subject: How to Choose a Commercial Photographer [print this page] How to Choose a Commercial Photographer How to Choose a Commercial Photographer
Choosing a commercial photographer is more of a task than you may think. Just because someone has shot your best friend's wedding does not mean they are qualified to take pictures of your precious merchandise for the entire world to see. Not only is commercial photography an investment, but it is also an art.
Great Camera, Great Photographer?
Not so fast! Just because your photographer has a camera with a price tag the same as a compact car does not make them the best person for the job. Utilizing the camera as well as proper lighting, body language and other skills are what makes someone a great photographer.
Investing Requirements
Once you've found a commercial photographer you're interested in, schedule a meeting with them. You need to discuss what you intend to accomplish using their skill set. Meeting with them at their studio could give you a better idea of how the photographer reacts to your needs and their capability of accomplishing the task at hand. Request to see a portfolio of like-minded projects they've accomplished during their career as a commercial photographer. Help them understand the concept to establish a proper guideline and relationship from the start.
Find out the photographer's availability to you. You may have questions to ask, or if you're dealing with several people when setting up a shoot and locationsomeone may need to contact the photographer for last-minute questions. Most photographers are pretty open to any questions and will be capable of responding immediately.
The Rights
An important aspect of all photography is knowing who owns the copyright and intellectual property rights. Many of the negotiating can occur during this time, and it often times involves a dollar amount to purchase the rights to the photography. Negotiate these issues before the shoot takes places, or you could have a huge headache on your hands. Make sure you sign all contracts before the day of the shoot. Establish all contracting boundaries as far as the length of the shoot, how much editing time is required, the cost of the location, and how the pictures will be utilized after the shoot (for their personal website or portfolio). Make sure you're straightforward with the photographer about the budget during your first meeting.
Overall, make sure the commercial photographer's style matches that of which you wish to accomplish. By getting to know them via phone and through meetings you're able to see if your styles match as well as your ideas about the project.
