What You Need To Know Before Hiring An Event Photographer

I'm Pittsburgh event photographer Don Orkoskey and I'm going to tell you exactly what you need to know before hiring an event photographer. Here are some valuable tips that you might not have thought about before. I've been an event photographer for more than 20 years. As such I can help you to select the best photographer for your event.

Hiring An Event Photographer

When it comes to hiring an event photographer there are a few important things to think about. Because of this I've broken down this article into two sections.

Section One

Section one is full of info about event photography and photographers. This is information that will help you find the right event photographer for you. Additionally I explain why not all photographers are cut-out to be event photographers.

Section Two

The second section is full of helpful things that you'll want to know before looking for photographers. This information is shared with photographers you're looking to hire. Ultimately it allows them to understand your needs. As a result they'll be able to give you an estimate faster.

See also: What does an event photographer do?

All About Event Photography

Here is everything you need to know about event photography and by extension event photographers. Use this information to find your next event photographer.

Choosing An Event Photographer

Choosing the right event photographer is important. Showing off your event in the right way matters. If you choose an the wrong event photographer you may end up with nothing to show for it.

I've heard countless horror stories of photographers not showing up or failing to deliver any photos. Then of ghosting clients only to pop up with a different business name to keep scamming. I can help you avoid these folks.

Choose A Good Event Photographer

Your event deserves a professional event photographer. Here is how to choose the right photographer. That is, someone you can trust and rely on:

1. Check their reputation.

   1. Look at their website, is the work good and consistent?
   2. Review their list of clients or ask for a list if they don't have one posted.
   3. Read their reviews on Yelp, Google, Facebook, and elsewhere.
   4. Check their social media accounts for professionalism and consistency.

2. Ask about their business practices. A good event photographer isn't just a good photographer, they're a good businessperson.

   1. How soon will they deliver the photos and how will they be delivered?
   2. What is their backup plan in the event that they become ill?
   3. Do you carry liability insurance?
   4. Are they a full time working professional or is this a side gig?
   5. How do they bill and what forms of payment do they accept?

3.  Interview them and ask questions that will tell you more about them as a person and professional.

   1. Ask about their experience with events such as yours.
   2. Try to get a feel for their personality, are they positive or negative?
   3. Are they friendly and respectful or do they talk over you or act rude?
   4. Ask about their problem solving abilities, problems happen and professional photographers have backup plans and know how to handle the unexpected.

Advice From An Experienced Event Photographer

Here is my best advice for picking the right event photographer. That is, someone who you can trust. You work so hard to make your event a success. You want to find an event photographer who will capture that success.

Trust an Event Photography Pro

To be honest, I'm biased towards experience. Pros like myself have seen it all. As a result we can solve any problem that pops up. Additionally we know what we're doing. This is because we made our mistakes a long time ago.

That being said, don't look past a newer photographer if they've got the right stuff. Also if the budget is tight you might be forced to. Many folks work for other photographers starting out. As a result they may have learned what it takes. Remember, there's nothing wrong with asking who their mentor was.

The Business of Event Photography

Good event photographers are good businesspeople. In truth we have to be. The photography is a small part of the job. Ensuring we keep a clear schedule and return photos on time matters.

It's important that you're working with a legitimate business. Your photographer should have a tax id and insurance. Asking for a W9 and to be added to the insurance will let you determine if they do.

Also pros take payment in many forms. The options for credit card processing are plenty. As a result your photographer should accept cards, checks, and cash at least. Many photographers also accept ACH, or more modern forms of payment such as Venmo.

Interview Your Photographers

Interviewing photographers is crucial. Get a feel for the person, not just their website. Their work is important. That said, so is their personality.

A lot of clients say that I'm more active than other photographers. I'm told I move around, am constantly taking photos, smile, and make attendees happy. You're not going to be able to assess that from a phone call or zoom meeting. However you can tell how attentive the person is. Additionally, you can tell if they're personable, polite, energetic, and positive.

In my experience, negative people tend to have problems follow them. Few things are their fault. I'm keen to avoid folks with black-clouds above their heads. Interviewing your photographers first can help you avoid these folks.

What Makes A Photographer An Event Photographer

Not all photographers are event photographers. What makes an event photographer different isn't only their willingness to photograph events. In fact their knowledge of people and the events they're photographing is critical. Events are all about people. If your photographer isn't personable they're unlikely to be a good event photographer.

