There can be significant risks involved when you hire a professional photographer without having a clear plan in action for what you want them to achieve. Here are 3 things you need to consider before you hire a professional photographer:

What are their specialties and limitations?

No two photographers have the same knowledge, ability or experience. High-level professional photography is a complicated business, and the techniques employed in portraiture can differ greatly from, for example, commercial food photography. For this reason, it is important to do your research on prospective hires and ensure that they cater exactly to your needs. In some cases, photographers will refuse to work in certain events or styles – some will only shoot film and refuse to shoot digitally, or vice versa.

Is your goal clear?

When meeting with a professional photographer and discussing what you are trying to achieve, it’s important that you have a clear understanding of what you want to get out of the service. An experienced and knowledgeable photographer will be able to expand upon your ideas and provide suggestions and expertise – but without a clear starting point, the final result may not be what you expected. If you are seeking to commission commercial photography with a high volume of images, an experienced photographer can help you compile a detailed shot list that will cover all bases.

How much are you willing to spend?

Speaking generally, there are risks associated with hiring a student or inexperienced photographer. When hiring an industry veteran, you receive the benefit of their experience and their knowledge of how to deal with difficult circumstances and foresee problems before they arise. With a few exceptions, professional photographers must pay for their own equipment and own expenses. While you may only commission a photographer for one hour of photography time, the reality is that many hours of work go in behind the scenes to produce the best quality results. The value of a great photographer is in their attention to detail and commitment to bringing you vision to life in a way that an amateur simply cannot. If you want professional images, hire a professional photographer.

This article was contributed by Porfyri - Having worked both locally and internationally, Porfyri Photography is a successful and professional Brisbane photography studio. With over 20 years industry experience, Andrew Porfyri merges creative flair with technical skills to produce images that are highly recognised throughout the market.