Hiring a Professional Photographer
As the number of people who own digital cameras continues to increase, the number of people who claim to be a professional photographer grows with it. Understanding why a true professional photographer is the best choice for you could save you a lot of time, money, and heartache.
The Top 5 reasons to hire a professional:
The Gear
There is one thing brings all photography lovers together. Everyone loves taking and looking at beautiful photographs! Any camera can take a photograph, however, professional photographers invest thousands of dollars in their professional grade equipment that can do things the average camera simply can't. This is not to say that you can?t get great results with a point and shoot, but the photos just won?t compare with the quality that a professional?s gear offers. Many photographers with studios invest in additional gear, including strobe lighting, wireless trigger systems, backgrounds, advanced computer systems, and more.
Training
Professional Photographers continually invest in training. These educational resources keep professionals current with the latest technology and training that helps them meet all the needs of their clients. Many of these programs are only available to professionals and focus on the equipment they use.
Unique Products
Today?s Professional Photographers have access to the newest, most unique and personalized products available. Albums, framing, canvas printing, cards, high-end paper products, jewelry and more are available to the professional. Images are retouched and cropped to fit the products as necessary. This experience on their part saves you time and money.
Quality Control
If a professional photographer shoots your session or event you can bet that the quality will be high. This is because the final product is an expression of their art and business. Professionals don?t skimp because their work becomes something that you will treasure forever. They will present the photos to you in a way that reflects their pride in the work. This attitude is completely different from most national photography chains which happen to have a photo labs on hand and focus on mass-sales and ?consistently average? quality.
Experience
We have saved the best and most important reason to go with a pro, for last. Experience is the biggest reason to go with a professional. Whether you are looking for a wedding photographer, portrait photographer, or an event photographer, there simply is no match for the experience a professional brings to the table. They will be able to see what you envision or suggest ideas in case you don?t know where to start. When you work with a pro, the shoot can be creative, productive, and fun. In the end you will benefit from all their experience and have a product that you will cherish for a lifetime.
The Cost of Photography Service vs. The Value
Whether you?re someone looking for portraits, a couple looking for a wedding photographer, or an event coordinator, there is always one question on your mind: How much?
Okay, you have decided to go with a Professional but you still have some questions and concerns. Clients regularly call the photographers listed on the internet and yellow pages to inquire about prices and services. In the end, the choice of whether to hire a photographer or not comes down to price. However, the true price of photography can be tricky.
It should be mentioned that the time it takes to produce your portrait or wedding photography is more than the actual session or event. It involves meeting the client to discuss the services requested, setting up the equipment in advance, the shoot itself, uploading the photos and going through them after the shoot, editing them, burning the photos onto CD/DVD and mailing them to you. You may have lots of time on your hands after the shoot or event but you should be aware that the photographer is still working hard on your photographs. For every hour of shooting, there is an additional two to four hours of editing that takes place after.
Most would agree that a friend of family member wouldn?t have that kind of time or experience to edit your photographs properly, hence the great value you get from working with a professional photographer.
It?s impossible for me to tell you what to pay as there are so many different factors involved. For example, a freelance event photographer may charge less than one who has to pay rent on a studio. Most photographers have an established photography price list with varying rates depending on time and services requested. They modify them based on specific needs and ultimately it is up to you to decide what you want and pay for services.
For example, a portrait session can cost as low as $100 or up to $1,000 (depending on time). In my opinion, any photographer selling their services for $100 or less probably isn?t much of a professional. At many national photography chains a portrait may be sale priced at around $100. However the quality just wont be there. There are many reasons for this! Their equipment is more often than not, out dated and set up in a one shot fits all layout. On top of that, the employees are barely trained on the equipment and don?t really care about the quality of your photograph. They are making just above the minimum hourly salary allowed by law and only make more money if they get you in and out of there fast. There is no reason for them to put any extra effort into making you look your best because they don?t see any extra profit in it for them at the end of the day.
Can a price really be put on lifelong memories of your wedding day or your baby?s first birthday? I hope you?d say no! Over the years, the sentimental value of quality photographs vastly outgrows the initial cost of the services. That is truly something to think about...
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