6 Ways To Chose a Great Photographer

How do you find the right Photographer? This is the burning question most people will ask themselves again and again while hiring a freelancer to complete a job assignment. We all want the best we can get for our marketing dollar -- so how do you know who has actual talent and who is just a schlep with a point-and-shoot?

TOP SIX CHECK-POINTS

1) Portfolio : A Poor Presentation
The presentation of a portfolio can make or break the images. If you see great images but the pages you view them in are lousy -- such as email attachments, boring webpages -- or on a yahoo or similar type account, You can be sure photography doesn't have that photographer's full attention; the photographer in question is part-time, at best, and you really don't want to trust your job in the hands of someone who isn't living, breathing and sleeping photography. A poor portfolio presentation is your first clue to keep shopping.

 

2) Portfolio : Over-The-Top Presentation
This too can be a warning sign. If you are floored by the 'awesomeness' of the presentation's entail -- make darn sure the work can support the presentation. Some people can wrap it up all nice but really -- who else could make that shot? Maybe even you..

 

3) Photographer's Education
Does your photographer have a Bio or a CV or a link which tells you where they were educated? Was it in Photography? Most do not show where or what they learned. Now don't you wonder if they participated in an online forum for some tips and tricks from real pro's? Or maybe they just visited a library book or two..

 

4) The photographs you see 'speak' to you.
When you look at the photographer's work, it makes you pause, react, or meditate. You feel emotion - You become inspired - You get swept away. Some photographs are stories. Those taken by truly gifted professionals are the images that will inspire your client base as well.

 

5) Portfolio Samples
What do you want your photographer to create for you? Does the photographer have anything like that in their portfolio? If you want someone to shoot your product outdoors and the portfolio only shows studio shots you should immediately eliminate them from your search or risk being unhappy with the results, no matter what the price.

 

6) Extreme Works
How many people do you know that will battle 35mph in sub-freezing weather winds to make a photograph? (see above). How about someone who will ski down a hill backwards to make the shot? How much training do you need to create underwater photographs?

If you see work in a photographers portfolio that shouts: "This is not an easy shot!" you can bet your photographer will go the extra mile for you too.