4 tips for choosing a photographer

Photography is a vast field that requires on the one hand different technical skills and on the other hand an appropriate and adequate equipment. Moreover, it is a profession that attracts a lot of young entrepreneurs and consequently increases the offer considerably.

So how to find the right professional photographer for your project?

1. Choose a specialist

The first tip that may seem obvious is to work with a photographer who specializes in a particular field to realize your photo shoot.

Real estate photography, culinary photography, sports photography or fashion photography. Indeed, a specialist photographer will probably have specific equipment for his practice. He will handle the technical aspects, the various constraints and specificities related to his field of predilection.

Moreover, the professional photographer who specializes surely aspires to become an expert in his field, he will tend to keep informed on new trends, to want to train and to have more experience than a person who "touches everything" but does not deepen his practice on a specific subject.

It is true that some fields, such as real estate photography, are more standardized than others and bring less creative or artistic aspect... although.

It is therefore normal that you have, in some cases, more difficulty in choosing your photographer. You will have to be objective and base your choice on simple and precise technical criteria like lighting/exposure, focus/sharpness... If you think you don't have the ability to identify these technical criteria, you can turn to platforms that bring together professionals selected for their technical skills but also briefed and trained beforehand, as Utopix does.

2. Explore your portfolio

We are talking about the basis that should not be neglected: it is very important to take the time to look at the work of the desired photographer.

Indeed, if the style of the photos, the treatment of the image, the framing or the composition does not suit you, there is a strong chance that the person hired will provide you with the same type of photos. Asking a photographer to reproduce a style is taking the problem in reverse. It will be a matter of finding the photographer who fits the type of photos you are looking for.

3. Compare offers according to your budget

As mentioned in the introduction, the profession of professional photographer is very popular and therefore offers you a wide choice. According to a study conducted by the Ministry of Culture in 2015, there would be more than 25,000 professionals, this number of practitioners is growing rapidly: more than 37% in the last fifteen years ...

It is therefore necessary to take the time to compare the different options available to you. Price will inevitably be part of the equation, but it shouldn't interfere too much with your final choice. Because if you only look at this factor, chances are you will be disappointed.

4. Contact and meet the photographer

Contacting the photographer by email or by phone, if possible meeting him or her or skype to ask all your questions is also very important. Having a good feeling should also be a selection criterion. It is better to be on the same wavelength and to hire people who correspond to your way of working.

To conclude, there are no secrets: It's about taking your time, asking questions, comparing offers and why not, consulting the opinions of former clients. And if you really still have doubts, don't hesitate to call on photographers' platforms that will be able to advise you and make the link between you and the appropriate person to make your project come true.

If necessary, Utopix will help you select your service provider to help you realize your most beautiful photo and video projects.