How to Hire a Photographer

Use these 5 tips to find the perfect photographer for your event.

Your special day deserves to be preserved with beautiful photos. Hiring the right photographer to capture these moments is extremely important. We’ve put together some tips on how to hire a photographer to help you find the perfect professional for your event.

From birthdays to weddings, graduations and anniversaries, when you hire a professional photographer, you can capture the beauty and importance, while creating memories that will last a lifetime.

If you’re looking for a good photographer to take family photos or to capture a photo shoot, you’ll want to make sure you hire someone who handles that type of photographic style.

Here are some tips on how to hire a photographer:

Learn about the photographer's style

When planning, you should first decide on the photographic style you’ll want for your event. Do you prefer an artistic style with a natural look? Or would you rather more posed, formal, and traditional photos?

The best way to learn more about their style is to check out the photographer's references from past events. These examples will give you some helpful insight into the photographer's personality and style.

Get to know their personality

You’ll want to determine, whether, your personality meshes with the photographer/s and whether or not you feel completely comfortable with the photographer/s. Always feel comfortable to ask questions and make requests.

Prior to hiring a photographer look at photos from an entire wedding (or event), not just a few samples. Most people can shoot a few key shots, but can they shoot an entire event well from start to finish? Checkout their full shot list

Ask many, many questions

There are several questions you should ask any photographer you are considering. Here are a few of the most important questions you should ask:

Will they be photographing the event themselves or will it be an associate?
How many weddings or events like yours did they shoot in the last year?
Is this their full-time profession or a side job?
Do they have backup equipment?
Are they a member of any professional associations, such as the PPA? (Professional Photographers of America)
How many years have they been a professional photographer? (Meaning this is their primary source of income or are they a business owner)
What are the turnaround times for delivery of images post production?

Discuss the fine print

We also advise asking a photographer if they have a proper business license and if they carry professional liability insurance. Some `freelance' photographers may not be licensed or insured properly. Be sure to ask about copyrights and usage of the images created. Ask any questions you may have about payment schedules, cancellations, rescheduling, and refunds of retainers.

The photographer should ask questions too! The photographer should ask questions about your vision for the images, the event timeline, and basic details like starting time and location. Once you have found a photographer that you are seriously interested in, we suggest that you ask yourself three questions before you proceed to booking:

Price: Does the photographer fit into your budget?
Value: Is the photographer's package a good value?
Intangibles: Is the photographer well-presented, is he punctual, does he have good references, is he/she personable?

If you are comfortable with your answers to these questions, and you have done all your research, then you should feel confident in your choice of photographer.