How to Choose the Right Branding Photographer

Today I met with a client who told me that she has been looking for a photographer to help her with her marketing images. In the past, she hired photographers who created beautiful pictures but they weren’t working for her marketing. She was so excited to find me, someone who specializes in marketing/branding and who knows what works for those purposes due to my background in graphic design.

This really stuck out to me because she is the third or fourth person this month who told me the same thing and I hear it all of the time. People who hire me, often hired a different photographer in the past and it ended up being a waste of their time and money. So, I thought I would just give you some tips for how to find the right photographer for you when you’re looking for someone to help you create visual communications for your business. 

This particular client today said “I just didn’t know what kind of questions to ask. I didn’t know what to look for because we have never used images in our marketing before.”

Ask for a referral

Start by asking for a referral from another business. Let’s say you have a friend who owns another business and they launch their new website and you’re like, “Oh! Your pictures look amazing on your website. Who took those pictures for you?” That’s always a good place to start. Maybe there is someone who is doing amazingly with their Instagram and you love their photos. You could ask them who created the images for your business. That would be a good place to start. 

Examine the Photographer’s Website

Then, what I would do is go to that photographer’s website, view their portfolio and see what kind of images they’re presenting.  If you’re seeing weddings, babies, and that is primarily all you’re seeing; you’re not seeing examples of business photography then that could be an indication that they don’t necessarily specialize in creating images for businesses and for sales and services. Even if they say on their social media or on their website that they “specialize” in branding photography, they most likely do not if they are not showing a dedicated portfolio for commercial photography. That’s something to look for in their portfolio. 

Look for a Specialist

My other tip is to look for someone who specifically does photography for business and marketing. Someone who actually specializes in that as the primary type of photography that they create. The way you can look for that, is in their portfolio on their website. Do they have a dedicated portfolio of commercial photography for businesses and can you see several examples of that with a consistent look.

Related blog post: Why You Should Hire a Specialist

Meet the Photographer

Another thing you can do is ask that photographer. Once you contact them, be sure to ask to see examples from specific clients of businesses like yours. Let’s say you’re a dentist. You could ask “Have you worked with any other dentists? If so, could I see their website and their social media with photos that you took and see how they’re using them in their marketing?” Are they using them in a way that’s similar to how you want to use your images. 

Another thing I would recommend is that you request an in-person meeting with the photographer before you decide to hire them. This way you can see if you have a rapport and if you feel comfortable with them. You can really tell if they are a true professional. Are they showing up on time? Do they have specific processes in place that are professional? Are they used to working with businesses? You can tell a lot by meeting in person with someone. Equally important is to see if your personalities match. Every photographer isn’t necessarily going to be the right fit for you. You want someone who you feel comfortable being in front of and interacting with so that you can look your best in your photos. 

You Get What You Pay For

My last and final tip is to consider the price point when you’re getting quotes from photographers. Someone who is charging very little, a couple of hundred dollars, is likely not specializing in working with commercial photography. Realistically, it takes a lot of effort, expertise and specialized gear.

Also the license that you’re purchasing is to help you make money so it’s more valuable than personal retail photography. Someone who knows what they’re doing knows that and they are going to charge appropriately. They’re going to deliver a service to you that is professional and is going to help you make more money, in general.

That has been my experience, when I’m paying a realistic price for something I’m going to usually get a better service than if I’m going with cheap or free. So that’s something to watch out for as well; if someone is drastically cheaper than someone else, you might just ask why. Why is it so much less than this other person? I don’t know, maybe they came up with a way to automate the entire experience but I haven’t found that. It is a one-on-one personal service that is getting you the best results. 

I hope that is helpful when you’re looking for a photographer to create images for your business. Consider all of those things and of course I would love for you to consider me. Go ahead and contact me through Facebook or via email or through my website which is workstoryphotography.com and I’ll see you in the next video.

How to find the right photographer?

1. Ask for a referral from another business
2. Look for a photographer specializing in business and marketing
3. Check out their portfolio or website
4. Ask for examples from previous clients like you
5. Ask for an in-person meeting