All Photographers Were NOT Created Equal

Q: How should one go about hiring a photographer?
A: Very carefully. See below for tips and pointers on how to help make your experience the best possible.

Q: Aren't they all the same?
A: Definitely not!

Before cruising the latest Craigslist.com ads for photographers or just blindly picking one off the Google results page or phone book, you should consider a number of different topics....other than price.

Why? Well, the short end of it is that photography is an art and there are as many styles of art out there as there are artists. Ask yourself this: Would you just pick any 4 pictures and hang them together to decorate your home? Probably not.

Step 1: Determine your needs.
Hiring a photographer to take a picture of your house for a real estate listing is completely different than hiring a photographer for family portraits; likewise, a photographer who can pull of portraits might not bode so well with your wedding.

Step 2: Determine your wants.
What are your expectations when it comes to a photographer? Are you wanting someone with a creative eye or someone who is more photo-journalistic? Do you want any post processing done (airbrush/effects/editing)?

Step 3: Determine your price range.
There are a ton of photographers out there with just as many price ranges. If you've decided to just select a novice from the many craigslist ads who will work TFCD or TFP, you'll get exactly what you pay for. Any photographer or artist worth their weight in salt will expect payment for their services - some more meager than others, but still some sort of payment. Often times you will find the price to be function of the size of a photographers portfolio, their experience and their talent; those who work for free or next to nothing have no reputation to lose and only a portfolio to gain (IF your pictures even turn out!).

Step 4: Do your research.
Gone are the days of thumbing through a hard-copy portfolio and here to stay are the days of internet. With the help of your trusty internet-connected device and Google, you'll find reviews, portfolios and directories...all of which will help you decide if the photographer you just saw an ad for will be worth your time.

If a purported photographer doesn't have their own website or markets their main portfolio through Flikr or other similar service, they're most likely not a true pro; I will strongly suggest finding (at the very least) someone who cares enough about their work to market it correctly.

If the portfolio is nice but scarce, email them and ask for more examples. Make sure the style is consistent; there is a definite problem online with people stealing images and marketing them as their own.

Check online for reviews.....or look for testimonials on their website (at the very least)! This way you can at least have some peace of mind that other customers have used this photographer with great results.

If everything else seems to check out, don't be afraid to ask for a resume! A photographer who considers this their profession will either have their resume posted online (for transparency reasons) or will have one handy to send you.... would you hire a secretary or other contractor without a resume?

Step 5: Trust your gut.
If at any time you feel the photographer is flaky or unprofessional, they probably are. I make responding to clients a Priority #1.

Also, if the photographer doesn't ask to meet with your prior to the shoot to visually determine the style of photography you're looking for or your needs, how can you expect them to deliver what you need? There should be a clear and consistent line of communication between the client and photographer - this is one aspect of professionalism.