There are a number of things that you should look out for when choosing a photographer to shoot an event like a kids party or a wedding, or even your family portraits.  In this article, I’ll mention three things that you should consider when hiring a photographer.

I’ve been taking photos semi-professionally for just over a year now.  In that time, I’ve heard quite a few horror stories about how some photographers operate.  Photos and videos are the only record you have of a special event or day, the only way to keep memories tangibly alive. It’s really not worth getting bad photos, if you can help it, so you will want to choose your photographer carefully.

Three Things to Consider When Hiring a Photographer

Here are just 3 things, that I think you should find out about the photographer and the package you’re going to get, before booking that date.

Sign a Contract or a Quote with the Photographer

Remember that the photographer should not publish your photos on their blog/website without your consent.  The contract or signed quote should also include an indication of what kind of photos you should receive in the end, the method of delivery and how long delivery should take. 

Specify How You Want Photographs Finished

Some photographers refuse to do any editing in Photoshop at all, which means that if you have a bad skin or the lighting is poor, then they won’t fix them at all.  On the other hand, some photographers really change skin tone completely, and remove every single line and blemish.  Make sure you’re happy with the editing style ahead of time, not just the photographic style.

Ensure That You Can Proof Album or Photobook Before It Is Printed

There is no way that a photographer can get the layout exactly the way you want it.  Your photographer is guaranteed to put a photo in the book that you’re not happy with.  So if you’re going to have an album/photobook printed, make sure that you get to proof it ahead of time.

This is by no means an exhaustive list, but hopefully it gets you thinking about what to look for, when choosing a photographer for a special day.  If you keep these things in mind when hiring a photographer, you are much more likely to enjoy the experience and be happy with the final product(s).