As with any other professional, there are things you need to look for when hiring someone to do your business photo needs. Make sure you know what their style is, what kind of clients they have worked with in the past and whether or not they can produce quality work consistently.
It’s very important that you feel comfortable with the photographer you hire, but more importantly, your colleagues, family members and friends will also form perceptions about your business due to the photos they see.
So it’s essential that you pick your photographer carefully!
Commercial photographers spend time developing relationships with businesses so that they can gain their trust by producing high-quality images that help promote the brand. They also take great care in creating photoshoots that capture the personality of the company.
Making people like you and helping convey positive messages is an integral part of being successful, which is why having pictures done by professionals is so valuable. Even if you already have some photographs, you should consider getting new ones as well to highlight different aspects of your business.
There are many ways to find a good commercial photographer, including through referrals, word of mouth and social media.
Research the photographer’s reputation
As you begin your search for your business’s next commercial photographer, make sure to do some research. Check out their Instagram accounts to see if they are interactive and engaging, and whether or not their followers enjoy looking at their pictures.
You can also do some direct inquiries via social media or through their website. Having someone look into the camera while listening to music is very popular with photographers, so ask if that is something they typically use.
Make sure to give them adequate time to respond as most professional photogs take days to weeks to create quality photos!
Once you have received their response, view their photos to determine if there are any style similarities to yours and if they show potential as a professional.
Look for a good working relationship
As mentioned before, your business will be investing in these professionals to tell their story about how you are doing and what changes you need to make. Therefore, it is important to hire someone who can work well with you and develop strong relationships!
As you begin looking into potential photographers, ask them questions that pertain to their style, whether or not they do retouching, and if they use social media as a tool to promote their services. Make sure their answers are clear and direct!
It is also very helpful to meet at a place close to both of you so there isn’t too much time spent traveling back and forth. This way you don’t have to worry about transporting anyone anywhere which saves money and energy!
Once you have made an appointment, come prepared by bringing examples of your products or ideas of ways you want yours photographed.
Ask for samples of work
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Asking about past clients, as well as viewing some of their work is a great way to determine if they are the right person for your business. Not only will you see what kind of pictures they take, but also how they present themselves during meetings with clients!
Commercial photographers now-a-days have online portfolios or websites that showcase their work. It is very easy to browse through these sites and compare one photo against another. Take your time to do this so that you get the best representation of each photographer’s style.
It is also important to make sure that the photos in the portfolio match the services the commercial photographer offers. For instance, if the site has several wedding photogrpahs then make sure those weddings look like they were staged and paid for by the client.
If the site does not appear to be professional then it may indicate possible issues such as poor service delivery or lack of professionalism.
Ask about their experience
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As you look through your candidate’s profile, make sure to check out their commercial photography portfolio!
As you look through your candidate’s profile, make sure to check out their commercial photography portfolio!
This will give you an idea of how they handle clients, time management, and overall work ethic. It also gives you some insight into whether or not they are professional enough for our company.
By asking about past projects, you get a better understanding of what types of styles and settings they like, as well as if they can create a unique image that fits our brand.
You want to be clear about what products and services you offer so that they know what to expect when they show up at your office. Make sure they have adequate time to prepare for events while still getting the job done quickly.
And lastly, ask if there is anyone they feel wouldn’t fit in with your team culture — maybe someone who doesn’t take his/her craft seriously, or someone who doesn’t respond to messages and conversations after a certain number of attempts.
Ask for a contract if you are not comfortable with the photographer
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As mentioned before, your business will look very professional when there is an appropriate amount of photography involved. Creating a strong image foundation includes having the right number of pictures taken at the right time under controlled conditions.
Commercial photographers can be expensive, especially now since most have their own studio or equipment to use. Make sure that whoever takes the photos for your company has adequate proof that they can take good photographs and charge accordingly!
Make sure to ask for a contract if you are not comfortable with the photographer as this gives more clarity on what services they will provide and how much their services will cost. You want to make sure they do not include additional fees later so do not forget to check those out!
I hope this article helped you find the perfect commercial photographer for your business.
Pay a deposit
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After you have gathered your business cards, done some research and talked to potential photographers, it is time to make your hiring decision!
The first thing most new businesses do after an interview is pay their photographer a non-refundable application fee or “deposit”. This is typically one or two thousand dollars depending on the size of the project.
This is totally understandable since this is investing in your company and its future success! Most companies don’t hire a professional until at least six months later so this is normal practice.
But what if I told you that there’s another way to hire a professional? What if I can prove that there are no secrets to finding the best commercial photographer for your business and that you can hire someone immediately and still get great results?
I bet you’d like to know more, right? That’s why you’re reading this article…so let me tell you!
Three tips for hiring a professional photographer quickly
Tip number one – use social media to search for professionals
Most good professional photographers list themselves as such on sites like LinkedIn and Flickr. They also leave pictures and information about themselves all over the place via various accounts and profiles. Make sure to look through these resources to see who they work with, how successful they seem, and whether or not they look like people you would want to work with.
Make sure they have insurance
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It is very important to make sure that your business has adequate coverage for your commercial photographer. They should be able to provide you with at least limited liability coverage, but preferably full coverage as well.
Limits of responsibility usually include copyright infringement claims or allegations, general negligence (bad judgment in work performance), breach of contract due to failure to fulfill their contractual obligations, and sometimes even fraud.
All too often we see photographers who claim to have limited liability, but do not. Or worse, we find out years later that their policy only covers malicious acts or intentional wrongdoing. All too frequently, people who enjoy success take things for themselves by acting without regard for others. Having this protection can help mitigate risk if someone decides to take legal action against you.
It’s also important to know whether your photographer has workers’ compensation coverage. Photographers are typically hired through a staffing agency or via freelance sites like Upwork, Freelancer, or Elance, so it’s hard to tell whether employees status papers exist. If they do though, this coverage can protect you from lawsuits related to workplace injuries.