage, you establish a relationship with the photographer to assess whether you two are comfortable with each other collaborating.
In the post-production stage, the photographer edits the shots for better effects. Every photographer needs a computer and relevant software to carry out the post-production process well. But most tend to overdo the editing and ruin the concept of “knowing the photography dynamics.” A good photographer who knows their work understands the broad dynamics of photography. For instance, the ones from invme.com/en, click them right. What makes them click right? Let’s see.
Technical Proficiency
Word-of-mouth is an effective marketing technique but don’t fall for it. It creates a bias when looking for a photographer, so make sure to review all potential candidates’ portfolios. Every photographer has their niche, like landscaping photography; some excel at candid shots while others capture artistic portraits.
Based on your event type, narrow down the specialists that fit the profile. Then thoroughly review their portfolios and see who doesn’t interest you. The one who cannot incorporate modern techniques and whose work looks like an old piece from the 1950s is not your profile. Broadening your perspective, looking out for creativity, lighting effects, and colour grading is how to choose a photographer for your next big event.
Questions You Ask Yourself!
How to choose a photographer largely depends on how well you hunt. While reviewing portfolios, you ask what makes the photo look good. ‘Good’ is subjective. A good photo can mean different things to different people. Does it speak to you in its frozen frame? Are you drawn in from the moments captured? Are you enthralled? Does it evoke powerful emotions? Emotions tell a story, and a good photographer captures not just the moment but also the characters’ emotions and story.
What makes a photo dull? Maybe it does not inspire. It lacks a creative angle. It fails to elicit strong emotions.
When you browse through a portfolio of pictures, ensure that you have checked for a wide variety with different lighting conditions. A series of good shots under different lighting environments means expert work. Pictures struggling with colour correction and balance will point towards an amateur. Keeping these points in mind will help you answer the “how to choose a photographer” question, or you can find one at invme.com/en.
Amateur or a Pro?
Should you go for an amateur or a pro photographer? It all boils down to your budget and the nature of your event. It’s good to support small businesses and budding entrepreneurs if their work is promising. But again, if you tend to solve your “how to choose a photographer” conundrum, be mentally prepared for mistakes should you choose a photographer that lacks experience.
The upside of hiring professional photographers is that they are perfect at their craft and won’t disappoint. So, if your budget allows, go for a pro who isn’t afraid to take their camera off the automatic mode. Choose a good photographer who pushes boundaries with their creativity and delivers brilliant results.
If you have a budget constraint, amateur photographers who know what they are doing with their equipment will be a better fit. Scrutinising their past work and comparing portfolios will lead you to the right fit.
Personality Traits
A photographer’s personality plays a vital role as they won’t only come up to interact with you on the event day but also with the guests and other stakeholders. A good photographer has a pleasing personality and a pleasant demeanour that puts everyone at ease. Events hardly ever go as planned, especially if there are kids involved who don’t want to stand still for pictures.
A photographer who knows their craft but succumbs under stress and pressure will not be able to perform well if conditions are not ideal. Good photographers, however, have people skills and can coax and cajole kids and adults for a perfect family portrait amidst other things. Hire ones who can smile through their way in a catastrophe. You wouldn’t want them snapping at guests or frowning at them if they cannot obey instructions for a shot. The user experience at both ends should be a pleasant one.
Ability to Work by Deadlines
In today’s fast-paced digital world, businesses must keep creating relevant content to stay up to date. As a corporate enslaved person, you would want to upload pictures the same day or the next day at the latest. So, when you choose your photographer, do discuss their working hours. Do they work part-time or full-time? Will they be able to share the deliverables on a tight deadline or not? Will the quality of work be compromised if the photographer is time bound? Meeting deadlines is a vital post-production stage that is always crucial, so it needs to be one of the deciding factors when making a decision.
Wrap Up!
So ultimately, it’s for you to decide who you want to stick to for a long time and whether you get an all-in-one package at a price you can conveniently afford. However, using your judgment, personal preferences, and a few lines of advice in this guide will help you make an informed decision on how to choose a photographer who does complete justice to your big day. Good luck!