You’ve spent significant time and energy planning the perfect event to bring together all the right people for all the right reasons. Capturing all of those important and magical moments takes skill, preparation and experience.
While initially you might not think your event photography is essential, you need to know how best to hire an event photographer to make sure you record everything in the best way possible and bring this experience to life both during the event and after for your marketing material.
Defining the Details
To start, you need to consider the type of event you are having. Different factors and expectations will dictate the kind of results you will receive. Are you having a party event where you expect “fun in the moment” shots that require people to be thinking fast to capture the best images? Or is it a conference where things will be much calmer and require specific pictures of speakers professionally portraying them?
Galas, fundraisers, weddings etc., all will require different levels of experience and various types of shots to capture the essence of the day. Once you are clear about what you are expecting in terms of content, you can then begin your search for the perfect event photographer for you.
The photographer you choose will need to be experienced in the event you are holding. This will allow them to navigate the location better and know where to be at what times to get the best shots. Ask for previous work and portfolios showing work in similar fields; for example, if you are going to be promoting the service on a website, ask for former clients details and their websites so you can get an idea of what to expect.
Contact Landerhaven staff to get more information about your venue options.
An experienced event photographer will be your documentarian for the day. While they might likely spend most of their day asking for permission for pictures, they will be granted access to areas otherwise not seen for a more intimate personal take on what was going on in different areas.
Recommendations
These days everyone is quick to google a person or brand they are considering using. The internet has made this so much easier with reviews and social media. However, how do you know that what they portray online is trustworthy?
Chances are, you won’t be the only person in your personal network to use an event photographer. Most established photographers will have many years of experience and will have built up a good reputation amongst different networks. So ask around and see who people use and why? Get first-hand feedback on who to work with and who to avoid, and the reasons why they would rehire that same contractor again.
Discuss All the Details
You need to be clear and open about the event itself and what you truly expect. The more details you can give your event photographer, the more they will be able to realize if your ideas of imagery and style match. Give as much information as you can about the location, set up, itinerary, guestlist etc. and what you feel will best capture the event.
Ask for their feedback and suggestions. Their experience will help them provide better or alternative recommendations to succeed and get the right pictures or videos.
Establish a Firm Budget
Most often you get what you pay for. This is an essential consideration as photographers will set their prices based on their skills and customer demand. The more experience they have, the more they might charge. Also it’s good to remember that their calendars can fill up fast once people choose dates and make deposits. So before you start looking around, know precisely how much you can afford and use that to compare packages within your budget. This will also help you avoid wasting time going through options if their fees are out of your budget.
Final Image Delivery
Importantly ask your potential photographer about how they will be delivering your images, any restrictions they have and what you can expect. The use of the images will dictate prices and the resolution and quality of the pictures. For example, they will need to know if you are using them on social media alone or a large printed banner.
Ask them how they will send the files to you and make sure you know how to access them and your usage rights. Discuss time frames and requests and make sure you are happy with the terms before agreeing to hire them.
The more effort you put into researching the best event photographer for your needs, the better results you will have post-event. You’ll have these images for the rest of your life so make the best investment you can now.
Get it in Writing
It’s always a good idea to have a written record up front of these details and expectations. Before money changes hands, consider having a contract that outlines surprises like weather, fire, or stolen equipment.
Contact Landerhaven to get a list of preferred photographers and videographers.
