Photography & Video | Local Services

If you are thinking of hiring a photographer or videographer to capture a special occasion then you need to make sure you find a talented individual first time round. After all, you can't exactly reconstruct your entire wedding day if you don't like the way the photographs turn out! Unfortunately, as with many other artistic occupations, there are hundreds of people who describe themselves as professional photographers when they are in fact just trying to make an easy living. Therefore, in order to avoid disappointment, it might be worth reading on.

Portfolios
All professional photographers should be able to show you an extensive portfolio of their recent work. If they can't then it probably means that they are either just starting their career, in which case they should still have a range of photos taken by themselves, or they are simply an individual with a camera advertising themselves as a photographer.

You should also make sure that the photos in the portfolio are similar in nature to those you are looking to have taken. For example, if all of the photos belonging to an individual are of weddings and you are looking to have professional portrait photos taken then it is possible that the photographer won't have the experience or equipment necessary to do a good job. You should specify the type of photos you are looking for before booking an initial consultation.

The same advice goes for hiring someone to produce a video of your big day or special occasion. Anyone with a decent video camera can call themselves a videographer but very few will produce a lasting memento that you want to show off! Ask to see examples of their previous work.

Recommendations
As with many other service providers, recommendations and word of mouth references are everything for photographers. If an individual has references available as well as a stunning portfolio then they are liable to merit your attention far more than those that don't. Additionally, if the references or recommendations touch on how reliable, understanding and patient the photographer is then so much the better. After all, you are ultimately in charge of what is produced and finding a photographer that will work with you rather than against you is essential. Most of us have all been to an occasion and found the photographer to be high handed or perhaps even downright annoying!

Prices and Fees
Photographs and videos are lifelong reminders of special occasions that will never be repeated and so it is worth paying extra to have them done well. This means you shouldn't automatically choose the lowest quote you get. Excessively low quotes may show that the photographer isn't as professional as he or she claims to be.

Make sure you get a number of quotes from different companies and find out exactly what is included for the price before making a decision. Some companies and individuals will provide you with a complementary DVD containing all of your photos or video footage plus online access to your personal portfolio for the price they quote. This means that family members and guests at your special occasion can download the photos that they want without having to bother you! Obviously these services will cost more than the average photographer however they can be well worth while for big occasions with hundreds of guests. If you don't need these extra services then look for lower quotes.

Discounts
Some photographers and especially those that are new to their career may offer a small discount if you allow them to use some of your photos as part of their portfolio. It is worth asking about this possibility if you have a tight budget.

After service
If you have a limited budget for your photographs or video then you will probably only be able to afford the physical photos bound in the album of your choice. This means that if for some reason you need further copies at a later date then you will have to contact the photographer and ask for them, albeit at additional cost. Make sure that the after service includes eventualities such as this. If it doesn't then consider choosing someone who won't mind going back through their archives to find your particular photographs.

Conclusion
There are many important things to think about when hiring the services of a photographer or videographer because in most instances the occasion you want to capture can't easily be repeated. For this reason it isn't always the best idea to accept the lowest quote you receive. You should definitely spend as much as you can afford on your photographs. If it is your wedding day or a similar once in a lifetime occasion then you want everything to be perfect and that includes the photographs or video that you end up with. Take your time and consider all the options.