Are you headed to church in a white dress? Or maybe you want to capture every moment of your child's baptism. Whatever your reasons for seeking a professional photographer, here are just six tips for only hiring the best.
1. Find A Specialist
Don't look for a "jack of all trades." Find someone with skill and experience in the specific type of photography you want. For example, look for wedding photographers to capture you walking down the aisle or portrait photographers to immortalize your family during Christmastime.
2. Look Through Their Portfolios
Many photographers have online collections where you can browse their previous works by things like date, type and theme. Others may have their best samples hanging in their studios or displayed via folio box. Don't be afraid to ask for a comprehensive look at their skills.
3. Buy Your Own Supplies
If you're worried about matching your prints to a particular kind of stationary, go ahead and buy the stationary first. Many photographers will offer you a discount if you come with your own supplies before asking them to assemble a scrapbook or photograph album.
4. Ask About Pricing
Different photographers will have different ways of charging you. Some might ask for a flat fee to cover a certain event; others might bill you for every photo they include in your final bundle. Others still may have various "packages" for photos depending on their quantity, size, color and printing type.
5. Look Up Their Reviews
What do previous clients have to say about their services? Were they prompt and professional? Did their photos turn out well? Would the customers use them again? Remember not to put your faith in the testimonials on the photographer's personal site; you'll want unbiased, third-party reviews from others on the web.
6. Write It All Down
Don't ever rely on a verbal contract. Get all of your plans in writing, and get them before the event in question. For example, if you're hiring someone to cover your band's first concert, make sure you've already discussed, agreed and recorded all of your terms before the first note hits the air.
These are just six things to keep in mind when looking for your next photographer. You can never re-capture a moment once it's gone, so take your time and find a person who can immortalize it beautifully!