Event Photographer Special Skills

Understanding the details of event planning and execution also matters. Some other skills unique to event photographers are as follows:

1. Personability
2. Time management
3. Awareness of the client's goals, brand, and mission
4. Being great at anticipating action
5. The ability to be nearly invisible

Wedding Photographers

Wedding photography is it's own specialized type of event photography. Therefore it takes extra specialized skills. Look for a future article on what you need to know before hiring a wedding photographer because there are a lot more things to consider than what is in this article.

What Your Event Photographer Needs

Your potential photographer needs to know a few things from you. These include:

• The event date
• Time the event begins and ends
• Venue or multiple locations
• Budget
• Usage of the photos

Date and Location

The first things a photographer needs to know is your date, time, and venue.

The event date and location(s) determine availability. There's no point going any further if the photographer is already booked. Too, if the event is too far away they may need to turn it down.

Event photography is all about specific dates and times. Schedules are naturally less flexible. Portrait photographers, for example can work with clients to reschedule. If an event photographer is booked at another event that's it.

Everyone you reach out to will greatly appriciate you sharing this up front.

Schedule of Events

Knowing the date and location are critical. Additionally, having a rough schedule of events and times is very helpful. You may not need the exact hours yet. However, give your photographer but a general idea of the events of the day and approximately how long your event will last. Trust me, this is very helpful. Additionally it allows them to know if they're available for other events that day.

Budget

Most event photographers charge an hourly or daily rate. If possible, have your budget ready before reaching out. Too, don't be afraid to share those numbers. Telling the photographer up front the amount you can spend will save you both a lot of time.

I have potential clients ask for estimates daily. We often spend time talking. Then I'll create an estimate. This can be followed by shock. It doesn't need to be this way.

Let the photographers know what your budget is. If it's outside of what they charge they may have possible solutions. At the very least you won't waste time waiting for their estimate.

Of course I understand that sometimes you don't know what to expect. Trying to determine a range by speaking with several event photographers makes sense. That said, don't be surprised at a wide ranging of prices. I know a lot of my competitors but we don't compare rates. Additionally, my rates are set based on what I need to charge. Sure the market is a factor. That said, it isn't a big one. Being able to provide the best service for my clients and live my life comfortably is.

Event Photo Usage

Know what you're using your event photos for. This is likely to impact the quote. Your photographer needs to know if they should charge for promotion or marketing use.

Most professional event photographers charge for commercial use of their photos. If your planning to use the photos for promotion, advertising, or other marketing needs tell your photographer. If they don't charge a usage fee they may be inexperienced.

Event Photography Scams

Event photography scams take up a lot of my time. I receive calls, texts, and emails all the time. A great many of them are scams.

Q. Why should you be aware of these scams?

A. There are things you can say or do that might make a photographer think you're a scammer.

Don't start off on the wrong foot with your potential photographer. Here are some helpful tips about these scams:

First, scammers don't like to commit to a date. Their goal is baiting a photographer into the scam. As such they either refuse to say when and where their event is or offer a string of dates.

If you don't have a date picked out, don't start to look for photographers.

These scammers are very obnoxious. If a photographer thinks you're a scammer they may be dismissive.

How These Scams Work

The scam works by them sending a check for an amount exceeding the agreed upon amount. They then ask for the overage to be returned before the fake check clears.

Of course most of these are easy to catch. They always have a reason they're not around to meet. This means if you're calling from out of town photographers might be suspicious.

You can relive suspicion by jumping on a call (video or otherwise). 

Scammers don't care about the total cost. They're not paying it. If I think you may be a scammer I will quote a rate well above my actual rate. Scammers never hesitate to accept these rates. I could quote $40,000/hour. It wouldn't matter.

If a photographer quotes you a really high rate, ask if that's the best they can do. This will tell them that you're most likely not a scammer. In addition to a willingness to name a date and speak with them you can prove that you're not.

Hire Your Event Photographer

Now you're ready to hire your event photographer. If you're looking for event photography in Pittsburgh contact me. Please don't forget to share your date, location, and some more information. Feel visit my event photography page to view my work.

Don't miss: 10 reasons you need to hire a headshot photographer right now!