How to Select the Right Photographer

Hey, welcome!!

Isn't confusing these days selecting the right photographer? It seems as though everyone is a photographer these days. In this sea of digital point and shooters, graphic artists with a lens, pro-mateurs, amateurs and true professionals, how are you supposed to make a decision on where to start?

Lets start with the touchy but popular subject of TFPCD/TFP.
When you present yourself as a new advertiser (model) or entertainer (actor). Please remember you are blind to the business, you are an amateur. You do not go to a blind (amateur) photographer to lead you into the business. How can the blind lead the blind? If someone offers a trade to build each other's portfolios, stop and think. This person cannot help you, cannot teach you, cannot offer useful feedback, cannot trade with you for what they do not have. You will only get what you pay for. Preparation meets opportunity. You will have pay a working professional to teach you the ropes, and build on the skills that you develop.

In selecting the right photographer, expect to make a mistake at first. You really have no idea what it takes to make good photograph. If you did, you would not be reading this blog. It is OK, most people don't know. Thousands of advertisers (models) and entertainers (actors) look back on their "first photo shoot" and cringe. It will happen just get back on the horse, and move on. The important thing is not to let experience taint you into making more mistakes all to avoid "wasting money". Money invested in the employment of self is never money wasted.

When meeting with photographers or getting recommendations know that every photographer has to specialize. If the photographer tells you "I am the only photographer you will ever need." or "I can shoot just like 'so and so'." "You don't need to shoot with 'so and so' they charge too much." You need to end the conversation immediately, this person is NOT someone you want to invest your time or money with.

Remember these points when selecting a photographer:

• No one person can be exceptional at everything. They can dabble, they can be better than the average photographer at most things, but if they do not specialize, do not spend your time or money. They should be able to admit a short comings, they are all human.
• No professional photographer that is actually creating their own identity and producing usable images takes the time to compare themselves to another. They will only try to convince you they can shoot like another person if they secretly believe their own images are inferior, and hope that you don't really know the difference.
• Finally, this business is hard. Cheating, undercutting, and price gouging only happen amongst the weak and the starving. If they are weak, hungry and desperate, you don't want them shooting you. Complaining to you about someone else's price is just plain disgraceful and unprofessional. It is also unprofessional for you to come to another studio complaining about someone else's prices. If you cant afford it, that is your business and no one else's.

Read between the lines. Listen to what a photographer is saying to get you to shoot with them. Usually a person "...running a special." is not looking to give you any thing but the photo mill, point and shoot, photos. They want your money, they don't care if you work, and they take no pride in theirs. A person who produces good images and has the clients to prove it, cannot "run a special." Each person that sits in front of their camera will be taken as an individual, and it will be reflected in the images.

Now, with that said, I am not saying that every business does not have a slow season. Of course folks cut prices when times are hard. Just listen to the words they are using to lure you in like,"...running a special"or "Discount package..." This is not a car wash, it is your book.

OK, I have gotten the obvious distinction out of the way between the amateurs and the professionals. But what about the not so obvious? What separates the pro-mateurs from the professionals? This gets tricky, this is where you will make the next mistake, and it is OK.

Some people really do have a natural eye and creative edge. Remember, these are creative people. No one can tell someone else their "creation" is bad. BUT it may not be useful in the mainstream of advertisement (modeling) or entertainment (acting). There is always a subculture following for something, and there's nothing wrong with it. Long live art.
Also, people get lucky and land jobs with terrible images, and little skill all the time. Just because it is an advertisement or in a magazine, does not make it a good image. And finally, do not get roped into a few images of a "celebrites" if they are pushed on you. When you are famous, you will be a "celebrity" in some person's portfolio too, it does not mean they "discoverd" you, or shot you to stardom, nor does it make them more credible.

This is where it takes a question/answer and "show and tell" session with the photographer to try to ensure you will get the images you need. Here are the basic things to look for. You are left to your own judgements after that. As you get more experience you will get better.

• Does the photographer have a book/portfolio/site (not my space or model mayhem!)?
• Of the people in that book/site, can he/she tell you if the talent is working with the images and where?
• Does the photographer do this full time?
• What is his/her specialty?
• Does the photographer have a studio/place to shoot you to give you the images you need?
• Can they show you examples of recent work?
• Does that work fit into the area you are trying to pursue (i.e. : he shoots "live nude girls" you want headshots...this is not his area of specialization, move on)
• Can the photographer explain lighting to you?
• Can the photographer explain what category you fall into in the business you are trying to pursue? -- Advertisement and Entertainment fall into MANY categories (fashion, glamour or drama, comedy etc). This is a crucial question. If they don't know they will not shoot you accordingly. And if you don't know, you better find out.

Another way to try to narrow the field is see what images the agencies you are pursuing have to represent their models/actors. Compare such images to the photographers you are considering. Take your time. What you see at first on the sites is not always what the image really is. There are many aspects to a good photograph besides a great looking smile and bright lights.

Good Luck.

I'll talk to you then...