Finding a Photographer
Filed Under Photography |
From PartySpot.com
Selecting a photographer to document your party is possibly the most important hire you’ll make. To find the right shutterbug for your shindig, start early and shop around. These tips will help to light your way.
Suit Your Style
Before you start calling photographers, first decide which visual style suits your party. Photographers fall into three general camps: photojournalists, traditional photographers, and those with a balanced bag of tricks. If you love candid black-and-white action shots, you’re probably leaning toward a cameraman with a penchant for photojournalism. If you prefer portraits and posed shots, a traditionalist is for you. Not sure? Seek out that special mix.
Meet & Greet
Start compiling a list of candidates by flipping through the albums of any friends or family who have recently celebrated a Bar/Bat Miztvah. Other sources include experts you’ve been working with on other aspects of your party (event coordinator, caterers, etc.).
Rub the Right Way
Don’t underestimate the importance of liking, if not bonding, with your photographer. Some of the best shots of your party may well be those taken behind the scenes, and you need to be comfortable about inviting him or her backstage. This person will also have a lot of contact with your family and friends, and in general be a very visible “guest” at your party. To get the best photos, he or she has to be assertive enough to hunt for great moments, cajoling enough to coax relaxed smiles and natural stances from guests, and calm enough to be a positive force. He or she should ask lots of questions and be a good listener. Trust your gut: If anything about him or her rubs you the wrong way, keep looking.
Choose Wisely
Seasoned event photographers have what’s called a “book,” a portfolio of their best work to show potential clients. If a candidate doesn’t have one, think twice — he may be too wet behind the ears or too disorganized for the job. While browsing a book, look for crisp images, thoughtful compositions, and good lighting. Do the more journalistic shots convey a sense of emotion? Do people in the portraits look relaxed?
Technical Questions
Does he or she shoot in medium format, digital or only 35mm? If the photographer has only one standard 35mm camera and you want to get some poster-size portraits for Grandma, you’ll want to find someone who can shoot in medium format (the larger negative retains its crisp image at larger magnifications than 35mm — or “small-format” — film). Make sure he or she brings a backup set of equipment in case of malfunction or other snafu.
Eyeball the Effects
If you have your heart set on special effects — fish-eye lenses, infrared film, sepia-toned prints — be sure you see ample examples of the photographer’s technique. You don’t want your prints to be guinea pigs for his darkroom experimentation. Be sure the resulting look is not overdone (too artsy) or barely there.
Review References
Request two to three references for the two photographers you feel most strongly about. If a photographer is reluctant to give you a list of prior clients, cross her off your list. Ask the references if they would they recommend this person to their best friend. Why or why not? Was the photographer on time, well dressed, and completely professional throughout the event? Did guests have any comments — negative or positive?
Confirm the Cost
Expect to spend at least $1500 and easily up to $4000 on the photographer. You’re paying for the cameraman’s time at your party, plus all post-production work, such as developing the prints — by hand and one at a time in a traditional darkroom in some cases. Special effects and more time at the event will, of course, cost extra. If you’re on a tight budget, ask about the most basic package.
Ask About Online
Sharing photos on the Internet has become the norm. How does your photographer do it? Is he or she partnered with a service which can post your album online? A lot of people like this option because it allows you to share the entire event’s worth of pictures without carting around the proof book — and guests and family don’t have to go through you to order prints.
Double-Check the Details
Many larger studios have several photographers on staff. Since every professional has a different style, technique, and personality, you need to make sure that the one you interview and “click” with will be the same one to work your party. Also, who shoots the party in case of an emergency or illness? Will the photographer have an assistant? How many? How will the photographer and the assistants be dressed?
Write it Down
We know you know this, but we have to say it anyway: Get every detail in writing. Also important: Don’t sign anything if a studio claims it has the right to send any staff photographer to your party and you feel uneasy about even one person in their stable of photographers; if you sign, that’s the one you’ll inevitably get.
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