5 Factors To Consider When Choosing a Photographer

Choosing someone to photograph and capture a special event like a birthday or a wedding is a big deal. You want to make sure that you have opted for someone who is going to be professional and fun, and who will make sure that they get all the right shots of your special day. It’s important to do plenty of research prior to hiring someone to do your photography so that you get the right person for the job. We have compiled a list on behalf of Melbourne Memories Photography Services of the top five things you need to consider when you’re choosing a photographer.

Be aware of ‘helpful’ friends

Even if your cousin’s friend’s brother has a great dSLR and says that they’re amazing with taking pictures, you should be aware that they might not be able to get the great shots you want. They might offer to help you out by taking pictures and you might think you can save some money, but it might come at a greater cost than just the financial benefit. You might save some money, sure, but you might also miss out on some great shots of your special day that in time will go on to be priceless. It’s far better to spend a little bit more money on the photographer that you really want, and get someone great, rather than save some money but receive sub-par shots in return. If your friend has never shot a party before, they might not know what to look for and what to do. If you book a professional photographer and don’t want to hurt your friend’s feelings, you could suggest that they assist the professional photographer.

Know your budget

It’s very helpful if you know how much you want to spend on your photographer before you get around to looking for someone. That way, if you fall in love with a photographer’s style and shots, you won’t have to be heartbroken if they turn out to be too expensive for you. You need to strike the right balance between value and expense – they should be not too expensive, but just enough so you know that you’re paying for quality. Their picture will obviously reflect this.

Know what you want

Make sure you know what sort of style you’re after with your photography and then ensure that your chosen photographer is going to emulate this. If you are after artistic photos or a more ‘storytelling’ approach to things, you need to ensure that the snapper you pick nails this. Check out their portfolio and choose based on this. You can also have a pre-event chat with your photographer and get to know them a bit better, which will also help with the decision-making process.

 

Get a shortlist narrowed down

When you get to the nitty-gritty of finding your photographer, you need to make sure that you have a shortlist of the people you want, and then choose from there based on your research. Having a shortlist makes the task a whole lot more manageable.

Make sure you meet them

Once you have things narrowed down, you need to meet the person who is potentially going to snap your event. At a meeting, you can ask all sorts of questions and find out what you want to know from them. Take the opportunity to outline any particular types of shots that you might want to have taken, and ensure that they’re on the same page as you.

Good luck with booking your photographer, and I hope you have a great event with plenty of fantastic memories.