On many occasions, I'll be looking at something and my design OCD makes me cringe. And bad photos are often the culprit. Quality photos can do a lot for a design layout, and even more for your brand. And they're not as hard to come by as you would think.
Hiring a photographer can seem daunting, but it makes a world of difference, especially if you are launching a new business, division or service. I've sourced many photographers from around the country and here's my process.
1) Find a photographer
Of course, if your staying local, word of mouth is great. If you get referred to a photographer that not only takes great photos, but is also a pleasure to work with, you're set. If not, turn to the internet. There are many resources out there to help you find what you're looking for. The American Society of Media Photographers (http://asmp.org/) is a good starting point, allowing you to search by location and photographer specialty. You can also use google to search for individual photographers in your area.
2) Review their online portfolio
I hate to be picky, and there are probably very talented photographers out there without websites, but I only contact a photographer after I see their work. When reviewing online portfolios, there's a couple of things to look for: Do they have examples of the type of shoot you are looking to do (e.g. corporate head shots, candid situations, building exteriors, etc.)? Do they have both interior and exterior samples? This is important because outside daylight is very forgiving so it's important that their interior photos are up to par. Are they actually near your area? Some photographers will service a 100 mile radius from their location, but you usually end up paying extra for their travel.
3) Reach out
This is where you explain the who, what, where and when. The more information you give, the more accurate their estimate will be. Put together a shot list of everything/person you want photographed. You don't have to give the shot list to the photographer at this time, but it's good to at least give an overview (e.g. need 8 executive head shots on-site, 3 poses each, plus 10 interior/exterior images of the office building). Mention your intended usage of the photos. I always ask for full usage rights, which means there is no limit to how and how much the images can be used. Explain the surroundings (light quality, location size, etc.). This information will let the photographer know what type of equipment they'll need. Lastly, providing an example of what you would like the end photos to look like is incredibly helpful. Spend 10-15 minutes looking at photo samples (competitors, magazines, google images, stock photography, etc.) and find a few images that fit the style that you are looking for. If you're lucky, you might even find an example on the photographer's portfolio site.
4) Get multiple bids
Its important to reach out to multiple photographers for a few reasons. 1. You'll ensure you're getting a fair price. Photography pricing varies depending on length/type of shoot and location. 2. Not all photographers will be available for your shoot date. 3. The photographer you have your heart set on might be out of the country shooting spider monkeys in Peru and wont get your message for a few weeks. I try to get 2-3 bids per project to make sure the shoot gets done on time and on budget.
5) Agree on a price and get started
Once you're happy with the work quality, date and price of a photographer, you are ready to move forward. The photographer will need the following: A detailed shot list (if you haven't sent already), the address of the shoot location and a contact of someone onsite. At this time, I also like to go over how and when the final images will be delivered and payment details.
And that's it!
I hope you find these tips useful and good luck on your next shoot!
