Priya after Mehendi session during her wedding.
Though a photograph might be a commodity, photography is not and cannot be evaluated on that basis. Apart from technical abilities, every photographer brings specific background, experience, personality and artistic vision to the job. So comparing two photographers is like comparing apples to oranges.
If you are shopping for a Photographer and if you’re biggest criteria is price. You are doing a BIG mistake. Just like everything in life, “What you pay is what you get”. Most clients assume that pricing is fixed even if the complexity of the job is not. Shooting a portrait of a grown up is different than shooting a kid. Shooting a wedding is different than say a birthday event. Actually shooting two weddings are also different. Asking friends and relatives for recommending a photographer, is a good way to start the search.
Here are top 5 criterias to consider for judging a Photographer before hiring for the gig(in no particular order)
- Talent – Getting a photographer who is technically good is easy but a gifted one hard. Just because a photographer has been shooting these events for years does not necessarily make them good. Plus, photography is an art and everyone’s taste is different. So you need to evaluate for your own taste.
- Artistic Vision – Ask for their ideas on how they perceive the shoot? What new and different can they bring to the table that they haven’t done in the past?
- Experience – Has the photographer shot this kind of event before? If yes, look at the samples of work. If no, then you can try them for a smaller gig before a BIG event.
- Passion – Is he/she passionate about what they do, or are they just doing it for the money. Someone who is very passionate will rub that passion on to your shoot and that experience will be great. They will not rest till they are absolutely happy with the result.
- Personality – Ask for references, apart from his/her technical and artistic vision. You should also check how well they work with everyone on the job. You certainly don’t want a yelling/cranky or inconsiderate person even if that person is a genius. A great personality will bring a positive atmosphere to the whole shoot and make it an absolute pleasure to work.
In the end, remember a photograph is a moment in time that is preserved by the timing, finesse and vision of a Photographer. So shop wisely.
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